
It’s the intersection of high-tech and creativity; a bubbling potion of strategy, purpose, and communication. A career in Applied Arts and Design is both dynamic and versatile. Choose the clients and projects that inspire you to create masterpieces time and time again.
The Career 411
Professionals in applied arts and design are really graphic designers at heart and practice. They use a variety of manual and digital tools to create dynamic messaging for a variety of purposes. According to the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design, “Artists and designers are central to our culture and our commerce; indeed, our society would not be where it is today without them.”
Some designers are commercially-oriented; they create advertisements, direct mail, and websites that sell products and services. Others work for non-profit organizations, using their talents to convey information and promote worthy causes. And still others are fine artists–designing multimedia presentations that speak from the heart and reveal the beauty in a society, a historic event, or an inspirational thought.
Why This Career Has an Edge
Graphic designers relish several aspects of their careers. The ability to use technology creatively is key. A collection of software suites allows designers to manipulate photographs, experiment with fonts, and add a musical component to their work. Using interactive tools to bring a static design to life on the Web is an increasingly popular process that well-trained designers can master.

