By: TAI Professor Cheryl Mendenhall
I ran into a former student, who had just received her masters degree, at the bookstore after graduation this past May. She was telling me how much she was using the skills learned in one of my graphic design classes at her job – which she hadn’t expected but found that the skills came in handy in her somewhat unrelated field.
Awhile back another former student told me how excited she was to be able to use her graphic design skills at her copy writing internship. Being able to pitch in on projects in a different capacity than was expected made her an even more valuable asset to the team.
Why am I telling you this? Well, while you may know that TAI offers an
interdisciplinary minor in graphic design, you may not realize how many fields of study can benefit from these skills. You might be interested in pursuing graphic design as a career but even if you aren’t, learning to become a better visual communicator can enhance a variety of career paths.
It’s so much more than learning the software used in the industry. It is about cultivating your ideas; using design principles of composition and layout; learning about typography, imagery and color choices along with a little psychology to best present your ideas. We discuss and practice all of these skills to build a powerful toolbox to help create messages that inspire, inform, tell stories or engage your audience.
You might want to consider how these skills can enhance your interests and career path. You can learn more about the graphic design minor here.
Images Courtesy of:
Currency Redesign, Cho Kim, Intro to Graphic Design
Event Poster, Tanner Thompson, Intro to Graphic Design
Type Specimen Poster, Alexa Acosta, Typography
Logo, Dani Kubitz, Logo and Trademark
Magazine, Traci Penn, Publication Design