Become a Graphic Designer in Houston, Texas
A city with a rich in history, Houston is a dynamic mix of business, culture and first-class attractions. Houston is also home to The Art Institute of Houston, a great place to begin your career in graphic design.
There are many questions you must be asking yourself about going to graphic design school. How much is it going to cost? Is financial aid available? How long does it take? What type of degree will I receive? Will I be able to find a job? All great questions and answers are available.
Below is some basic information about The Art Institute of Houston's graphic design program. To see if this school is the right fit for you, click on the Request More School Info button, fill out the short questionnaire and a representative from the school will contact you to answer any additional questions about the school, costs, financial aid and how to apply.
The Art Institute of Houston - Houston
1900 Yorktown St.
Houston, TX 77056
About The Art Institute of Houston - Houston, TX
The Art Institute is a media arts, design, and culinary arts post-secondary school that offers bachelor's and associate's degrees. Program Advisory Committees and more than 100 faculty members include working professionals who bring a real-world perspective, work setting and industry standards into the classroom.
Programs are offered on a year-round basis and are reviewed by faculty and industry professionals to ensure they meet the needs of a changing marketplace. The school partners with national and local employers to help ensure an education that benefits both students and employers.
Students can get on-the-job training by participating in internships or externships at local businesses and national corporations. The Career Services office monitors industry trends and employer satisfaction in order to fulfill employers needs and enable career success for program graduates.
Graphic Design
Design is a communication tool. The goal of the graphic design program at the Art Institute of Houston is to provide students with experience in analyzing communication problems. Students work to create solutions to these problems, and then implement and evaluate them. This experimenting gives students a taste of real-world issues they may come up against and allows them to work hands-on. The curriculum focuses on conceptual, technical, historical, and visual aspects of graphic design.
Students work towards an Associate’s degree over a period of at least 21 months and 105 credit hours. First year graphic design majors will cover computer applications, observational and perspective drawing, and design fundamentals. They will also be introduced to color theory, digital illustration, typography, and concept design.
Moving into the second year of study, students extend the knowledge gained in previous courses. Digital photography and illustration, digital imagine, layout, and editorial design are included. Students also learn about career development: how to present themselves to prospective employers, develop contacts, and write cover letters and resumes.
Finally, students will complete an internship to gather even more knowledge and experience and will prepare a professional portfolio. This portfolio encapsulates everything they have learned and can be used when pursuing employment. The associate’s program requires at least twenty-one months of study and 105 credits.
The Bachelor’s program in graphic design further delves into the field. Layout, digital media, typography, and practical design problems are examined in more depth. In addition to the courses taken to earn an Associate’s degree, Bachelor’s students will study editorial design, public speaking, information design, sequential design, media business law, and publication design, among others. Students will likewise complete an internship and portfolio.
Getting an Associate’s degree is a good first step in becoming a graphic designer. Completing the Bachelor’s program will give students an advantage in the search for a job and will further prepare them for success.
Digital Filmmaking and Video Production
The Art Institute of Houston offers a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts for this major. Knowledgeable instructors, with experience in the filmmaking and video production industry, prepare students for careers in television, corporate and educational video, broadcasting, interactive media, and video cell phone technology.
This is a rapidly changing and expanding field, and students are given the best tools, technology, training, and experience to successfully compete. Concept development, research, scriptwriting, production and distribution are pivotal to this major, which aims to teach students to create quality television, use the newest digital tools, and reach any audience.
Digital Filmmaking and Video production students will learn the fundamentals of audio, color, computer applications, web design, video production, editing, and lighting. Building on these courses, students will then delve more deeply into digital imaging, cinematography, producing, directing, motion graphics, and more. Preparing a professional portfolio and completing an internship also benefit students in gaining knowledge and experience.
Web and Interactive Media
Associate’s and Bachelor’s programs are offered to students of Web and Interactive Media Design. This is one of the fastest growing fields in business, and AI of Houston’s Associate’s degree prepares students for entry-level positions in a variety of fields. From the Institute’s program description: “Web Design & Interactive Media is the integration of audio, video, still images, animation, text, and data for the creation, storage, and delivery of interactive content.”
