Our Mission:
The Graphic Design minor familiarizes students with graphic design principles, skills, professional practices and historical and theoretical understanding of the field. Students participate in critically engaged studio classes to develop their own viewpoint and practice, while creating books, posters, websites, campaigns, identities, and conceptual propositions using the considered interplay of text and image. A dynamic curriculum empowers students to creatively solve problems, propose alternatives, and work collaboratively to address the communication challenges of today.
Participating Departments:
Animation
Animation: Motion Design
Fashion
Fine Arts: Painting
Fine Arts: Photography
Fine Arts: Sculpture/New Genres
Game and Entertainment Design
Graphic Design
Illustration
Product Design
Toy Design
Program Learning Outcomes
Otis College Interdisciplinary Studies: Graphic Design Minor Program Learning Outcomes are action words describing our approach to learning, and what we commit to our students.
Graphic Design Minor Students Will:
Graphic Design Minor student work will demonstrate:
- Disciplinary Knowledge and Skills • Audience-Focused Research, Historical Context, and Field-Specific Discourse
Proficient knowledge and skills in graphic design including design historical precedents, visual design principles and effective use of typography, composition, hierarchy, color theory, storytelling techniques, and semiotic concepts to create compelling visual communication that responds to specific design problems and audiences. - Proficiency in Industry-Standard Skills, Technologies, and Processes
The ability to create professional-level design projects using current industry software and hardware tools, successfully execute production workflows across both physical and digital media, and demonstrate adaptability by mastering emerging technologies as they're introduced to the field. - Cross-Disciplinary Awareness and Practice
Developed practice grounded in two or more disciplines.
Graphic Design Minor student work will demonstrate:
- Innovation • Experimentation and Play • Challenge to the Status Quo • Bravery in their
Work and their Interactions with Others
Capacity to combine aspects of Graphic Design with work in one's major and/or push the boundaries between each field.
Graphic Design Minor student work will demonstrate:
- Capacity to Communicate (Orally, Written, and/or Visually) about their Practice
Ability to clearly articulate the relationship between their work in Graphic Design and their major and how these studies will help them achieve personal and professional goals. - Analysis of Both Ethical and Aesthetic Impacts of Art and Design
Analysis of the ethical and aesthetic impacts their work has on their fields of study as well as society, culture and the environment.
Graphic Design Minor student work will demonstrate:
- Awareness of Positionality – in the World, their Field, their Communities. • Integration
of Skills and Concepts:
Successful integration of skills, information and concepts between their majors and Graphic Design minor, while understanding and articulating their positionality in their chosen fields.
Graphic Design Minor student work will demonstrate:
- Ability to define aspirations, future goals and their role within the creative economy.
Defined aspirations, future goals and their role as an interdisciplinary creative within the creative economy. - Awareness of audience • Compelling presentation and exhibition skills, through Annual
Exhibition, Capstone, and portfolios.
Successful completion and presentation of original work in Graphic Design that resonates with intended audiences.
Course Requirements
Graphic Design Minor Required Courses: 15 credits of Graphic Design courses
This can be 5 studio courses or 4 studio courses + 1 LAS course.
Students select courses based on guidance from the Director of Interdisciplinary Studies, Minor Area Heads and Academic Advisors and must follow prerequisites when applicable. For the full list of courses that will count for this minor, along with recommended courses to take first, see the Minors Course Lists on the Registration page of the Dashboard (my.otis.edu). Students are advised to take minor classes in place of studio electives (or in place of one LAS elective), or for majors without electives by taking one extra class in each of 5 semesters spread out between sophomore and senior year.