Design Degrees
Benefits of Getting an Online Design Degree
Anyone with a serious creative streak or a passion for visualization and implementation can find a comfortable and challenging career in design. Whether expressed through print or fashion, a design degree will introduce the fundamentals of visual communication to prospective design students, helping them to learn new skills and hone their techniques. Having an educational background in the art field puts graduates miles ahead of others. In fact, many employers at top creative career industries, like advertising agencies and art galleries, will not hire job candidates without proper art education, which oftentimes means a Bachelor’s degree in Arts and Design, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. As most design is practiced on a computer anyway, learning in the online format will not deprive students of any technical challenge. In fact, the convenience of learning from home on a flexible schedule can only add to the educational experience of the student.
What Will I Learn in a Design Program?
Design can communicate an idea or feeling without words. Design programs teach students how to successfully use graphics as a form of expression. Basic courses cover the fundamentals of working with illustrations, textual elements, programs such as Photoshop, and other basic technical skills. Other courses cover subjects that directly correlate with the student’s area of concentration. For example, students diving into graphic design will learn how to use programs specific to computer design, such as Illustrator and InDesign, as well as how to design for print and web. The design field offers a variety of concentrations, including fashion design for those with runway ambitions, and web design for those looking to create new and innovative web pages.
Popular Majors in the Design Field
Graphic design and web design are the two most popular majors in the design field. Out of the massive visual and performing arts field in 2007, five percent of the Bachelor’s level degrees conferred were graphic design degrees, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Graphic designers learn composition, digital layout, image editing, and other advanced graphics skills to prepare them for a future in computer illustration. Web design is also growing in popularity with the advance of internet business technology and web branding. In addition to graphic design skills, web design students focus on coding and internet functionality to build web pages that are visually appealing as well as user-friendly and efficient.
Popular Jobs for Design Majors
Many design majors become freelance designers after graduating, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Some join with businesses such as advertising companies or magazines, working as the in-house creative designer. These positions have employees creating layouts to showcase a product or story for print media. Web designers are also in high demand as more and more businesses turn to creating a positive and recognizable web presence.
Job Prospects for Design Majors
Graphic design opportunities are expected to grow ten percent by 2016, which is about the same rate as the national job growth average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The field will be competitive, and those with at least a Bachelor’s degree in design as well as web-coding skills will find more favorable prospects than others. Many businesses will seek designers who can function as web site developers as well as designers as e-commerce expands in the coming years.
