Graphic design programs prepare people to convey ideas and feelings using images and words. Students learn to design and lay out images and text using computers. They study advertising and commercial art. They also learn prepress and printing techniques.
It's nearly impossible not to think of Nike when you see a "swoosh" symbol. Or, to see a red and white can of soup and think of Campbell's. When you see the golden arches, you think McDonald's french fries! (Or a Big Mac?) Graphic designers came up with all of these images. When done right, good graphic design helps a product, be it a women's magazine, a pair of running shoes, or a waffle iron, become recognizable to the public. Like architects, graphic designers combine artistic vision with commercial need. Graphic designers produce images to sell, educate, and entertain. Their work appears in publications, on signs and billboards, in company logos, on company letterhead, Internet home pages, and in film and television credits.
In graphic design programs, you learn basic art principles, including color theory, design, and drawing. You learn how to use different software that allows you to create new images, designs, and logos. In addition, you learn how to animate and manipulate photos and films. Overall, you learn how to create lifelike animation, color-rich photos, and original graphic designs for use in advertisements, web pages, and printed materials. In addition, you also take business courses. This is because graphic designers usually are employed for marketing, advertising, and communication purposes.
Many colleges and universities offer programs that lead to bachelor's or master's degrees in graphic design. In most cases, you earn your degree in fine arts. This means that you get a BFA or a MFA. BFA programs typically take four to five years while MFA programs usually take three years.
Two-year colleges often offer the first two years of study. Independent schools of art and design may offer associate and bachelor's degree programs. In addition, a few schools offer doctorate degrees in graphic design. However, the MFA is considered a "terminal" degree, meaning that you do not need a doctorate if you desire to teach at the college level.