Become a Graphic Designer in San Francisco, California
From the Golden Gate Bridge, to the famous Alcatraz Prison, San Francisco is a truly breathtaking city. It is also home to the Art Institute of California, a great place to begin your career in graphic design.
If you have been thinking about attending graphic design school, you are most likely asking yourself questions like how much is it going to cost, how long will it take to graduate, how & where do I apply and is financial aid available?
Below is some basic information about The Art Institute of California - San Francisco's graphic design programs in San Francisco, CA.
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Art Institute of California - San Francisco
1170 Market Street (at U.N. Plaza)
San Francisco, CA 94102
About The Art Institute of California - San Francisco
The Art Institute is a design, media arts and culinary arts post-secondary school that provides bachelor's and associate's degrees. Located in the heart of San Diego's Mission Valley, The Art Institute is closely situated to the area's business community, cultural attractions, shopping, entertainment and its famous beaches.
Program Advisory Committees and more than 100 faculty members are working professionals who bring a real-world perspective, work setting and industry standards into the classroom. The program is offered on a year-round basis, on the quarter system.
Curricula are reviewed periodically by faculty and industry professionals to ensure they meet the needs of a changing marketplace. The school partners with local and national employers to help deliver industry-relevant education that benefits both students and employers.
Many students gain on-the-job skills through participation in internship or externship experiences at local companies and nationally recognized corporations. Career Services keeps its eye on employer satisfaction and industry trends to provide employers with candidates who fulfill their needs while enabling graduates' career success, both now and in the future.
Web Design & Interactive Media
The Art Institute of California - San Francisco offers an Associate of Science or Bachelor of Science degree in Web Design & Interactive Media degree program is a user-centered program which focuses on using creative and innovative technology solutions across a wide range of media platforms. From e-learning solutions to dynamic websites, interface devices for wireless devices to rich media experiences, students of this program will learn the basics of Interactive Media Design.
Focusing on interactive and PC screen design, other skills involved with this degree program include the design and implementation of creative interactive technology solutions, business strategies, rich media design, interactive design, and web site design. Upon graduation, students are prepared for entry-level positions such as a multimedia programmer, web designer, and web programmer.
Interior Design
The blending of artistic designs with practical sensibility, the Bachelor of Science in Interior Design program is a 12, 11-week quarter program that teaches the fundamentals of the exciting profession of Interior Design.
Focusing the design process, students of this program will study the histories of modern art and design, master computer-aided drafting programs, and create effective design solutions by studying ergonomics, lighting, building codes, acoustics, and furniture design. Upon graduation, students are prepared to seek entry-level employment as residential planners, junior designers, and project managers in interior design.
Digital Filmmaking & Video Production
Preparing students for an entry-level positions such as nonlinear editor, digital film production assistant, video producer and assistant sound designer, the Bachelor of Science in Digital Filmmaking & Video Production degree is a 12, 11-week quarter program. With instruction from some of the industry's top professionals, this program will guide students in the industry's latest techniques, technologies and theories, allowing them to apply them in their own productions. Students will gain an understanding of delivery media, including cable, internet, broadband, and broadcast, and will design projects specifically targeted at each of these mediums.
Advertising
Bridging the gap between artists, advertising professionals and technologists, the Bachelor of Science in Advertising degree is a twelve, 11 week quarter program that will prepare students for positions in advertising, in addition to entry-level employment as a advertising artist, creative director, or account executive.
Beginning with the fundamentals of color and design, this program includes instruction on media skills, and culminates with the formation of an advertising campaign that includes various aspects of media, with the goal of moving an audience towards a desired action.
Audio Production
The BS in Audio Production degree program at The Art Institute of California is designed to give students a solid foundation of the industry practices, theory, and technology behind audio production. In addition to learning about recording and post-production, students of the Bachelor of Science in Audio Production curriculum will learn about advanced production, studio business, audio basics (acoustic and electronic), and computer-based audio software. Armed with a portfolio for prospective employers, graduates will be well-prepared to seek entry level employment in a variety of studio and recording environments.
Graphic Design
Graphic design is used in advertising, television, publishing, and offers great opportunities for visual communicators, designers and artists. They create visual communications which may include corporate identify, annual reports, package design, brochures, direct mail and multimedia presentations.
Art directors work with writers in advertising agencies to develop original concepts. They supervise the creative process that uses the talents of production artists, layout artists, illustrators, printers and photographers.
Art directors and designers work with editors and journalists in publishing to design and produce books, magazines, and newspapers.
The television industry now employs many trained visual artists who use conventional and computer technology to create commercials, sophisticated titling, and graphics.
Emphasis is placed on learning the skills and techniques of both computer graphics and traditional design and production tools, such as the drawing board and drawing instruments. Advanced training includes the execution of assignments encountered by professionals in the field. Students graduate with the training and portfolio normally required for an entry-level position in visual communications.
