Build Your Story in Graphic Design
The WACTC Graphic Design program provides students with the opportunity to explore their creativity while learning all the skills and tools to design and operate industry software and hardware in an ever-changing field. This program prepares students in many diverse areas. They will learn many of the Adobe CC applications such as Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Muse, Animate and more.
These are only a few areas covered in the Graphic Design curriculum:
- Advertising
- Marketing
- Animation
- Digital Photography
- Digital Printing
- Dye Sublimation Printing
- Illustration
- Web Design
- Interactive Design
- Video
- Graphic Design
Internships & Certification
Students are eligible to be placed in internships in their senior year. Upon graduation, students will have completed a digital and hardcopy portfolio and earned PrintED, a national certification co-awarded by the Graphic Arts Education and Research Foundation and SkillsUSA. Students have the opportunity to continue their education with college, technical school or go directly into the field of graphic design.
Curriculum
The curriculum is provided by PrintED, the education arm of the national printing industry.
Year One
Students begin with studio skills which include the creative process, terminology, colors, tones, shading, materials and tools. Students create artwork according to teacher requirements and industry standards. Students learn to judge and assess their own work and the work of others. Students are introduced to type selection and usage both by hand and computer.
Year Two
The needs of various print media – newspaper, posters, web pages, CD covers, billboards, brochures, television and more – are analyzed. Students begin using various software packages such as Adobe Animate, Muse, Illustrator, Photoshop, Indesign etc. for painting, drawing, photo enhancement and design.
Year Three
Students move to advanced study of color laser printers, color scanners, large format printers, digital and video cameras, and the flexi-sign plotter/cutter. Qualified students participate in internships at graphics companies and within the graphics divisions of large businesses.