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Certificate
Graphic Design Fundamentals
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> ... Certificates & Degrees Overview > Degree List > Graphic Design Fundamentals
BYU-Idaho + BYU-Pathway

The graphic design fundamentals certificate provides a foundation in the skills of visual design, typography, and conceptual design skills. There is a focus on addressing the needs of the target audience through research and user testing to assess the effectiveness of a design solution.

This certificate is offered by BYU-Idaho, with support and resources from BYU-Pathway Worldwide.

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Essential Knowledge and Skills

Outcomes

  • Follow a design process that leads to consistent effective results.
  • Set typography with clear hierarchy that makes content more readable.
  • Make images that clearly communicate ideas and information to others.
  • Use industry-standard design software to efficiently complete design work.
  • Prepare design files that are production-ready.
Certificate of Graphic Design Fundamentals
Program Requirements
This certificate builds into the Professional Studies degree.
This is an introductory certificate. While not available during PathwayConnect, a student can switch to this certificate once they matriculate.
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Certificate
15 CREDITS
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Associate
60 CREDITS
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Bachelor's
90–96 CREDITS
Certificate of Graphic Design Fundamentals
Course Code
Course Name
# of Credits
ART130
Introduction to Graphic Design
3
ART130 — 3 credits
x
Introduction to Graphic Design
This course covers the exploration of contemporary visual communications within graphic design and related fields.
ART230
Typography
3
ART230 — 3 credits
x
Typography
This course is an introduction to typography as a fundamental element of graphic design.
ART235
Graphic Design
3
ART235 — 3 credits
x
Graphic Design
This course involves graphic design projects with an emphasis on creative, conceptual, and practical solutions.
ART337R
Interaction Design
3
ART337R — 3 credits
x
Interaction Design
This course focuses on graphic design theory and skills necessary in a digitally interactive environment. These will include information architecture, interface design, site structure, page structure, page design, typography, editorial style, graphics, and multimedia. While there will be some development with software tools, this is not a programming class. This course is designed for art majors with a graphic design emphasis.
COMM310
Creating Online Media
3
COMM310 — 3 credits
x
Creating Online Media
This course is a technical introduction to search-engine optimization and standards-based web design and production. Students will train in semantic HTML markup, CSS-based design and dynamic PHP scripting, overview of the history, current status, and future possibilities of HTML.
For questions about this program, contact BYU-Pathway Support
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Looking Ahead
Potential Employment
  • Junior Production Artist
  • Design Assistant
  • Junior Graphic Designer
  • Marketing Production Artist

Why choose this certificate?

Graphic design training will infuse your portfolio with creative products and familiarity with web and online design, illustratration, photography, and typography tools and systems. These skills will assist you in your strategic and creative endeavors, and your experience with social media, Adobe design products, Photoshop, and other brands will add to your marketable experience.

BYU-Pathway has found that certain combinations of certificates lead to better job opportunities. Most degrees have a recommended plan of certificates that will help students increase their income and improve their employment possibilities.