Fine Arts Division FAQ's about the Graphic Design Degree Program     Fine Arts Home Fine Arts Summer Camp Fine Arts Event Calendar Fine Arts Studio 205 Programs & Courses   What IS Graphic Design? What kinds of jobs are there in Graphic Design? What kinds of salaries are there for jobs in Graphic Design? What kind of degree can one get at Mott in Graphic Design? And why does it matter? Why isn’t this degree listed as a transfer degree? Does the degree in Graphic Design transfer? And where? I don’t know how to draw and I only like to draw on computers. Do I still have to take Drawing or 2D design? I’m not interested in learning to draw. Are there other options? I don’t know anything about computers. Will that be a problem? Are there any pre-requisites for Art 145-Intro to Computer-based Art? And why? How many hours per week should I expect to spend on homework in studio art/design classes? Are there books needed for studio art or design classes? Do I have to own a computer? And what kind? Where can I purchase a new Mac? What kind of software will I learn? Where can I purchase software? How much money should I budget for supplies? Do I have to take “Intro to American Government”? and why Should I take my GenEd courses first before starting my studies in Art or Design? What is the minimum number of classes I can take to be considered a fulltime student? How long will it take to graduate? Are there any Art classes available in the Spring of Summer semesters? When should I start looking for an internship? What kind of portfolio do I need? For everyday? For jobhunting? Do I need to meet with the Graphic Design advisor every semester? Why? If so, then how long will our meetings take? Who do I call to make an appointment for advising? What IS Graphic Design? If you’re having trouble explaining it to your parents, it’s probably because it’s not entirely clear to the rest of the world, either. Graphic Design is also known as “Visual Communications”. In the “old” days, degrees were often called “Commercial Art”. In general, it is an umbrella name for a variety of fields that use skills and techniques in visual art and design to communicate a message. Areas that use the skills of our trained designers include but are not limited to: Illustration (traditional & digital) Animation Multimedia Motion Graphics (for broadcast and web) Game Design/Illustration Web Design/Graphical User Interface Design Logos and Corporate Identity Design Advertising & Promotional Design Newspaper, Magazine Publishing Book Illustration and design xi. Catalog design Job titles run the gamut but, in general, include: Junior Graphic Designer Graphic Designer Art Director Creative Director (top level) What kinds of jobs are there in Graphic Design? Any job that uses the creative talents of an artist and designer, with knowledge of everything from traditional studio to digital techniques, plus typography, print design and web design will be a potential position for a graphic designer. These may include: Marketing and Public Relations Advertising Studios Design Studios In-house marketing and/or PR, training/education offices for major corporations such as in the manufacturing or health industries (and many others!) Book, newspaper or magazine publishers Retail businesses Non-profit sector marketing/educational in-house departments Plus many more! What kinds of salaries are there for jobs in Graphic Design? Salaries/pay depends upon many factors not least of which are: Level of experience Top degree (bachelor’s is standard) Quality of your “portfolio” (demonstrating your conceptual and practical design skills) Market forces – big city versus small town, etc. Starting pays for AAS students in the local area have been around $8-10/hr, quickly increasing from there as students have proven themselves. Mid-level designers in the mid-Michigan area earn from around $25K-$50K per year. Upper-level designers earn from about $50K+. Experienced Art and Creative Directors in larger markets can demand upwards of $70K per year. What kind of degree can one get at Mott in Graphic Design? And why does it matter? The degree one earns in Graphic Design is an Associates in Applied Science degree. It is a degree program that focuses on your preparation in an occupational specialty. It differs from an Associate of Arts because it has less of an emphasis on liberal arts courses and more on developing skills for a particular job market. It matters because you will not see the program listed as a “transfer degree” even though it does transfer to many colleges and universities around Michigan and across the nation. It also matters because there are often more options in Financial Aid when a student opts to pursue an occupational program, as indicated by their selected program code. In graphic design at Mott, the code is “GRDE2”. It also matters upon transfer. For some universities like UM/Flint, there is actually a mechanism for turning your AAS into a Bachelors in Applied Science degree. But having your AAS completed is the first step. More on that later. Why isn’t this degree listed as a transfer degree? It is a matter of clarity. Programs that primarily focus on an occupational specialty and therefore earn you an Associates in Applied Science degree are considered occupational programs first and foremost. Other programs that are designed as preparation for transfer to Michigan universities are listed as such. There are pros and cons to each so be sure to meet with a program advisor