Graphic Design and Digital Media at NWFSC

Welcome to the new Graphic Design and Digital Media Programs Website!

Graphic Design Studio The Graphic Design and Multimedia Programs at Northwest Florida State College have been offered in various different formats since their inception in 1976. Then, the program's focus was strictly print graphics developed entirely in the traditional paste-up and stat-camera methods. Students developed camera-ready art and combined it with text to create a wide variety of publications. They learned to produce film and plates and to operate different types of printing presses. In the mid to late 1980s, digital typesetting and imaging became part of the curricula. Students were introduced to new digital tools such as image scanners, PageMaker® and Photoshop® software. In the 1990s, with the new digital age coming on strong, the department recognized a need to expand its offerings beyond the techniques of the trade and beyond print-based design processes. This meant adding coursework in the creative aspects of design, and electronic media development.

In the late 1990s, the new Digital Media/Multimedia degree was added. What had been a primarily print-design program expanded to include coursework for students interested in web-based and interactive media communications. Students were now exposed to an expanded skill set including web authoring tools from basic coding to the site creation software Dreamweaver®. In the early days of the Digital Media program, we also offered coursework in interactive CD-ROM production using Macromedia Director®. Director was an interactive media authoring tool that allowed designers to create rich media software that was easily delivered on CD-ROM or later on DVD-ROM discs. This technology has now largely been replaced as the ability to deliver rich media on the internet has become possible.

A core component of the development of the Digital Media program was the development of the department's Photography offerings. During this time traditional darkroom photography classes were offered, as well as new Digital Photography courses. A professional caliber photography studio was constructed, and Commercial Photography was added. We have also incorporated Digital Video into the program, allowing students to learn methods of creating interactive digital video productions.

Currently, the programs have gone through another phase of evolution. Digital tools are now present at every stage of Graphic Design development, from media aquisition, to editing and authoring, to final delivery. Beginning in the fall semester of 2009, several obsolete courses have been removed from the programs, and several new courses have been added. Please explore the options above to learn more about the specifics of our programs. If you consider yourself to be a creative person with a strong interest in visual communication and digital tools, one of them might be ideal for you! Don't hesitate to contact the department with any questions you may have.