Digital Art and Design

Moraine Valley's Digital Art and Design program prepares students to enter the world of graphic arts in as little as two years. Graphic designers influence how we view the world using colors, illustrations, photos and fonts. Through a combination of typography, visual arts and page layout, graphic designers are able to enhance the user experience, brand products and create cohesive web pages, publications or advertising campaigns. The Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S) degree in Digital Art and Design is designed to demonstrate proficiency with tools and technologies in information technology industries related to the visual arts. Students will learn to create, reproduce, and distribute visual messages and collaborate in an environment with project team members and clients to organize and complete design solutions.

What Can I Do With An A.A.S. Degree In Digital Art and Design?

As a graphic designer, you will learn a variety of valuable and transferable technological skill sets that can be used in a number of job settings. Career opportunities for graphic designers include advertising agencies, design and television studios, publishing houses, corporate communication departments, and more. Graphics designers can also work as freelance designers by starting their own business

Job Outlook

Employment of graphic designers is projected to grow 3% 2021 to 2031. Graphic designers are expected to face strong competition for available positions.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics

Digital Design Certificate

Enhance your skill set and advance your career. The Digital Design certificate program provides persons who have experience, either on-the-job or in post-secondary degree programs, with a means to upgrade or add to their job skills. Based on studio art/design projects, students are given the opportunity of working with Adobe Creative Cloud software as a means to achieve experience for entry-level employment in graphic design and graphic design production.

Studios

To provide you with the best learning experience, Moraine Valley has several art studios with modern equipment that will let you be your most creative.

Digital Art and Design Studio

Digital Art and Design Studio
The digital studio is state-of-the-art and features Apple computers, iPads, industry-standard software, large format printers, vinyl cutters, and a digital heat press.

Ceramics Studio
The ceramics studio features pottery wheels, a glazing room, gas and electric kilns, and an outdoor ceramics area. The studio’s numerous windows provide ideal natural light.

Painting Studio
The painting studio accommodates students working in a variety of media. Natural light flows through the studio’s all-glass western wall, overlooking the center’s courtyard.

3-D Design Studio
The three-dimensional design studio houses a range of sculpture tools and construction equipment, allowing you to create three-dimensional work in a variety of media.

2-D Design Studio
The two-dimensional design studio accommodates a variety of art classes and features an expansive art display wall and 12 Macintosh computers.

Printmaking Studio
Our green printmaking studio is fully equipped with everything students need for litho, etching, engraving, and screenprinting.

Photo Studio
The digital and darkroom processing studios are for creative photography and are available for students to develop, print, and duplicate photographs.

MEET THE FACULTY

Get to know the many talented instructors at Moraine Valley.

If you are looking for some awesome, knowledgeable people to work with, these are the guys I highly recommend. Their friendliness and result-driven approach is what I love about them.

Emmy Jordan

Freelance designer; earned her Digital Art/Design A.A.S. degree in 2019

Moraine Valley is not only a place to prep for a full-fledged degree; it is a place to return to in order to hone and sharpen skills you already have. Whether for a personal or community-related project, Moraine Valley’s staff are there to support you. What a beautiful campus, filled with many opportunities.

Ken Beckwith

Visual arts instructor; Attended Moraine Valley 2002-2005; Author/illustrator of “Heart of Birds or She Sent Me Things”

Moraine Valley gives students a solid foundation to build a career in this field. We worked on the same type of equipment used in the industry. And you were encouraged to develop your own style.

Sue Buenger

Freelance designer; earned her Digital Art/Design, A.A.S. degree

I had a great experience at Moraine Valley. The faculty was amazing! They taught us to apply critical thinking skills in our projects and helped us learn how to talk to clients. They really prepare you for a job in the real world.

Michael McErlean

Graphic artist; earned Digital Art/Design A.A.S. and associate in arts degrees Illustrator for the book “Patrick McStup’s Mixed-Up Family Christmas, Part 1”