in the areas your are interested in studying in order to see which path is best for you. Does the degree in Graphic Design transfer? And where? Yes, as mentioned earlier, it does transfer. And it transfers to just about anywhere. But it does especially well at Schools of Art & Design such as Kendall, or College of Creative Studies, as well as out-of-state schools such as the Savannah College of Art & Design. However, it transfers equally well at universities such as UM/Flint, Michigan State University, GVSU, SVSU, Eastern University, CMU and others, as well as other out of state universities. Credits transfer with limitations usually restricted to: Grades of a minimum of 2.0 Maximum of usually around 64 credits (dependent upon institution) or approximately half of what the final degree requires. The AAS to BAS path at University of Michigan/Flint is probably the smoothest road towards a Bachelor’s degree after completing your degree in Graphic Design. It requires that you complete your AAS degree before transferring to UM/F. The requirements for your major will have already been completed by the AAS degree. You will then have the option of picking two minors, often advanced or complementary areas of study to your original field (in this case Graphic Design). You will also then have to complete what ever liberal arts requirements still remain. The AAS to BAS program recognizes that you have already had an indepth immersion in your field of study and builds upon that in order to meet your goal of the Bachelor’s degree. This is subject to change, so be sure to meet with either or both the graphic design advisors at Mott and at UM/Flint. I don’t know how to draw and I only like to draw on computers. Do I still have to take Drawing or 2D design? Absolutely. But we’ll help you learn. That’s why we’re here! Many students have not had the opportunity to experience art training in high school but still appreciate and enjoy the creative process. All students, no matter what their prior experience, will be required to take the four foundation studio courses (Drawing I & II, Basic 2D Design, and Basic 3D Design) that will prepare you for later graphic design courses. I’m not interested in learning to draw. Are there other options? There are other programs on campus that get students into careers in communications media, such as Communications Technology and Photographic Technology. However, both of these two degrees require students to take Basic 2D Design (Art 141), a foundation studio art class, because this is important to your understanding of color and principles of design. I don’t know anything about computers. Will that be a problem? Computing technology is an important part of life and work in the 21st Century. It is vital to anyone considering a career in communications, especially visual communications (graphic design). While you don’t need to start with knowledge of computers, if your prior experience is extremely limited, you may be required to take a preliminary course such as Introduction to Computing Technology, in order to prepare for your college experience. Are there any pre-requisites for Art 145-Intro to Computer-based Art? And why? Yes. The pre-requisite is Art 141-Basic 2D Design. Art 145 is not titled “Photoshop” or “Illustrator” or “Intro to Computers”. The reason is that our focus is on creating art, using the computer as a new tool. The pre-requisite of Art 141-Basic 2D Design is very important to your success in creating artwork for the computer since you’ll be building upon your newly developed skills in color theory, design principles, conceptual thinking, and craftsmanship. How many hours per week should I expect to spend on homework in studio art/design classes? The general rule of thumb recommended by the Program Coordinator is to allow twice the number of hours you’re IN class outside of class to do your “homework”. For example, you may be enrolled in 4 classes which total 12 credits in order to be fulltime. However, your contact hours total 18 (if you have two studio art classes and two non-studio classes, for example). It is recommended that you allow an average of an additional 36 hours per week to work on assignments. While some students may be able to accomplish a high quality of work in a much shorter time, many find the 36 hours to be more realistic in order to achieve a high level of success. Think of it as being much like learning a musical instrument in that the more you practice, the better you become in your craft. Are there books needed for studio art or design classes? Yes but not in all of them. Nearly all of the graphic design classes have some sort of textbook, often several. Later classes will be building upon skills learned in earlier ones, so it is recommended that Graphic Design students should NOT sell back their textbooks. You’ll be building a reference library for future use that later projects will utilize. While it is tempting to sell back even your Art History text, that too will prove useful for a reference in future graphic design classes and even out there in the working world. Do I have to own a computer? And what kind? Yes and no. You need to have access to some kind of basic computer that allows you to do research on the internet and do some basic word processing. As a graphic design major, however, eventually you will find it important to have access to a much more powerful computer that has all the tools of the industry standards that you’re learning. If you cannot