Graphic Design

The Graphic Design Certificate of Achievement prepares students to create visual concepts and communicate ideas that inspire, inform, and captivate users. Students learn to use industry standard Adobe software as a tool to create visual solutions to a number of graphic design problems, focusing on the application of design principles and elements, typographic design, creative problem solving, and production practices to visually communicate messages and experiences. Students evaluate design work and explore graphic design within different contextual situations in order to develop successful visual communication solutions with a wide range of digital media. This certificate will prepare students for entry-level careers in graphic design and provide students with foundational graphic design knowledge for use in various professional settings as they join the workforce or as they acquire continuing education in their current profession.

The certificate program is expected to have an enrollment of 10 to 20 annually with about 5 to 10 annual completers. The program expects annual growth in enrollment and completion. 

Cabrillo College is seeking approval from the Chancellor’s Office for the new Graphic Design Certificate of Achievement in Career Technical Education. The Graphic Design Certificate of Achievement is designed to prepare students to take advantage of rich employment opportunities in the field of graphic design, as well as employment in established fields such as graphic design and web design. The certificate is designed to prepare students to work in the fast growing graphic design field, whether they enter the workforce directly or seek a degree at Cabrillo or at a transfer institution. 

The need for workers in the diverse field of graphic design has been advocated for by local businesses in digital media program advisory boards and supported by current, regional labor market research (TOP 1030.00).  The Graphic Design Certificate of Achievement is aligned with Cabrillo’s mission, master plan, and statewide community college work in Guided Pathways. Approval of this program will benefit regional employers, fulfill the workforce needs of the local community, augment college enrollment, and support non-traditional and underserved minority students in a viable career and academic path. This program would give our students the knowledge and skills they need to move onwards to a two year degree, a four-year institution, or excel in the workforce. 

Based on the data included in this report, there is a large labor market gap in the Bay region with 2,475 annual openings for the graphic design occupational cluster and 511 annual (3-year average) awards for an annual undersupply of 1,964 students. In the SC-Monterey Sub-Region, there is also a gap with 382 annual openings and 40 annual (3-year average) awards for an annual undersupply of 342 students.

Based on all available data, there appears to be an “undersupply” of graphic designers compared to the demand for this cluster of occupations in the Bay region and in the SC-Monterey sub-region (Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz counties). There is a projected annual gap of about 632 students in the Bay region and 112 students in the SC-Monterey Sub-Region.

The goal is for students to gainfully employed and continue to the workplace or transfer to a university. Working with employers to identify earning potential is promising, with potential for a starting salary of $25,000-$44,000/yr in jobs such as Graphic Designer, Interaction Designer, Motion Designer, Digital Content Producer, Multimedia Artist, Animator, Web Developer, and Interface Designer. It is critical to give community college students educational and professional experience that is necessary to be successful when they enter the workforce or transfer to earn a degree or certificate in other graphic design professions.

A total of 16.50 units are required for this certificate including 12.50 in digital media and 4.00 units in the art department.

Semester 1 (Total 7)

Required ART27 - Graphic Design   3 units

Required DM1 - Introduction to Digital Media   4 units

Semester 2 (Total 5.5)

Required DM4 - Digital Graphics    4 units

Required (Total 1.5)

Take one of the following

DM56 - Web Design Using WordPress   1.5 units

DM57 - Self-Promotion Through Social Media   1.5 units

Semester 3 (Total 4)

Required DM5 - Design for Digital Media   4 units

The Graphic Design Certificate of Achievement is a pathway to the Graphic Design - Associate in Science. The purpose of the degree is to give students expanded opportunities for employment and to harmonize our program with other community colleges in California by teaching a curriculum that's broadly recognized as best practice. The degree focuses on applied visual problem solving in graphic design paired with technical proficiency along with humanities courses that will produce graduates with the "soft skills" along with the technical skills that employers frequently ask for and/or prepare students for transfer.

Monterey Peninsula College has two programs under Top Code 1030.00 - Graphic Art and Design, one A.S. Degree and one Certificate of Achievement requiring 30 to less than 60 semester units. Judy Cutting, Dean of Instruction, Career Education and Workforce Development was contacted on February 2, 2022 of Cabrillo’s and informed of Cabrillo’s development of certificates and degree under Top Code 1030.00 - Graphic Art and Design. Judy Cutting is supportive of Cabrillo’s new programs, especially since the Monterey Peninsula programs focus on print media and supplement the Cabrillo programs.