Computer graphics design remains one of the hottest, fastest-growing
professional fields and sees no sign of letting up in offering
opportunities. In the consumer world, nearly everything you
see is a product computer graphics design somewhere down the
line, and some guy sitting at a desk listening to old Ted
Nugent CDs was sitting in the glow of his terminal screen
at three o’clock in the morning looking for inspiration.
That box of film doesn’t look so exciting? Hey, that’s
the result of works of painstaking work paying attention to
minute detail.
Graphic designers create visual solutions to communicate.
They use a variety of print, electronic and film media to
effectively get their message across to others. Graphic designers
create the layout and production design of magazines, newspapers,
and other publications. They also put together promotional
displays, packaging, and marketing brochures for products
and services, and design individual logos for products and
businesses. Overall, these professionals need to be able to
come up with strategies for layouts and artistic concepts,
and they must be able to create visual images that engage,
attract and sell their clients products. Most graphic designers
today use computer software to generate innovative images.
Graphic designers need to be familiar with desktop publishing
tools such as Frame Maker, Acrobat Exchange, Photoshop or
PageMaker.
Academic training leading to a bachelor’s degree in
art or design has almost become a necessity. Although formal
training is not strictly necessary, it is very difficult to
become skilled enough to make a living without some training.
Roughly 70% of graphic designers do go to college and typically
major in art, or art history, or product design. Associate
degrees and certificates in graphic design also are available
from professional schools. These programs generally concentrate
on the technical parts of graphic design. Graduates of 2-year
programs in general are eligible as assistants to graphic
designers or for jobs that entail technical skills only.
Those in computer graphics rarely need worry about finding
employment, even during times of heavy bushonomics; indeed,
it appears to be one of the most dependable, stable fields
in which to seek work. Another bonus of pursuing a career
in computer graphics is the current multitude of online education
programs in this field of study. Online education, of course,
allows one to study at home, thereby not sacrificing his or
her current “day job” while secretly pursuing
another in the hopes of someday requesting his or her boss
to perform some sort of biological obscenity.
The following is a list of a handful of online education
programs in computer graphics design.
The
Art Institute Online is one of the biggest names in the
distance-learning industry, offering courses in all sorts
of professional skills in computer graphics. Design is, naturally,
a more popular selection offered by the upper-education program.
Here, the degrees offered are:
Associate Degrees in Graphic Design
Associate Degrees in Interactive Media
Bachelor Degrees in Game Art and Design
Bachelor Degrees in Graphic Design
Bachelor Degrees in Interactive Media Design
Bachelor Degrees in Media Arts and Animation.
Westwood
College Online offers an effective efficient program designed
to assist you in achieving a college-level degree in a shorter
time than might be possible “in real life.” Westwood
promises a seventeen-month turnaround for an Associate Degree
(as opposed to the more typical two years) and less than three
years for a Bachelor’s Degree (against four years typically).
Computer graphics design programs include:
Associate Degree in Graphic Design and Multimedia
Bachelor’s Degree in Game Software Development
Bachelor’s Degree in Game Art and Design
Baker
College Online is a Michigan-state chartered school offering
a variety of classes up to Master’s Degree level. Even
when distance learning, veterans benefits are accepted here.
Degrees include an Associate Degree in Web Design, which falls
under the auspices of their Applied Science department.
So go ahead, put all that time you spend in front of the
computer to work for you. Good luck, learn much and prosper!
View
a complete list of colleges offering Online Graphic Design
programs
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