afford one of the Apple computers that have been spec’d for student purchase, you can always use one of the on-campus Mac labs that have set up for student use. Still, many students find that having access to their own computer allows them more freedom to work at odd hours of the day or night when the labs may not be available to them. Since the industry-standard for graphic design is the Apple computer, the program coordinator keeps up to date on specifications for student computers that will serve you through, and possibly beyond, your period of studies here. See below for more information on recommended systems. Where can I purchase a new Mac? a. To be assured that you are getting the recommended system for Mott students, visit the Mott Recommended Computing systems page at the online Apple Store. The easiest way to reach this link is to visit the Fine Arts Division page at Mott (www.finearts.mcc.edu) and click on the link for “Apple Computer Recommended systems for Graphic Design majors” which opens a new window with the Apple page for Mott. Then you have ONE MORE STEP! Click on the GREEN CHECKBOX in the upper right corner of this opening page - “Recommended Systems – Selected to meet your needs”. Now you’ll see a range of 5 to 6 computing systems which are fully designed and ready for purchase online at the educational rate. Each one has been outfitted with all the necessary hardware, as well as an extended warranty to cover repair or replacement for three years. It even comes with the award-winning iLife suite (iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD, GarageBand, iWeb, etc.) The only thing left to add is some specialized software from Adobe. Want to see one in person before you buy? There are three Apple Stores in Michigan – Somerset Mall (near Macy’s), Oakland Mall, and another store in Grand Rapids. You can also have service or get questions answered in person at any of these locations. What kind of software will I learn? The software that is currently the industry standard for most graphic design work is the Adobe Creative Suite v.2. This includes Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and Acrobat Pro. Also, for web design, now that Adobe has purchased Macromedia, we use Flash and Dreamweaver. For word processing, we generally use Microsoft Office for Mac. Files are usually compatible across platforms requiring only a little deference to windows users by burning a windows-readable CD-ROM which the Mac does automatically. Our studios maintain the latest versions of all of these software packages. Where can I purchase software? Many places offer academic discounts to students with ID. Online retailers include: varsityed.com, journeyed.com, academicsuperstore.com, campustech.com and others. A significant discount is usually available to qualified students to purchase the academic versions of the software which is usually identical to commercial versions except for the licensing. How much money should I budget for supplies? Costs vary from one course to another. However, in general, a student may expect to spend between $150-$400 per art course, depending upon whether they’ve already purchased materials and tools from prior classes or not. Many tools purchased early on are used later, building up the student’s toolbox of materials and tools. Other items are consumables such as paper, paint, tape, etc. where students must be prepared to replace as they use them up. A list of materials for each class is available the first day. However, if you are nervous about the cost, be sure to ask your advisor or the art secretary about getting an advanced peek. A Mumby Scholarship-funded Stipend is also available to qualifying students for selected courses (Art 131, 132, 133, 142, 146) and usually includes a kit of expensive or hard-to-find items. Do I have to take “Intro to American Government”? and why? a. Yes. All students are required to take this course in order to receive the AAS in Graphic Design. Currently, PSCN-171 Intro to American Government was selected by the Program developer/coordinator to serve as the SOC requirement within the program. Other Social/Political science courses are being considered as they become available to meet this requirement. Meet with the program coordinator to discuss what courses are currently being considered to replace this. One only need recall the Presidential elections of 2000 and 2004 to understand the importance of design in our political system. Between the antiquated system using punchcards that left voters with “hanging chads” that risked negating their vote in 2000, to the “butterfly ballot” design in Florida that left many voters placing their votes differently than their actual intention. Since then, there has been a strong movement in the Graphic Design industry to address the redesign of important documents to be more user-friendly and accurate in its use. Should I take my GenEd courses first before starting my studies in Art or Design? No. All of your GenEd requirements will actually be met by carefully following the Sequential Guide and meeting with a Graphic Design advisor along the way. It is especially important to begin with Studio Art classes the very first semester since future advancement in the program depends upon successfully completing a rigorous sequence of studio classes in Graphic Design. What is the minimum number of classes I can take to be considered a fulltime student? It’s not about classes, but about college credit. The