• What is Graphic Design?

• Goals of Graphic Design at Shepherd College & General Information

• The Design Program at Shepherd

• Internships

• Coops

What is Graphic Design? ______________________________________________________________

Have you ever looked at a sign, an ad, a business card, a logo or a web site and wondered who made that? How was it put together? You know you could do that, but how do you get the chance to?

A well designed logo, the color-coded signs at an airport or subway to help you find your way around, your favorite magazine, the ads that you see ever day in newspapers, magazines and on the television are all examples of the job of a graphic designer. The bombardment of visual information all around is the direct result of the graphic design field’s influence on our daily lives.

At Shepherd, it is the mission of the Graphic Design Department to enhance and develop the student's’ artistic ability and to direct that ability to such a point that upon graduation this student will have a marketable level of expertise in the field of graphic design.
Limitless Creative Possibilities

The graphic design field offers a broad range of avenues for applying ones artistic ability, whether it be creating business cards and flyers for a small community organization or working on commercial projects at a large design firm. Your creative abilities will be enhanced by the broad range of possible creative avenues.

Graphic Design is one of the most marketable fields in today's business world. More and more companies are turning to graphic designers to insure that their product advertisements are displayed in a highly visible and impressive manor. The requirements may range from something as simple as a logo or brochure or as complex as the design of an entire Web site. It is a versatile field, but one that requires traditional and technology skills mixed with an artistic ability. Return to top of page .

Goals of Graphic Design at Shepherd College & General Information __________________________________________

Within the Art Department, the concentration of Graphic Design works towards developing the students’ technical and creative skills. This is accomplished through a progressive series of courses. In the first year the Introduction to Graphic Design course series introduces the student to basic design principles and an overview of a variety of tools available. This is followed by courses that look in depth at selected tools of the designer, such as Computer Applications and Typography. Upper level courses concentrate on client-based type of projects through which the students learn to combine and improve their various skills and interests.

The department is aware of the many and varied avenues of design in today’s market. Instead of trying to accommodate for all the variations it focuses on providing the student with a foundation of good design and a knowledge of the tools widely accepted in the field. At the upper level a variety of courses are offered focusing on selected topics such as web design, direct mail and the development of trademarks & logos, to name a few. Students have the opportunity to select from these course offerings those that coincide with their direct interest in the design field and prepare a portfolio accordingly.

The student’s education is complimented through an opportunity to meet and learn from a variety of artists & designers. Each semester several artists are invited to hang a show of their work and discuss it with the student body of the entire art department. Throughout each semester travel is provided to the Baltimore & Washington D.C. areas for attendance at various American Institute of Graphic Artists (AIGA) events. All upper level students are to attend at least one AIGA event each semester as well as the in-house art events.

Preparing for the professional side of the Design world is the focus of such courses as Portfolio Review, Senior Review, and Capstone Portfolio. In addition, students are highly encouraged to participate in an Internship or Co-op experience during their third or fourth year. Beginning with their second year, students are encouraged to work on their portfolio in both hard copy and slide formats. Examples of a student’s best work are collected and maintained in a department archive. Return to top of page.

The Design Program at Shepherd ________________________________________________________________________

Well aware of the variety of demands on the designer today, the Graphic Design program at Shepherd is a combination of solid traditional design skills matched with the current technology that drives the field.

Two degrees are offered in the area of Design a Bachelors of Fine Arts (BFA) and an Associates Degree in Visual Communications..

The BFA in Graphic Design is a 4-year comprehensive degree program. Curriculum for the BFA in Graphic Design includes the following courses from the Art Department, in addition to the General Studies courses as listed in the current college catalogue.

Some are required and others may be selected. Detailed information upon admission to the program during advisement. Most courses offer are three credits. Some may be taken twice for a total of six credits. This is an option only for courses that change their focus each time they are offered.

..........• 15 Courses from the following Design Offerings.

..........• 7 Courses from the Fine Arts Core:

A two-year Associate in Art Degree is also offered. The AA in Visual Communications introduces students to the fundamentals of the field. Curriculum for the AA in Visual Communications includes the following Art & Design Courses.

Internships _______________________________________________________________________________________________

Design students may participate in a variety of internship experiences during their third or fourth year. With the Baltimore and Washington DC areas so close, a wide range of experiences are possible from high-end printing facilities, design and advertising agencies, web site developers to governmental agencies.

Many successful graduated of Shepherd are also found working in the Baltimore & Washington D.C. areas in a variety of these businesses.

Coops _____________________________________________________________________________

Some students prefer to participate in a cooperative educational experience instead of an internship. Details on the coop experience is available on campus in the Career Development Center.

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