Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design & Animation

The BA in Graphic Design and Animation is a professionally-oriented degree that provides students with a strong foundation in visual art and design for a broad range of media, including print, interactive media, film, and television. The program offers the student a chance to create an interdisciplinary program of study that will enrich the knowledge and skills the graduate takes into the constantly evolving industry. During the senior year Thesis Stage, students are able to explore their specific areas of interest in-depth in a self-directed project.

Knowledge Gained

• Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods.
• Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in the production of precision technical plans, drawings, and models.
• Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of visual arts.
• Knowledge of electronic equipment and computer hardware and software, including applications.

Skills Gained

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

• Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
• Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
• Demonstrate the principles of graphic design communication, showcasing the creative and technical abilities that produce successful innovative graphic design projects in a variety of media.
• Demonstrate a solid foundation in design and traditional studio art, and will be able to use these skills in order to communicate effectively through visual means.
• Understand and utilize a broad range of digital design and animation tools.
• Acquire animation skills necessary for careers in motion graphics, game development, 3d, and 2D animated films, television, or effects animation.
• Utilize self-management skills to work with a high level of autonomy on self-directed creative projects.
• Implement the use of pre-visualization, storyboarding, and essential pre-production techniques to develop complex inventive concepts.
• Apply creative problem-solving skills to a variety of abstract problems.
• Produce a professional and original design and animation portfolio and reel.

Competencies

• Create unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or develop creative ways to solve a problem.
• Create visual media using computer hardware and software.
• Create innovative designs, concepts, and sample layouts, based on knowledge of layout principles and esthetic design concepts.
• Create graphics and layouts for product illustrations, company logos, and Web sites.
• Create complex graphics and animation, using independent judgment, creativity, and computer equipment.
• Create objects or characters that appear lifelike by manipulating light, color, texture, shadow, and transparency, or manipulating static images to give the illusion of motion.
• Be responsible to apply story development, directing, cinematography, and editing to animation to create storyboards that show the flow of the animation and map out key scenes and characters.
• Be responsible to develop briefings, brochures, multimedia presentations, web pages, promotional products, technical illustrations, and computer artwork for use in products, technical manuals, literature, newsletters, and slide shows.
• Collaborate in the design and production of multimedia campaigns, handling budgeting and scheduling, and assisting with such responsibilities as production coordination, background design, and progress tracking.

• Film or Video Game Animator for a movie studio or video game creator.
• Graphic Designer at an audiovisual company.
• Visual Artist for a multi-faceted web developer.

Teaching & Assessment

In general, the Graphic Design and Animation modules are taught with a mixture of theory and applied practice. However, pedagogical approaches vary substantially from module to module.

Most modules in the course are taught using the traditional project-based learning critique method common to most art, film, and animation courses. Students work on projects that are limited by constraints and those address criteria designed around the module learning goals. The students engage in group critiques of the finished project, which builds their vocabulary in the subject and their ability to analyze and improve their own work.

The grading in the majority of the Graphic Design and Animation-specific modules will be assessed based on projects.

4-Year Degree Plan Outline

Year 1

Semester I

• ENG 101 English Composition 1
• MAT 120 Introduction to Data Analysis, Probability, and Statistics
• HIS 101 History of the Mediterranean
• GRD 101 Introduction to Visual Design
• Free Elective

Semester II

• ENG 102 English Composition 2
• BIO 101 Unity of Life
• REL 101 Religious Worlds in Comparative Perspective
• GRD 111 Drawing and Visualization

Year 2

Semester I

• COM 101 Introduction to Multicultural Communication
• CHE 101 OR PHY 101 Scientific Inquiry GE
• PSY 101 Introduction to Psychology
• ATH 101 Arts of the Mediterranean
• GRD 201 Figure Drawing and Anatomy

Semester II

• PHI 101 Introduction to Philosophy
• SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology
• ATH 201 World Art History
• GRD 211 Digital Art Tools
• OPEN Elementary Surveying (with Lab)

Year 3

Semester I

• GRD 301 Time, Image, Sound
• GRD 311 Painting and Color
• GRD 321 Design and Modeling
• GRD 331 Animation I: Motion and Methods
• PHI 102 Applied Ethics

Semester II

• GRD 341 3D Character Animation
• GRD 351 Animation II: Production
• GRD 361 Graphic Design I: Typography
• GRD 371 Storyboarding and Narrative

Year 4

Semester I

• GRD 411 Graphic Design II: Visual Problem Solving
• GRD 421 Motion Graphics
• GRD 431 Visual Design for Games
• GRD 461 Thesis Project I

Semester II

• GRD 441 Graphic Design III: Web Design
• GRD 451 Interdisciplinary Game Project
• GRD 462 Thesis Project II