Santa Monica
California

CULINARY
At The Art Institute of California, a college of Argosy University, Los Angeles you pick your tools. We show you how to use them.

Some of today?s most dynamic industries are based on graphic design. The fields of publishing, television, and corporate design offer great opportunities for trained visual communicators. Design studios require the talents of many professionals. Art directors work with writers to develop original concepts, supervising a creative process that relies on the expertise of layout artists, productions artists, illustrators, photographers, and printers. In the field of publishing, art directors and designers work with editors and journalists to design and produce magazines, books, and newspapers. Graphic designers create a vast range of visual communications including corporate identity programs, consumer package designs, annual reports, exhibit materials, direct mail, brochures, and multimedia presentations.

The television industry employs trained visual artists who use conventional and computer technology to create television commercials, sophisticated titling, and graphics. The Art Institute is the first step toward a career in commercial graphics. Initially, students are introduced to the basic skills in design, and are trained in creative problem solving and the ability to offer client solutions. Students can study the skills and techniques of computer graphics, electronic imaging, and production while focusing on color and composition, visual expression, print production, and basic art direction skills. Tools include scanners, digital cameras, and computerbased hardware and software.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
To receive an Associate of Science degree in Graphic Design, students must: receive a passing grade or credit for all required coursework; earn a minimum of 90 quarter credits; achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher; meet portfolio or other requirements as outlined by the program; and satisfy all financial obligations to The Art Institute.

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
Upon successful completion of the program, graduates should be able to:
? Use industry-related computer software programs within the context of producing concrete projects including the technical aspects of pre-press, output, and quality reproduction as well as Web design.
? Incorporate aesthetics and formal concepts of layout and design including spatial relationships, communication, legibility and effectiveness, interrelationships among imagery and text, balance, typography, and color theory.
? Articulate the vision behind their creative work and explain and promote their solutions.
? Demonstrate professional presentation skills, articulation of knowledge of graphic design and visual problem solving.
? Seek entry-level positions as production artist, graphic designer, assistant art director, production coordinator, and computer artist at design studios, publishing houses, corporate communications departments, and television studios.

Corporate identity programs, collateral materials, product packaging, video graphics, signs, and exhibits - all of these are created by graphic designers to communicate effectively with consumers. Graphic designers are visual communicators who combine color, composition, typography, and illustration in creative, innovative ways to inform, motivate, sell, educate, or entertain.
Graphic design students begin with foundation courses in color, design, drawing, and computer skills.

The beginning of the program focuses on color and composition, visual expression, print production, and basic art direction skills. The Bachelor of Science program builds on these skills with additional training in conceptual thinking, creativity, problem solving, market research, digital production, project management, art direction, business practices, and supervisory skills. Students use both MAC and PC computer platforms, with industry related software, for print and digital, design and production. Guest designers, artists, and industry leaders host classroom workshops and provide lectures and critiques to provide a view of industry trends and philosophies.

Program Objectives
Upon successful completion of the program, graduates should be able to:
? Use industry-specific computer software programs within the context of producing concrete projects including the technical aspects of prepress, output, and quality reproduction as well as Web design.
? Analyze and incorporate aesthetics and formal concepts of layout and design including spatial relationships, communication legibility and effectiveness, interrelationships among imagery and text, balance, typography, and color theory.
? Develop design concepts and relate these to historical and contemporary trends and social context by producing successful visual solutions to assigned problems.
? Model the interdependence of content and visual expression and evaluate and critique their ideas.
? Articulate the vision behind their creative work and explain and promote their solutions.
? Demonstrate professional presentation, knowledge of graphic design and visual problem solving, and mastery of industry standards, professional practices and ethics.
? Seek entry-level positions such as production artist, graphic designer, assistant designer, assistant art director, production coordinator, and computer artist at advertising agencies, design studios, publishing houses, corporate communications departments, and television studios.

Graduation Requirements
To receive a Bachelor of Science degree in Graphic Design, students must: receive a passing grade or credit for all required coursework; earn a minimum of 180 quarter credits; achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher; meet portfolio or other requirements as outlined by the program; and satisfy all financial obligations to The Art Institutes.