Graphic Design Technology

Program Highlights

• Design, Build, and Create – Develop expertise in visual communication, web design and development, UX/UI design, motion graphics, photography, and digital media production in a collaborative environment with personalized instruction, one-on-one mentorship, and hands-on learning experiences.
• Real-World Experience – Apply your skills through internships, client-based projects, campus design initiatives, and professional portfolio development.
• Industry-Standard Technology – Work with professional design software, Mac-based studios, large-format printers, digital production equipment, and emerging creative technologies.
• The “Designer + Developer Advantage” – Gain a competitive edge by combining visual communication skills with web technologies, interactive design, and user experience principles.
• Build a Professional Portfolio – Develop a portfolio that showcases your creative, technical, and strategic abilities to employers and clients.
• Senior Capstone Experience – Present your work in a public exhibition that demonstrates your growth as a designer and creative professional. Participate in the annual Upstate NY AIGA Portfolio Review with local design educators, professional designers, and potential employers.
• Career-Ready Skills – Graduate prepared for careers in visual communication design, UX/UI design, web design, digital marketing, branding, content creation, motion graphics, and print production.
• Applied Learning with Impact – Design solutions for businesses, organizations, and communities while gaining practical experience that translates directly to the workplace.

Degree Options

Associate in Science (AS)

• 60 Credit Hours (2 Years)
• Easy transition into Bachelor degree programs at SUNY Cobleskill Ag & Tech
• Upon completion of the AS, students have the option to enter the workforce or continue to a four-year program in graphic design, graphic communications, studio art, elementary and secondary art education, photography, fashion design or illustration.
• Read more details in the College Catalog >>

Bachelor of Science (BS)

• 122 Credit Hours (4 Years)
• Students have the opportunity to participate in on- and off-campus internships
• Ideal for students entering the workforce immediately upon graduation
• Read more details in the College Catalog >>

Overview

The Graphic Design Technology program at Cobleskill Ag & Tech prepares students to become creative professionals who can design, build, and produce effective visual communication across print, digital, interactive, and emerging media. Combining graphic design, web design and development, user experience (UX), photography, motion graphics, and production technologies, the program provides students with a comprehensive foundation in contemporary design practice.

The coursework emphasizes creative problem-solving, design thinking, visual storytelling, typography, branding, digital media, and real-world production workflows. Through collaborative projects, internships, and portfolio development, students gain practical experience designing solutions for authentic audiences and professional contexts.

Cobleskill Ag & Tech's unique approach to the integration of visual communication design with technical production and web technologies gives our graduates a competitive edge: The ability to develop creative concepts, design compelling user experiences, produce professional-quality visual content, and understand the technologies that bring those ideas to life. The program culminates in a senior capstone exhibition and portfolio that showcases each student's creative and technical abilities to prospective employers and clients.

Graduates are prepared for careers in graphic design, web and interactive design, user experience (UX) design, digital media production, branding, marketing communications, content creation, motion graphics, print production, and related creative industries.

Career Outlook

Our alumni are succeeding in careers with design studios, advertising agencies, marketing firms, publishers, media organizations, corporate communications departments, technology companies, nonprofits, government agencies, and entrepreneurial ventures. Many also choose to work as independent designers and creative consultants.

Internships

The Graphic Design program curriculum presents students with paid internship opportunities (including optional credit-bearing internships) both on- and off-campus including:

• New York State Tourism Industry Association (NYSTIA)
• The Student Success and Applied Learning Alliance
• Cobleskill Auxiliary Services
• The Wellness Center
• The Van Wagenen Library
• The Communications & Marketing Department

Students can also work as academic tutors six evenings a week in our Mac Lab.

Off-campus internship positions can include those with local businesses and cultural venues in the surrounding counties as well as advertising and design agencies throughout the Capital District.

While students can participate in internships during the academic year, most do so during their summer break.

Meet the Faculty