People who work in the design and imaging field are responsible for designing, organizing, and producing print and Web-based media for business, communication, publishing, manufacturing, entertainment, and advertising markets. This is a large, exciting field that requires a variety of computer-based and traditional visual skills. The design and imaging technology program provides opportunities for students to enter various careers ranging from creative to highly technical positions at various degree levels. This program is available for qualified deaf and hard of hearing students.
As a student in the associate in applied science (AAS) degree in design and imaging technology, offered by RIT's National Technical Institute for the Deaf, you may choose a concentration in digital media, graphic design, or graphic production.
You will gain work experience through a required cooperative education experience. Depending on your specific program concentration and elective course selection, you will use traditional and computer-based methods to produce drawings, layouts, illustrations and digital photographic images; prepare documents for print, Web and digital distribution; produce interactive digital media; perform digital retouching and restoration of photographic images; produce composite digital images; design and produce websites; produce computer animations; plan and produce short-edited videos; and operate electrophotographic digital printing and inkjet systems.
Education in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) careers is a major emphasis for students, parents and counselors as they consider which college programs match the students interests and aptitudes. Funding for STEM career preparation is often a driving factor. The design and imaging technology program is considered a STEM-career program. Graphic design and production for print, Web and digital media cannot happen without the use and application of technology and computing skills.
Read about the Career Skills you can learn in the design and imaging technology program.
O*Net Online lists STEM career clusters and graphic design is listed as being part of the Computer Science STEM disciplines.
The associate in applied science (AAS) degree in design and imaging technology is a career-focused program, designed to prepare you for direct employment in well-paying careers, following graduation. As a graduate of the AAS degree program, you also may apply for admission to a bachelor of fine arts degree program or a bachelor of science degree program in RIT's College of Art and Design after completing the AAS degree course of study.
We prepare students for jobs in the large visual communications industry which includes graphic design, commercial digital printing, website design and development, videography, animation, packaging design, photography, and specialty graphics. Jobs have evolved from a skilled trade craft to a high-tech digital design and production workflow.
The visual communications industry changes rapidly with the advent of new technologies and software programs. The world depends on text, graphics, illustrations, video and photos for communication using printed materials, web sites, and electronic media. There will always be a demand for graduates with skills in the visual communications field.
Some industry job outlook projections include:
- Summary Report for Web Developers
- Summary Report for Graphic Designers
- Summary Report for Multimedia Artists and Animators