Department Overview | Faculty | Links       Department Overview An abundance of computers, combined with small class sizes and individual instruction, gives SCAD students a distinct advantage. Students have access to the latest versions of popular graphic design software such as QuarkXPress, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator and MacroMedia FreeHand. The graphic design program encourages innovation while stressing strong technical and presentation skills. Students gain a background in design history and theory and then experiment and develop their own design approaches. A comprehensive curriculum prepares graduates for a wide range of careers in the industry. Graphic design majors can increase their career possibilities by pursuing a double major in a related field, such as broadcast design, illustration, interactive design and game development, industrial design or photography. The undergraduate program begins with design history, theory and traditional hand skills, then progresses to current graphic design practices and technology. Students design advertising campaigns, logos, multimedia/interactive applications, packaging, posters, publications, Web pages and more. Graphic design students also learn about the printing process and produce printed material for their portfolios. At the graduate level, students improve their technical and conceptual skills while developing a personal creative vision. Graduate students express their design philosophies in a thesis project or showcase a comprehensive body of work in an exhibition. At both the undergraduate and graduate levels, coursework parallels professional practice and often involves actual clients. Advanced graphic design courses are taught in computer/studio classrooms using continually updated hardware and software. Classroom facilities include Macintosh computers equipped with CD burners. Students learn to use Adobe Illustrator, InDesign and Photoshop; Macromedia Director, Dreamweaver and Flash; QuarkXPress; and other graphics packages. Classroom instruction is complemented by field trips to printing companies, advertising agencies and graphic design studios, as well as off-campus trips to New York and abroad. Special guests have visited the department, including Supon Phornirunlit of Supon Design, Seymour Chwast of Push Pin Studios and Steff Geissbuhler of Chermayeff & Geismar Inc. Students gain real-world experience by entering competitions and by completing freelance assignments for local businesses and organizations. Students also are encouraged to pursue internships in the field to strengthen their portfolios and gain additional practical experience prior to graduation. In addition, students are encouraged to join Counterform, the graphic design student club, as well as the student chapter of the American Institute of Graphic Arts. "I think SCAD really prepares students for the working world. I have had several classes in which the classroom is set up like a design firm, where the teacher plays the role of art director and students work in design teams toward a common goal." --Cindy Althen, Pittstown, N.J., B.F.A. student Career options include graphic design for publishing houses, advertising agencies, corporations, the printing industry, newspapers and magazines, production houses, service bureaus, catalog publishers, financial institutions, television, the fashion industry and movie studios. Other opportunities may be available in art direction, package design, design direction, multimedia and Web design, exhibition design, retail identity design, sign system design, layout and environmental graphics. Read more about the graphic design department! • Alumnus scores big-league position • Graphic design class teaches more than fundamentals • Alumna realizes dream of working for Nike • Alumnus begins new chapter in design career • Graphic design makes mark • Student's work hits the streets back to top