The associate degree in design will prepare you to create and plan designs in a variety of media. After earning your degree, you will be able to work in many different fields of design.

You will be able to create composites in digital form and use the skills that you learn in project management to design visual compositions. You will have the critical thinking skills, presentation, written communication and oral skills needed to create designs. You also learn how to apply color theory and graphic design to compositions.

You will learn how to use CAD software to plan designs. You study the materials and lighting used in specific designs. You will learn about how to bid on projects and how to budget and estimate projects. You need a strong background in color, drafting and drawing to succeed as a designer.

The associate degree in design allows you to choose a field of expertise. Graphic design, kitchen and bathroom design, wed design and visual communications. The courses required for all fields are Fundamentals of Design, and Digital Image Manipulation. Keep in mind that some colleges may have different course titles, but you will learn the same things.

Courses for Kitchen and bathroom design are Materials and Sources, Advanced Bath Design, Kitchen and Bath Studio, History of Kitchen and Bath, Basic Drafting, Kitchen Design, Bath Design and Design and Color Fundamentals. You also need Introduction to Kitchen and Bath Design, Building Systems and Codes.

Courses for Graphic Design are Color Theory, Visual Indication, History and Analysis of Design, Digital Illustration, Art Direction, Fundamentals of Web, Advertising Design and Dimensional Design. You also need to take Typography, Life Drawing and Production Procedures.

Courses for web design and visual communication are Color Theory for Multimedia and Web, Design and Typography, Fundamentals of the World Wide Web, Project Management, Introduction to Audio, Copyright Law, Interactive Authoring I and II, and Web Site Development. You also take Information Design, Screen Design and Graphics, and Basic Web Scripting.

Careers in Design

Careers in design include gallery assistants, advertising specialist and graphic design assistants. You will be able to find work designing websites, working with graphics and designing kitchen and bathroom designs. You could find a position with a private client, retailers, manufacturers or builders and contractors.