I am considering going into graphic design, but I don’t know the difference between the following majors, since they all seem the same:
What is the difference between these?
@1998tkri, My D wants to major in graphic design so we are trying to find out the same information as you! I’ve concluded that pretty much all of those subjects are going to be touched upon in any rigorous graphic design or comd program. How the individual art schools present the various majors on their website might “differ” more than the actual content received during your art school career.
Also, I’d say that courses of study like “Visual Communications and Design” sound to me like graphic design but including perhaps a more interdisciplinary approach. SAIC, for instance, which I believe offers courses in “VisComD” is a perfect example because they are about as interdisciplinary as an art school can get (you major in “studio” and chart your own path from there). RISD, on the other hand, offers a major in “Graphic Design”. However, I’m betting the topics covered over the course of study in the two institutions are going to be very similar: Design principles, communication design principles, typography, 2D, 3D, 4D, use of technology and computer graphics, use of traditional media such as gouache or acrylic, seminars, advanced studio, etc. That can be verified by taking a good look at the curriculum and then asking some questions during a visit or during summer pre-college (see below).
Pratt offers a major in ComD which requires courses in advertising art, illustration, and graphic design during Sophomore year before the student specializes in one of those disciplines further during Jr. and Sr. year. But that’s not to say that you can’t learn the principles of advertising art at SAIC or RISD. Or that graphic design at RISD doesn’t touch on the subject and principles of illustration at some point.
I’d encourage you to look into a school that immerses you in the concept of “visual communication design” regardless of the specific name they have for it. My D will ultimately choose the school is in line with her vision of what she wants to do as a graphic designer. We made sure that she was very knowledgable about the schools she chose to apply to, and of course we made sure that all offer the crucial Foundation Year.
If you are currently a sophomore or junior you might consider enrolling at a summer pre-college program offered by one of the art/design schools and taking courses or “majoring” (for the summer) in graphic design or whatever they are calling it. That will, among other benefits, give you direct access to professional graphic designers who can answer your questions more specifically and help guide you to right choice of program for you.
My guess is that all of the majors listed by OP are very similar but the only way to know for sure is to actually look at the related curriculum. Don’t forget to consider art programs at universities along with stand-alone art schools. My son is at Tyler which is very highly rated for graphic design. Syracuse also has an excellent Communication Design program.