(Formerly Graphic Communications)
Digital Design and Graphics Associate Degree
Desktop Publishing Certificate
Digital Design Certificate
Digital Media Certificate

Digital Design and Graphics incorporates all of the processes and industries that create, develop, produce or disseminate ideas, concepts, and information utilizing words or images. Digital Design and Graphics includes advertising, printing, publishing, packaging, electronic imaging, and their allied industries. Effective contemporary digital design and graphics requires a mix of communications technologies including print, computer graphics, and interactive media/Web design technologies.

Graduates of the Digital Design and Graphics program will have the conceptual, creative, and technical skills necessary for a variety of entry-level positions in the printing and publishing industries including electronic pre-press operators, graphic designers, estimators, and computer artists.

Upon completion of the Associate Degree in Digital Design and Graphics the graduate will be able to:
• Specify type styles and sizes, coordinate colors, and employ the elements of design to communicate effectively.
• Be able to handle prepress jobs with bleeds, traps, overprints, reverses, and screen tints.
• Use a densitometer and colorimeter to monitor dot gain, solid ink density, hue error, grayness, and LAB.
• Utilize QuarkXPress, InDesign and Photoshop to generate images consistent with computer-supplied layouts or to correct customer-supplied files.
• Use Illustrator to generate art or to correct customer-supplied files.
• Use communication skills (verbal, written, and graphic) to interact effectively with both internal and external customers.
• Understand the components of, and the interrelationship among, the various segments within digital design and graphics.
• Understand the basic concepts of project management including scope definition, resource allocation, and scheduling.
• Understand selling theory and the phases of the sales process from initial contact to close.
• Be familiar with the basics of interactive media production as it impacts cross-media projects.
• Understand the business components within the digital design and graphics industry.
• Understand quantitative measures used for quality control within the digital design and graphics industry.
• Understand digital camera composition and color correction techniques.

Certificates in Desktop Publishing and Digital Design combine design and typography basics with focused instruction on industry-standard page layout, image manipulation, and computer illustration software. These certificates are designed for working professionals with significant experience in digital design and graphics.

The Digital Media Certificate is a multi-disciplinary certificate combining the fields of branding, design and graphics, digital audio/video production, e-Commerce, interactive media, photography, and marketing communications. This certificate prepares students for employment in the advertising industry.