Computer Animation
The Master of Fine Arts in Computer Animation degree program is designed to give students the skills needed in order to become dedicated professionals in the field of media and computer animation. Learning via research, studio work, experimentation, and exploration, the Computer Animation MFA program lasts six quarters. In addition to collaboration with experienced faculty, students will focus on the creative process, and develop skills such as critical thinking and hardware and software training.
Fashion Marketing & Management
Focusing on the principles of advertising, management, merchandising, and marketing, the Bachelor of Science in Fashion Marketing & Management degree program is designed to give students a solid foundation in the application of design concepts. The Fashion Marketing program is also available in an Associate of Science degree format. A hands-on course of study, students will learn the fundamental aspects of the fashion design process. In addition to learning ethical and aesthetic sensitivities, the Fashion Marketing and Management degree program is a balance of theory and real-world experience.
Visual & Game Programming
In addition to the fundamentals of art, students of the BS in Visual & Game Programming program will develop a strong foundation in mathematics and science. After a few quarters of study, students of this program will decide whether to focus on the programming or technical directing aspects of the field. Working with real-world challenges, in a real-time environment, students of this program will also gain an appreciation and understanding of the balance between the artistic and technical demands the industry requires.
Fashion Design
The Bachelor of Fine Arts and Associate of Science in Fashion Design degree programs focus on the fundamentals of fashion design. Coursework in the Fashion Design program includes instruction in creative design, fashion illustration, draping, pattern drafting, sewing, and construction. In addition, students learn basic skills such as flat pattern drafting and draping, and the basic skills of construction. A hands-on training program, the BFA and AS in Fashion Design programs gives students the opportunity to present their collections at competitions and fashion shows.
Media Arts and Animation
Graduates of this program develop skills that can be used to work in television, major corporations, film productions companies and commercial post-production facilities. They work as artists in animation and special effects, broadcast graphics design, and video post-production.
This program trains graduates to be highly skilled and specialized visual communicators who combine their artistic talent with technological know-how to create moving-image impressions.
Students begin with a foundation in drawing, design, color, video production, and computer applications. They also develop skills in varied aspects of computer graphics and animation. They use the tools of the computer animation profession, which include everything from computer operating systems to 3-D modeling and desktop video production. These tools develop students' creativity and flexibility, and help them to put together individualized digital portfolios that showcase both their technical and practical abilities.
Game Art & Design
This is a bachelor's degree program that offers a a focused career path with a range of work-ready design and technology courses. Students acquire skills in drawing, 2D design, perspective, and animation. They study lighting and scene setup, anatomy and gesture, color theory, and will study motion maps, level design, characters, and prototyping.
Students also learn storyboarding, character animation, 3D model creation, level design, game prototyping and texture mapping. The program also teaches the importance of creating reels and portfolios that reflect their game industry knowledge. Students gain an understanding of game content creation, communicate a game's premise and design puzzles out of the experience of the game. Game designers lay out game options with an underlying purpose or story in mind.
Licensing and Accreditation
Accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT). Approval from or approval to work with recipients/participants of the following groups/statutes, including The California Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education (BPPVE) to operate as a Degree Granting Institution under CEC 94310 (a), Bureau of Indian Affairs to provide education to Native Americans, Veterans Affairs for the training of veterans and other eligible persons in accordance with the provisions of USC 1775, Title 38, Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS) to enroll foreign students and issue Certificates of Eligibility (Form I-20 Visa, and the California State Department of Rehabilitation.
Faculty and Facilities
Known for small class sizes, The Art Institute of California - San Francisco also features a staff truly focused on the success of their students. Leaders in their field, the faculty of The Art Institute of San Francisco will turn their real life experiences into a meaningful and relevant learning environment for all. Each student has access to state-of-the-art design equipment. To increase the potential for hire after graduation, many skills focus on real-world skills.
Financial Aid
All students have access to help from the school's Financial Aid Department. If qualified, access to state and federal loans and grants is offered. The school will help with applications and funding upon request. Private loans and scholarships may also be applicable; it is encouraged for students to contact the Financial Aid Department directly for more information.
Going to College in San Francisco
The 4th most populous city in California, San Francisco is also the 14th most populous city in the United States, with a 2006 estimated population of 744,041. San Francisco is part of the much larger San Francisco Bay Area, which is home to approximately 7.2 million people. The city is located on the tip of the San Francisco Peninsula, with the Golden Gate Bridge to the north, the Pacific Ocean to the west, and the San Francisco Bay to the east.
A city with a history dating back to 1776 when it was settled by the Spanish, San Francisco has been home to some major events in United States history, such as the Gold Rush of 1848, and the 1906 fire and earthquake, which devastated the city.
Today, San Francisco is a popular tourist destination renowned for its steep rolling hills, an eclectic mix of Victorian and modern architecture, and a cosmopolitan population that is highly diverse.Home to such famous landmarks as the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, the cable cars, Coit Tower, and Chinatown, to sporting teams such as the Giants and 49er's, San Francisco has no shortage of entertainment and culture to suit any taste.
More Information
If you are interested in any of these programs and would like to find out more, please request information from The Art Institute of California - San Francisco, California.
San Francisco, CA Graphic Design School The Art Institute of California