A Brief History of the Design Major
Design degrees have been popular degree choices amongst students in Canada and Australia for several decades, with their popularity reaching into the United States and the UK in more recent years. As the design degree grew more popular in the U.S., different disciplines were added and the degree became specialized with concentrations within the curriculums including (but not limited to): architecture, graphic design, interior design, fashion design, and game design. Design degrees can open the doors for a number of different types of design and prepare students for careers in the business and professional world. Today, design degrees focus on a number of aspects of design and students can expect to learn both technological foundations and aspects of design as well as the artistic side of design which allows students to be knowledgeable and well-trained in design and design-related sectors and industries.
Delving Into the Design Major
Design degrees cover a wide scope of different concepts and fundamentals associated with creativity and design skills. To be knowledgable on these fundamentals, students must excel in their programs and develop the skills they will need to perform in careers in the industry. Some of these skills include those in graphic design, the basics and fundamentals of design, computer graphics, composition, color composites, layout, typography, and electronic imaging. While the specific courses required in design degrees are likely to vary between learning institutions, most colleges and universities offer similar courses to train and prepare students for careers in design. Some courses may include (but are not limited to): interactive media, graphic design, web design, photography, visual communications, animation, the basics of design, creativity, film, video, and game design. To supplement the courses that students in design degree programs take, students are also likely required to read textbooks as well that elaborate more on the aspects of certain design categories. Design students can also expect to take part in a number of projects and assignments including creating and presenting programs, software, and different pieces for evaluation.
Degree Levels:
Associate
Associate design degrees should typically take students about two years to complete. Students working on earning an associate degree in design are taught the basics of design including how to properly put colors, styles, and cuts together and how to design a number of different types of art. Depending on the specialization students choose to follow, graduates of associate design degree programs can learn a number of skills to produce high-quality websites, video games, clothing, landscaping, multimedia projects, and home decor. An associate degree in design is a good place to learn the basics and is a good start for a career in design.
Bachelor’s
A bachelor degree in design delves into more of the creativity and training behind design rather than solely the basics. Bachelor degrees are a good way to get more exposure into the field and the degree generally takes students about four years to complete. Students that study bachelor degree courses in the field are prepared to excel in a number of careers that relate to the design industry. Depending on the specialization, students develop creative abilities to be able to design and produce high-quality and web-enabled websites and graphics, are prepared to design clothing or styles for homes and businesses, and work on advertising and marketing projects. In addition, graduates have the skills and training necessary to build a professional portfolio of accomplishments.
Master’s
A master’s degree typically take students about a year and a half to two years to complete after a bachelor’s degree is earned. Master’s degrees typically require a lot of research and get students involved with in-depth theories and analysis that are associated within the field. These courses generally also cover frameworks in observation and research, designing new programs, software, or items, and producing creative and innovative systems. Design master degree program graduates have acquired the skills and methods they will need in order to apply design and creativity to the development of products, communications, services, software, and systems.
Doctorate
Doctorate degrees require an immense amount of research and are usually pursued by those who wish to teach and expand the knowledge of other people in their respective concentrations. The courses in these degrees are shaped to teach graduates more methods, research, and theories so that they can instill critical thinking and further development of concepts among their students and/or peers. Depending on the specializations, students in PhD design programs take core classes on the history of the area they are studying as well as topics and courses that cover the industry, consumer trends, working as part of a team, client dynamics and demands, and marketing.
Supplementing Your Design Major
Design degrees are offered in a number of concentrations depending on the desired college or university. Common concentrations of design degrees include those in interior design, graphic design, industrial design, web design, and fashion design. Regardless of the concentration that is chosen to meet the specific needs of a student, there are also a number of minor concentrations that would pair well with major degrees so that students can broaden their horizons when it comes time to pursue careers in the field. Those students that have a minor concentration as well are likely to be qualified for a larger number of jobs. For example, a graduate with a design degree and a minor in business or business administration could pursue upper-level or management careers within the design industry. A student with a design degree that also has a minor concentration in communications or speech could qualify for coordinator or public relations careers in the design field. An accounting minor also supplements a design degree well because accounting concentrations, much like those in business, can pertain to a number of careers across a vast amount of industries and fields. The versatility of a design degree allows students to develop the critical thinking and creativity skills they will need to excel in a number of fields and industries. Graduates of design degrees can pursue careers in marketing, advertising, creative design, web design, computer design, interior design, landscape design, and fashion design. Graduates can even become entrepreneurs and open a business related to the field as well.
Learn More About the Design Major
- US News Best Graduate Design Schools
- Graphic Art and Design Open CourseWare
- MIT Product Design and Development Open CourseWare
- Hongkiat.com’s Collection of Free Design Journals
The Design Major in the Job Market
While colleges and universities will have different degree curriculums and offer an assortment of different courses, some of the skills students develop in design degree programs include the ability to think critically and be creative within a number of areas. They will also be able to design and create looks, games, software, clothing, programs, websites, and a number of different quality products. Employers of design-related businesses and careers require employees to have the creativity and training needed to provide quality products, which is why students knowledgable and trained in the field should have the best job opportunities, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Because creativity and the ability to design is essential in the field, employers are likely to look for candidates with degrees and experience in the field as well as those that have strong portfolios. Portfolios are important because they allow graduates the opportunity to have their work speak for itself. A portfolio is a good way to show that graduates have the abilities and experience it takes to qualify for the career they are pursuing, according to the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design. While graduates with design degrees can have a number of specialized degrees, common career paths in the field include graphic design, fashion, animation, industrial design, and commercial design. Some specific careers in these areas include (but are not limited to): interior designer, game designer, landscape designer, fashion designer, floral designer, web designer, graphic designer, or an agent or coordinator at a marketing or advertising firm. With the skills that students develop in design degree programs, they could also become an entrepreneur and start their own business or organization within the design, advertising, or marketing fields. Other career options for design majors include animator, architect, art director, product designer, or a film and video editor.
Careers I Can Get with This Degree:
