Hank63

My son is very interested in Web Design...any suggestions for colleges in the Pacific N.W. where that is offered as a major?

liek0806

I think for web design, if a school doesnt offer that major it usually goes into graphic design or digital media departments.

Hank63

Would you know if you can major in not only the graphic side but also the programming that goes along with it? And if so, some suggestions for colleges in the Pac. NW?

taxguy

Web design programs have three approaches.

1. The first is from the IT side. They get a lot of coding but very little design. Many schools have IT (Information Technology)

2.The second is from a graphic design side,where they do teach some HTML and maybe some programing. Schools that are strong here are RISD, Carnegie Mellon, University of Cincinnati, MICA, VCU, RIT, and many others. I'm sure SCAD has some decent programs in these areas. Also, Yale has supposedly a top notch program in graphic arts but ONLY for graduate school.

Other notable schools are SVA which has a decent graphic and new media program, MICA, Mass College of Art has graphic design,and many other schools.There are a plethora of graphic design/ communication design programs out there.Just do some research.

3. The third approach is digital media otherwise known as new media. This has a bit less topography and layout and more computer oriented. This major is sort of a combination of programming, HTML, computer application programs, animation and some digital photography. These programs all have strong web design elements but also tend to fall into certain concentrations depending on the program.

For example, RIT's program is very heavy on web design as is Pratt institute but not as heavy into animation ( which is a different major there). In fact, RIT's new media program is really a web design major.

CALARTs has a strong new media program that is very animation focused.Ringling is very animation focused.

University of Cincinnati's Digital Design major is a balanced programs with subjects taught in web design, topography, digital photography and animation and even some special effects with sound engineering.. The drawback is that although it is very broad based, it isn't as intensive as say Calarts and Laguna in animation or RISD/CMU in graphic design and topography. Cincinnati generally feels that these holes in their curriculum can be filled by 1.5 years of required coops,which is part of the curriculum.

This whole area of digital design is very emerging. There are an increasing number of schools that are offering it both in the undergraduate area and for graduate school. RISD, for example, only offers digital design in grad school.

taxguy

I should also note that one interesting school in this area is MICA. They seem to have a very flexible program that will allow you to basically structure your own education. Most other schools tend to be very structured with few electives.