Students achieve proficiency in this by studying fundamentals of art, design, color, computer applications, typography, audio, and scripting languages. Adding to this knowledge are courses in motion design, graphics design, animation graphics, authoring, project management, desktop video, digital imaging and more. Students compile a portfolio and complete an internship, preparing them further for their careers.
The Bachelor’s degree expands on these concepts with training in layout, concept design, typography, digital visual composition, usability testing, user-centered design, interactive motion scripting, E-learning applications, marketing, and business law. As with the Associate’s degree, a portfolio and internship are integral components of the Bachelor’s program. The Bachelor’s degree requires at least thirty-six months of study and 180 credits.
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography
A 36 month program that includes 180 quarter-credits, the BFA in Photography program focuses on traditional and digital technical skills. In additions to learning to digitally retouch, combine, and alter images with state-of-the-art equipment and software, students of this program will enter the business world with a solid business plan of their own. Graduates will be prepared to seek employment at newspapers, studios, stock photo houses, and magazines.
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Media Arts & Animation
The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Media Arts & Animation is a great launching pad for a career in computer animation. Mastering the skills of design, drawing, and image manipulation, students learn to create animation using different types of computer animation software.
As part of the program, students will build 3-D models, in addition to editing and modifying video and composite 2-D and 3-D animation. Upon graduation, students are prepared to enter the workforce as broadcast graphic, animation, production or post-production artists.
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design
The blending of artistic designs with practical sensibility, the Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design program is a 36 month program that teaches the fundamentals of the exciting profession of Interior Design. 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 in residential, commercial, healthcare, and hospitality interior design.
Associate of Applied Arts In Kitchen & Bath Design
Beginning with a strong foundation in perspective, drafting, drawing and color, the AAA in Kitchen & Bath Design program is designed to prepare students for the kitchen and bath industry. Through the use of computer-aided drafting, to coursework in lighting, building codes, and project bidding, students of this program will gain the fundamentals skills needed in the industry. An internship will further prepare students for employment in this exciting field.
Licensing and Accreditation
The Art Institute of Houston is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools for their Associate of Applied Arts and Sciences and Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees.
Faculty and Facilities
The Art Institute is located at 1900 Yorktown Street in Houston, Texas, with classroom and studio space. The Institute’s library provides students with internet access, word processing, study and viewing spaces, research assistance and more. The Institute also features a student gallery. Housing is available in a student complex just minutes from the Institute. With easy access to the school, public transportation, shopping, and more, this is an ideal location for students.
Financial Aid
The Art Institute of Houston participates in federal and student aid programs. Students can apply for grants and loans. Institute scholarships are available, as is federal work study.
Going to College in Houston, Texas
With a history dating back to 1836, when the city was founded by brothers Augustus Chapman Allen and John Kirby Allen, Houston, Texas has become internationally known for its business, sports, and arts communities. A city with over 2.14 million residents, Houston is the county seat of Harris County and is the main economic center of the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area.
With only New York City having more Fortune 500 companies, it's not hard to imagine that "business is boss" in Houston. In addition to four of the six supermajor energy companies being based in Houston, the city is also the home of the Texas Medical Center, and NASA's Johnson Space Center, where Mission Control Center is located. As such, Houston is truly a world city.
While the city might be best known for its sizable business population, Houston is also home to a booming arts community. One of the few cities that offer year-round resident companies in all major performing arts, Houston is well known for it's active theatre and classical music scene. In addition, the Houston Museum District attracts over 7 million visitors each year.
As far as sports are concerned , Houston has it all. With 9 professional sports teams in different leagues, including the Houston Astros , Houston Texans , and the Houston Rockets. The city of Houston has also been home to major events such as the Super Bowl, World Series, and various All-Star Games.
With everything it has to offer, Houston is a great place to live, work, and go to school!
More Information
If you are interested in this program and would like to find out more, please request information from The Art Institute of Houston - Houston, Texas.
