Graphic design is an integral part of all media that make use of visuals. The scope for graphic design is immense considering that advertising agencies, graphic design studios, print and publishing houses, TV and multimedia production, e-learning companies, Web development studios and Web design studios all make use of graphic design in some format. The course in graphic design can be called by different names in different institutes, but the fundamental focus of the study is on graphic designing.
A large part of being a graphic design or related professional is being able to use the right software well. Therefore, a lot of the study in courses in graphic design focus on giving students the knowledge to use the latest designing software like Adobe Photoshop, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Premiere, Autodesk 3dsmax, Autodesk Maya, Autodesk Mudbox, eyeon Fusion, Apple Final Cut Pro or Sound Forge. The usual duration of the diploma course is 12 months, but the duration may vary in different institutes. Bachelor’s degrees (such as the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Design) in the subject are also available, though advertising, digital media or multimedia may be part of the course and academic course title. These courses may take three to four years to complete and can include mandatory project or industry experience.
In addition to graphic designing, the general course can include related domains like Web design or 2-D/3-D animation. After successfully completing the diploma or bachelor’s degree, you could work as a graphic designer, advertising art director, User Interface (UI) designer, developer of interactive e-learning, packaging designer, Web/interactive designer, illustrator, layout artist, digital storyboard artist or 2-D and/or 3-D animator. Educational requirements vary by position, undergraduate education is a minimum requirement for many graphic designer positions.
Courses in graphic design are divided into a certain number of semesters of equal length. The topics of study in the first two semesters or initial semesters usually include the drawing and design fundamentals — shapes of objects, structures, colour theory, 3-D space and structure, materials and geometry. In the remaining semesters more advanced related study could be done, which might include the use of design software. Some topics that may generally be covered are photography, typography, history of graphics, visual scripting, packaging design, information design, 3-D modelling, computer-generated (CG) lighting, digital illustration, texturing and interactive design. In the event that the course is inclusive of related fields like Web design or animation, then the course structure would include study on topics like Web page design, interactive presentation, video editing, digital animation, digital storyboarding and animation design. The structure of the course is subject to the decision of individual institutions and may vary widely.
Below are some of the institutions that offer courses such as a Bachelor’s in graphic and multimedia design, Graduate Diploma in Graphic Design or other more specialised diploma programmes:
Programmes are subject to change, it is advisable to check directly with a school for current programme availability.
Sources
“Bachelor’s in Graphic and Multimedia Design,” Annapurna International School of Film + Media, http://www.aisfm.edu.in/academics/degree-programs/bachelors-in-graphic-multimedia-design
“Course Structure at MIT Institute of Design,” MAEER’s MIT Institute of Design, http://www.mitid.edu.in/Academics_course_stru.html
“DGA Programme in Graphic Design & Animation,” Maya Academy of Advanced Cinematics, http://www.maacindia.com/animation-courses/dga.htm
“DGWA,” Maya Institute of Advanced Cinematics, http://www.maacindia.com/animation-courses/dgwa.htm
“Graphic Designer Jobs,” Naukri.com, http://jobsearch.naukri.com/graphic-designer-jobs
“Graduate Diploma Programme in Graphic Design,” MAEER’s MIT Institute of Design, http://www.mitid.edu.in/POP_UG_GD.html
“Graphic & Web Design,” Arena Animation, http://www.arena-multimedia.com/graphics-web-design.aspx