minimum considered to be fulltime is 12 credits. For Financial Aid purposes, this also includes remedial, pre-college credit courses such as ENGL-030, 099, and MATH 021, just to name a few examples. Be sure not to confuse college credits with contact hours. Mott’s tuition is per contact hour, not college credits. So, for instance, four courses that add up to 12 credits, such as a schedule that includes Art 121 (3 cr/3 ch), Art 131 (3 cr/6 ch), Art 141 (3 cr/6 ch), and Engl 101 (3 cr/3 ch), may have a total of 18 contact hours (number of hours per week that you are in class). Your tuition will be based on the 18 contact hours, but your financial aid looks at the credit, which totals 12. How long will it take to graduate? If you follow the program at its full pace of about 5 classes (15-16 cr/21-24 ch) per semester, it would take two full years and two summers to complete the program. However, since some courses are limited to Fall or Winter only, it is important to meet with a Graphic Design advisor to make sure you’re prepared for the next offerings, and in the proper sequence, having met pre-requisites, etc. Are there any Art classes available in the Spring of Summer semesters? There are a very limited number of art and design classes being offered in the Spring and Summer. Usually, these have been limited to “Workshop” classes, where faculty explore new and different topics in a highly compressed format, allowing students to completely immerse themselves in a single topic for 2-4 days a week for about 5-7 weeks. More recently, we have offered some standard 100-level studio courses such as Art 142-Basic 3D Design, and Art 145-Intro to Computer-based Art in order to encourage students to continue their studies year-round. These were taught in a 7 1/2 week summer semester and the pace is speeded up considerably in order to cover the same material as traditionally taught in a 15-week semester. Art 248-Graphic Design Internship is available year-round but may not appear on the schedule. Be sure to meet with the coordinator if you are planning your internship for Spring and/or Summer. When should I start looking for an internship? You may take on an informal internship at any time. However, college credit will only be approved by the coordinator after you have successfully completed Art 244-Publication Design for Print. In addition, your internship must meet certain criteria for credit. These criteria include having a mentor/supervisor who is an experienced designer on staff. You will also be required to prepare a portfolio and resume for interviews, and a comprehensive “designed” report of your internship experience. What kind of portfolio do I need? For everyday? For jobhunting? a. For everyday, it varies by the instructor. Most will accept a manila-style large portfolio that can hold the large drawing pads and projects you’ll be doing in the Foundation Studio classes. When you begin the Graphic Design classes, the same type of portfolio will work, though you may want to consider using something sturdier for everyday and then turning in your semester’s work in one of the manila portfolios. For jobhunting, a professional portfolio is extremely important. However, this varies by situation. Art 246-Self Promotion & Portfolio is a course designed to prepare you for the jobhunting experience. If you would like some specific advise prior to taking this course, be sure to meet with a Graphic Design advisor who can help you prepare for an opportunity that may have come your way. Do I need to meet with the Graphic Design advisor every semester? Why? If so, then how long will our meetings take? Yes. It’s a really good idea for many reasons. The Graphic Design program builds upon a sequence of courses, from early studios to more advanced graphics classes. Each class builds upon previous ones. The graphic design advisor is there to help you not only plan your next semester, but also to plan for future ones, making sure you get your classes in alignment to meet the pre-requisites for a class two semesters down the road. The GD advisor also has a great deal of professional work experience in the field and can draw upon that to help you with the shaping of your studies to meet your interests and strengths. Think of this person as your academic coach with specialized knowledge about this degree program and the graphic design industry, too! Generally, the first meeting is the longest because we’ll spend some time talking about your interests, the program requirements, and some potential longterm plans, along with any questions and concerns you (and sometimes parents) have about going to college, studying graphic design, etc. But after that, our meetings don’t need to be so long. We’ll get together to make sure you’re progressing successfully, and to plan the next semester. And, when there are problems that impact your academic success, or questions come up that you want to discuss, then we talk about those things, too. Who do I call to make an appointment for advising? You can reach the graphic design advisor, Mara Jevera Fulmer (also the program coordinator), by calling the Art Office at 810-762-0443 to make an appointment. Or you can call direct at 810-232-3431 and leave a voicemail. And, you can always send an email to mfulmer@edtech.mcc.edu.       Date Modified: November 28, 2006   Form Center Policies Sitemap Glossary Contact Us Webmaster MOTT COMMUNITY COLLEGE  1401 East Court St.   Flint, MI 48503  (810) 762-0200 © MCC 2002-2008