The field of art and design has come a long way from the days of the great masters. You no longer need a degree in the fine arts to use your inherent creativity to launch a successful career! The digital world has flung the door of the arts wide open—and there are many art degrees that will help you get on the road to success. What interests you? Here are a just a few of the potential art and design degrees available today.
Design and Visual Communication
A Design and Visual Communication Degree will help you learn design fundamentals, lettering and typography, and graphic design. You'll create color composites and renderings, and will be introduced to using computer applications and sophisticated software as design tools. With the skills you gain from this degree, you will be able to create high quality layouts and designs for a variety of clients.
Industrial Design
An Industrial Design degree program falls in the applied visual arts category. It prepares individuals to use artistic techniques to effectively communicate ideas and information to business and consumer audiences via the creation of effective forms, shapes, and packaging for manufactured products. Includes instruction in designing in a wide variety of plastic and digital media, prototype construction, design development and refinement, principles of cost saving, and product structure and performance criteria relevant to aesthetic design parameters.
Design and Applied Arts
Design and Applied Arts is a broad concentration within the field of visual arts, and includes such areas as advertising, commercial design, commercial photography, fashion design, graphic design, illustration and drawing, interior decorating, and many more. Generally speaking, design and applied arts can be described as arts in which one designs or creates something intended to be used rather than simply viewed. There are many degree opportunities within this field.
Illustration
Illustrators bring ideas to life. An Illustration Degree will help prepare you for a career as a professional illustrator—whether you’re working for designers on web sites or trying to become the next Dr. Seuss—Illustration will also teach you about the aesthetics, philosophy, and business of the art world. Your degree will also tackle formal artistic concerns faced by illustrators, as well as the ethics and law behind the profession.
Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia
What are digital communications? They are communications performed with and by digital technology. Multimedia developers and managers use digital communications methods to create any variety of entertainment, graphic design, and artistic productions.
While earning a degree in Digital Communications, you’ll learn the fundamentals of digital communication, including computer programming, teleprocessing, graphic design, photography, and audio and video production. You’ll learn how to build websites and create 3D animation. You’ll learn about CD-ROM production and computer imaging. All of these methods of digital communication together constitute the “multi” nature of “multimedia.” A good program will also teach you about the laws and regulations in place for digital communications, and what our role is in the development and use of new technologies.
Commercial and Advertising Art
Like other art majors, with a degree in Commercial and Advertising Art you’ll build drawing and other basic art skills -- and exercise your creativity. While getting your degree, you’ll also study graphic design and learn how to create ads that get the word out and turn a profit. You will create real-world projects such as billboards, brochures, and product packaging. This degree will give you the practical edge you need to work in the business world.
Desktop Publishing and Digital Imaging Design
A degree in Desktop Publishing and Digital Imaging Design will prepare you to apply technical knowledge and skills to the layout, design and typographic arrangement of printed and/or electronic graphic and textual products. This degree will also include instruction in printing and lithographic equipment and operations; computer hardware and software; digital imaging; print preparation; page layout and design; desktop publishing; and applicable principles of graphic design and web page design.
Ceramic Arts and Ceramics
Clay is a living medium, and a degree in the Ceramic Arts will prepare you creatively and technically to express emotions, ideas, or inner visions by producing art works out of clay and similar materials. Most programs include instruction in hand-built and wheel-thrown techniques; molding; slips and glazes; trimming and decorating; firing and kiln operation; oxidation; mixed media; ceramic murals; and personal style development.
Painting
The primary educational goals for the painting major is knowledge of and proficiency in painting practice based on the observation of nature including the human figure and supported by craftsmanship, individual initiative, creativity, and the ability to interpret ideas through artistic expression. With a Painting Degree, you’ll also discover many
historical and contemporary examples of painting and integrate that knowledge into studio practice. You will gain a thorough understanding of value, color, composition and expression through the study of anatomy, life drawing, perspective and design and the role these elements play in conveying meaning and vivacity. You will get to study the use of media such as oil, watercolor, egg tempera, and pastel, and create paintings in a range of modes including the figure, landscape, portrait and still life.
