The Bachelor's in Middle East and North Africa Studies provides a comprehensive interdisciplinary education focusing on the historical, cultural, political, and economic aspects of the Middle East and...

The Bachelor's in Latin American Studies provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the history, culture, politics, and societies of Latin America. The program is designed to foster a mul...

Illustration Media is a comprehensive exploration of medias and their application to the process of 2D and 3D communicative illustration. Emphasis is placed on the development of technical skills and the creative concepts related to traditional and emerging media. Student gain the ability to analyze applications, media and techniques, assess and develop a working process that will produce the desired effect and be able to execute the selected technique to successfully solve the original problem.

As an aspiring illustrator, you enjoy in-depth research on a variety of topics, like to critically analyze problems and find innovative and appropriate solutions, are self-motivated and meet deadlines, and possess ambition, drive and passion. MIAD’s Illustration program will prepare you to be a professional illustrator by teaching you the language of visual communication with an emphasis on creative problem solving.

The theories and skills introduced in Communication Design I and II are revisited and further developed in Information Graphics. The development of students’ abilities to design and facilitate people-oriented communications by organizing and restructuring the flow of information will be emphasized, as will their abilities to relate their writing skills to the formulation and evolution of visual communication problems.

In Illustration I, this basic introduction to the broad field of illustration, problem-solving, creativity, effective communication and aesthetics are explored through the working process common to the professional. Drawing and other visual skills are defined and refined through exploration of various media and style solutions. Visual solutions will emphasize appropriate and inventive application of formal elements.

In Illustration II, this further journey into the world of illustration, students will start to streamline and refine their work ethic, using the working process they were introduced to in Illustration I. As before, drawing and other visual skills are defined and refined through exploration of various media and style solutions. Visual solutions will emphasize appropriate and inventive application of formal elements. Professional presentation of work will be emphasized.

Illustration Thesis is the final course of study in the Illustration program at MIAD. Each student is required to submit a written proposal and timeline for an Illustration Thesis project reflecting the primary interests and career goals of the illustrator. The thesis proposal will encompass a specific project utilizing the student’s skills and knowledge with the intention of fully exploring the student’s abilities within a specific field of illustration. Course work and assignments will focus on the execution and completion of the thesis project and a portfolio of the student’s illustrations for professional presentation and final review at the Senior Exhibition. Participation in the Senior Exhibition is required.

The Typography courses provide students with an understanding of the integral use of typography in the overall design concept. Type as a communicative and creative element is explored. Students become familiar with the organizational skills necessary for clear communication as well as the formative aspects of typographic symbols and arrangement.

This course is an introduction to the use of the computer and essential software as tools for the visual communicator. In Computer Studio I, students become acquainted with the Macintosh computing platform by engaging in an intensive and thorough exploration of the software/hardware commonly used by designers and artists. Through demonstrations and experimentation, students will learn the fundamentals of Adobe Illustrator, InDesign and Photoshop (as well as other design/utility applications) and their roll in print media and digital pre-press.

Illustration is no longer a static pursuit — moving illustration creates feeling and captures an audience through emotion, the very essence of what makes animation so powerful. MIAD’s Animation track within the Illustration major lets you bring illustrated images to life with a focus on visual storytelling in digital forms

In Communication Design Thesis students will develop a major, self-defined, design investigation based in either the theory or practice of communication design. They will be challenged to independently guide their projects through a process that leads to results in which the message for the intended audience is clear. That process will require research, an understanding of professional practice, independent thinking, collaboration and risk taking. Students will take responsibility for their learning by identifying their own problem solving methodology. The discovery process will be documented and assessed in a final project/process document.

In Communication Design I, fundamentals of communication design are introduced to the student with theoretical and applied studies in graphic design, problem solving, communication and presentation. This semester course is the development of procedures and techniques involved in the process of creative problem solving related to communication design.

Computer Studio II will build upon skills and techniques developed in Computer Studio 1. Through demonstrations and exploration of tools available in Photoshop, students will develop a thorough understanding of photo manipulation software and some of its uses for the visual communicator. In addition to Photoshop, students will learn basic skills associated with Fireworks and Flash.

Professional Portfolio / Practice gives each student an opportunity to assemble her/his work from both school and professional practice experiences into a professional presentation format for review by prospective employers, clients, or graduate school admissions committees.