Design is everywhere – you see it on TV, in magazines, on the cover of your favorite book… even on the street or at the doctor’s office. If you find yourself studying logos, drawing shapes and mixing colors, or critiquing the layout of a website, you might do well in a career in the design industry!
Our Graphic Design & Web Development program is designed to teach students the fundamentals of the design industry, including computer-based design, digital media fundamentals, illustration, photography, and web design. From creating eye-catching logos and illustrations, to designing your very own website, this course will give you all the tools you need to tap into your creativity and express yourself. You’ll learn from industry professionals, and by the end of the 11-month program, you’ll be prepared to make your entry in a design industry career!
What Makes F.I.R.S.T. Different
Working in the design industry isn’t a traditional career path – so F.I.R.S.T. Institute doesn’t provide a typical education. From day one, our students pursue their careers through practical, hands-on learning. We believe you learn best by doing – that means putting down the textbooks, getting out of the classroom, and working with industry-standard equipment. Under supervision from industry professionals, our students regularly use cutting-edge graphics tablets, professional DSLR cameras, and pro-grade graphics software like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and After Effects. They also develop skills in web-based tools like HTML, CSS, and jQuery.
Over the course of this program, students will learn graphic design principles, and apply these foundations as they create digital illustrations and photographs, front-end web design, and motion graphics and animation. Their work culminates in the creation of their own personal website, which will serve as a collection of their work and a portfolio to show to future employers.
Focused on Your Career
Our goal is to prepare students for entry-level careers in the digital media industry. Our alumni succeed for two key reasons: the strength of their portfolio and connections in the industry.
By the time our students graduate, they will have created a portfolio showing all the work they completed during their time at F.I.R.S.T. This is a crucial part of impressing employers and showing value as an employee. Additionally, our small class sizes create an intimate learning environment where students are encouraged to work together (even outside of class). Our alumni have a strong community, where classmates constantly collaborate on projects and recommend one another for work. Creative industries thrive on networking – and by the time our students graduate, they have a built-in network of colleagues!
We also require our students to complete two courses in Career Development, as well as an internship related to their field of study. These courses prepare students for the workforce by covering essential, practical skills such as setting career goals, resume and cover letter writing, job searching, and job interview techniques. The hours spent on internships prove invaluable to our graduates, some of whom find employment even before they graduate from F.I.R.S.T.! Additionally, we provide resources to our alumni, highlighting local job openings, design firms, and opportunities to explore new career paths.
What Our Students Do
After graduation, many of our students go on to work on notable projects. Some of our most dedicated grads have worked for companies like Universal Studios, Viacom, Darden restaurants, and the Orlando Seawolves soccer team!
How Do I Learn More?
Our Graphic Design & Web Development program is available both on-campus, and online.
Click here to learn more about the on-campus program: https://www.first.edu/programs/campus/graphic-design-and-web-development/
Click here to learn more about the online program:
https://www.first.edu/programs/online/graphic-design-and-web-development-idl/
If you feel like F.I.R.S.T. Institute is the right place for you, navigate to the top of the page and hit “Apply!”
