In an increasingly visual culture, and culture of online user-created content, non-designers are called upon in the professional realm to illustrate their ideas. Graduates entering the workforce will encounter situations where they will benefit from possessing a visual communication sensibility and vocabulary to communicate effectively with a broad range of audiences, including professional designers. Creative approaches to challenges, such as visual thinking, are also shown to improve students’ comprehension and problem-solving abilities. Digital Design in Communication is an opportunity for undergraduates to receive an introduction to principles of visual message design from a critical rhetorical perspective. They will also get the opportunity to apply these principles to a variety of visual products such as advertisements, logos, brochures, resumes, etc. A variety of computer software applications are available to support the research, writing, visualization, and design of messages.

This course is an introduction to basic visual communications in the field of graphic design. Lectures will cover graphic design topics ranging from: design thinking methodologies and processes, visual organization and hierarchy principles, color theory and application, and basic typography, to professionalism and ethics. Students will design solutions to visual communication problems through formal studies, perceptual understanding of aesthetics, graphic form and structure, concept development and visual organization. Assignments will explore aspects of graphic imagery, hierarchy, typography, and layout. Students will work with traditional materials and methods as well as develop their computer skills through applications requiring digital formats using industry standard software and hardware.

This course is an introduction to the fundamental principles of typography (the visual representation of language) to effectively convey information and ideas to specific audiences. Focus is on the communicative function and aesthetic nature of typographic problem-solving. Course content and lectures will cover typographic terminology, type anatomy, history of typography as well as type classification, type measurement, and issues of legibility and readability. Once students are introduced to the fundamentals of typography, they will include imagery as appropriate. Students will also refine their skills using relevant software.

This course introduces students to user-centered web graphics and design, with an emphasis on dynamic web development. Students will learn to integrate imperatives of user-centered interface with principles of aesthetic design, to bring effective information architecture to the digital landscape. Current topics in web development, such as XHTML, ActionScript, XML, PHP, ColdFusion, and JavaScript will be discussed. Students will demonstrate proficiency in Adobe Flash, or other current web development software, through the creation of animated graphics and web content.

Students use vector and bit-map imaging software to design a range of graphic projects suited to web and print formats. Projects include photographic imaging, layout, vector editing, digital painting and retouching, typography, internet graphics, and collaboration. Class discussions cover current professional design topics.