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WHAT's NEW FOR 2007?
MHCC's Integrated Media faculty have spent the last couple of years introducing new curriculum as a response to the trends we observe in Portland's creative community. We've spent the summer writing or revising 38 courses to make sure that students beginning our program in Fall 2007 will have the most relevant skills and information possible. Read more about the 2007-08 Integrated Media core course descriptions as well as six new Graphic Design courses.
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WHAT KIND OF PROJECTS WILL I CREATE IN THE GD PROGRAM?
Hundreds of examples of student projects are posted on the Integrated Media Department's web site . You can also read descriptions of project parameters and get a feeling of what to expect from the curriculum.
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HAVE I MISSED THE APPLICATION DEADLINE?
June15, 2007 is the application deadline for Fall, 2007. The GD program is a Restricted-Entry program this year which means that all completed applications are evaluated equally based on the pool received by the deadline. There are only 23 spots available each fall. You may apply starting November 1, 2006 for Fall 2007.
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HOW DO I APPLY?
Download the application packet from MHCC's Admissions to Limited and Restricted Entry Programs web page . It is a two-part process for 2007, meaning you need to fill out both the Integrated Media Core Application and the Graphic Design Supplemental Application. Follow the detailed instructions in both of the applications.
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CAN I CHECK OUT THE PROGRAM IN PERSON?
Absolutely! Please schedule an appointment with Chris Maier, the GD program director to get a tour, see student work and drop in on a class in progress. You'll be spending 18 months of your life in the program, so check it out first to make sure it's a good fit for you!
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WILL I NEED A PORTFOLIO?
Not really. As part of the application process, you'll need to do two simple art exercises. You'll submit them with your application and be asked to include additional personal artwork. This could come from photography, other fine art work or from designs you've done for yourself. It will all be returned to you at the conclusion of the application process.
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MUST I BE ABLE TO DRAW?
Yes and no. Many great graphic designers draw very proficiently. However, just as important is the ability to organize, be creative and detail-oriented. There are so many directions to take your career in Graphic Design that someone with moderate drawing ability can still be very successful. You DO need to be able to communicate your ideas to othersby writing, making quick sketches and/or doing rough drawings. If an illustration is required, graphic designers usually commission a professional illustrator to do the job. With computer software applications, designers often build an illustration or graphic in a very different way than with traditional art media. Digital photography and image manipulation is another way to create art without being able to draw. You'll learn that at MHCC.
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WILL I LEARN ANIMATION IN MHCC'S DESIGN PROGRAM?
If your goal is to be an animator for Pixar or some other firm, Mt. Hood's Integrated Media: Graphic Design option will provide an excellent foundation in creative thinking, graphic communication, design fundamentals, software proficiency, color, type and composition all prerequisites to being a successful animator. In the second year, you'll have the opportunity to learn Flash which is a vector-based animation program primarily used in web sites. (IM282: IM Focus: Motion)
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WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FINE ART AND GRAPHIC DESIGN?
Good question! Both fields share a similar foundation in the arts. The primary difference is that a fine artist focuses on creating art (whether in sculpture, through a painting, or in an etching) to communicate personal ideas to the world. On the other hand, a graphic designer works for a client who directs the designer's efforts. Designers need to stay within a budget and timeline, and produce solutions that communicate to a specific audience so that more products will be sold, people will attend an event, or some other outcome will happen. You'll either love the structure and external demands of design, or will chafe at the restrictions. Talk with Chris Maier if you would like to discuss your concerns.
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WILL I HAVE TIME FOR A JOB?
Yes. We've designed the program to be as efficient as possible. All first year core IM and Graphic Design courses are on Tuesdays and Thursdays. In the second year, all IM core and GD option classes are on Mondays and Wednesdays. Each day is long, however, because we're packing three 3-hour classes on to one day, back-to-back. Because many students are accepted into the program with most or all of their 18 general education requirements met, they can focus exclusively on the IM/GD curriculum. Most students have part-time jobs averaging 25 hours a week.
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HOW MUCH HOMEWORK IS INVOLVED?
It differs every week, depending on the class and the stage of the projects you're working on at the time. Because each class is structured to be 2-3 hours of lecture and 2-3 hours of lab each week, this means that you'll learn new content through the lecture and the other hours will be reserved to apply and practice what you just learned. There will be complex projects where you'll need to research, explore and experiment outside of class. Also, some students are just more efficient and fluent with the software. If you're a compulsive person, it's sometimes difficult to know when to stop and eat!
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ARE THERE GRAPHIC DESIGN COURSES IN THE SUMMER?
No. However, summer is a great time to work on your general education requirements such as Writing, Math, PE, Human Relations, etc.
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WHAT CLASSES CAN I TAKE IN WINTER OR SPRING TERM, BEFORE THE PROGRAM STARTS AGAIN NEXT FALL?
For students starting the program in 2007, the General Education requirements are: Writing 121 (3 credits), Human Relations (3 credits), Distribution Electives (6 credits), Math 65 and HPE (3 credits). Contact Chris Maier to get specific advice about which courses to take.
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CAN I TAKE EVENING or WEEKEND CLASSES? No. All of our Integrated Media core and Graphic Design concentration classes follow this schedule: usually 9 - 11:50 a.m., 1:10 to 4 p.m. and 4:10 - 7 p.m. They are sequential and mostly taught in sets of three each term. If you were to take just the later class, you wouldn't be able to progress to the next terms' classes because you wouldn't have the prerequisite skills and knowledge to be successful at the next level.
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WHAT ABOUT ONLINE DESIGN CLASSES?
Because graphic design is so visual, we don't think online instruction is the best way to teach or learn graphic design. You'll learn as much from fellow students as you from formal instruction. Great design is not created in a vacuum, but is a result of creative collaboration.
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WHAT SHOULD I KNOW BEFORE BEGINNING THE PROGRAM?
You should have good keyboarding skills. You should be familiar and comfortable on the computer (we'll teach you the Mac software) or at least fearless in learning the computer if you are a novice user. You should be able to use a mouse (click, double-click and point) with coordination and navigate the internet, and able to comfortably sit for up to eight hours a day. Your vision should be good and free from any color impairment. We're assuming that you sincerely love working with/on a computer as that is the primary tool that you'll use as a graphic designer.
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WILL I NEED TO BUY A COMPUTER?
During class, you'll work on a new Macintosh computer while you're a student on campus. You'll share it with one student who is here on the opposite day. You'll be able to use Open Lab computers in the Main Computer Lab. Many students buy a computer while in the program. If you already have a computer at home, buy the same software we use at school so you'll be able to work on your projects outside of class. PC users can purchase the PC version of the software we use. PC users will need to take a few extra steps and precautions when transporting files to and from school so that the files will be able to be read successfully on both platforms.
