ARTD Course Descriptions

ARTD 110 Digital Tools

3 credit hours

A course offering an introduction to industry-standard design software and applications, including Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, SketchUp, and other applications tailored to the instructor's expertise. Students can access the Creative Suite on campus computers in Lemmons. Students not accessing on-campus computers should anticipate purchasing the Creative Suite for a personal device. Additional course fee is required.

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ARTD 210 Typography

3 credit hours

A course offering an introduction to typography including type history, typefaces, type selection and layout, the use of type in effective designs, and creative approaches to using type. Prerequisite: ARTD 110 Digital Tools. Additional course fee is required.

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ARTD 220 Print and Packaging

3 credit hours

A course offering an in-depth exploration of design for both 2D and 3D printed objects. Students engage in project ideation, paper selection, technical execution, working with print templates, and preparing production-ready designs. The course may also include opportunities to collaborate with real clients, leveraging the instructor’s professional network. Prerequisite: ARTD 210 Typography. Additional course fee is required.

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ARTD 230 Web Design

3 credit hours

A course focusing on internet design and internet-minded media through content and CMS, design, and front-end web development (including HTML & CSS coding), and standard user interface models. Students review best practices in visual communication and engage in hand-coding while exploring design models and emerging site production methods. Prerequisite: ARTD 110 Digital Tools. Additional course fee is required.

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ARTD 250 Graphic Design I

3 credit hours

A course offering an introduction to graphic design by combining studio work with classroom instruction. Fundamental components of the design process are incorporated to provide students with a robust experience in ideation, research execution, and presentation of projects. Advanced uses of Creative Suite, digital tools, and other emerging software and technologies are explored based on the instructor's expertise. Prerequisite: ARTD 110 Digital Tools. Additional course fee is required.

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ARTD 255 Topics in Design

1-3 credit hour

A lower-division rotating lecture/studio course that focuses on an area of interest and specialty for the instructor. Media and techniques, such as footwear, apparel, industrial design, product design, and service design, may be explored. Students may repeat this course under a different topic. Students may need to purchase additional supplies. Additional course fee is required.

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ARTD 260 Illustration I

3 credit hours

A course offering an introduction to professional illustration skills in commercial and personal contexts. Students learn the technical processes of research, ideation, image creation, and deployment to bring vivid storytelling to design briefs and concepts. Prerequisites: ARTD 110 Digital Tools and ARTS 111 Drawing I. Additional course fee is required.

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ARTD 285 Selected Topics

1-3 credit hour

A lower-division lecture/studio class that focuses on areas of interest and specialty in design practices. Students may need to purchase additional supplies. Additional course fee is required.

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ARTD 295 Individualized Study

1-3 credit hour

A course structured around individualized study or supervised research in an area of special interest to the student, which is outside the regular course offerings of the major. Additional course fee (per credit) is required.

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ARTD 340 Dimensional Illustration

3 credit hours

A course focusing on developing media illustrations in multi-dimensional digital space, including the techniques and skills of three-dimensional modeling, lighting, and rendering. Students learn how to work across multiple professional software in their workflows to take advantage of emerging applications and technologies. Prerequisite: ARTD 110 Digital Tools. Additional course fee is required.

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ARTD 350 Graphic Design II

3 credit hours

A course offering an advanced exploration of the structures, processes, and methodologies designers use to generate ideas, solve complex problems, and effectively engage audiences. Emphasizing real-world applications such as working with actual clients, environmental design, and wayfinding systems, students delve into the profound ways design influences and shapes human behavior. By incorporating advanced techniques in design thinking, creative strategy, ethnography, and research, students explore diverse approaches to ideation and execution. Additional course fee is required.

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ARTD 360 Illustration II

3 credit hours

A course offering studio development of illustration skills in applied projects across a variety of self-selected media. Students develop their personal approach to illustration processes through research, making, evaluating, presenting, and reflecting on their work. Creative strategy, context, and content, technique, media, and subject matter vary each semester. Prerequisites: ARTD 260 Illustration I. Additional course fee is required.

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ARTD 365 Professional Practices

2-3 credit hour

A seminar course preparing students for an internship or professional experience that will follow this course as a dynamic program graduation requirement. Additionally, students gain exposure to common business practices such as the development of contracts, estimates, invoices, accounting, promotion, and project management. Prerequisite: Junior status or instructor approval.

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ARTD 370 Systems, Identity, and Branding

3 credit hours

A course focused on visual thinking and systematic approaches to graphic design. Students explore brand development, identity systems, and generative design methods. Students design, develop, and present projects that achieve clear communicative objectives, while also having the potential opportunity to collaborate with real clients. Prerequisite: ARTD 210 Typography. Additional course fee is required.

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ARTD 380 UI/UX Design

3 credit hours

A course focusing on the design of interactive objects and experiences, with a focus on user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design. Key topics include navigation, information architecture, kinetic design, and the development of intuitive and effective interfaces. Students also explore research methods central to UI/UX design, gaining the skills necessary to craft seamless and engaging digital experiences. Prerequisite: ARTD 210 Typography. Additional course fee is required.

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ARTD 405 Portfolio Development

2 credit hours

A capstone course focusing on the organization and preparation of a portfolio showcasing a student's creative work in preparation for employment in the field of design. Students explore visual organization and display, document assembly methods, and various reproduction image management techniques. Computer design and printing processes are used to create consistent paper and digital portfolios. The course may be taken two times. For BFA students taking Portfolio Development the second time, they are expected to create an informed, focused, and in-depth body of work, which is developed through research and critical feedback with instructors and visiting practitioners. In recognition of the transition from student to professional, this process represents students' work in their studio spaces, largely in a self-directed manner, in consultation with the faculty. This work should reflect mature and independent decisions made regarding content and means of expression. Prerequisites: Declared Art and Design major/minor with Junior or Senior status, or by instructor permission. Additional course fee is required.

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ARTD 455 Topics in Design (Advanced)

1-3 credit hour

An upper-division rotating lecture/studio course that focuses on an area of interest and specialty for the instructor. Media and techniques such as design impact on historic preservation, footwear, apparel, product, industrial, and service design may be explored. Students may repeat this course under a different topic. Students may need to purchase additional supplies. Additional course fee is required.

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ARTD 481 Collaborative Studio I

3 credit hours

A course structured around applied design projects that allow students to work collaboratively with regional clients. Within this course, students work in teams as they move projects from concept and quote to preparation for production. Designers develop work across a variety of media and learn to manage client relationships while producing work that meets the needs of real audiences. Prerequisite: Junior Status. Additional course fee is required.

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ARTD 482 Collaborative Studio II

3 credit hours

A course structured around applied art and design projects that allow students to work collaboratively with regional clients. Within this revisitation of Collaborative Design I, students have an increased expectation of leadership and creative direction of teams. Students operate as creative directors, leading teams of fellow students as they explore leadership, ideation, and collaboration strategies. Prerequisite: ARTD 481 Collaborative Studio I. Additional course fee is required.

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ARTD 485 Selected Topics

1-3 credit hour

An upper-division lecture/studio class that focuses on areas of interest and specialty in design practices. Students may need to purchase additional supplies. Additional course fee is required.

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ARTD 495 Individualized Study

1-3 credit hour

A course structured around individualized study or supervised research in an area of special interest to the student, which is outside the regular course offerings of the major. Additional course fee (per credit) is required.

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