Comprised of a dynamic grouping of disciplines—graphic arts, interactive design, digital arts and illustration, animation, 3D design and digital video—the Graphic Design department offers students the technological training and design skills needed to enter a highly competitive industry. Committed to empowering students, our program provides a multidisciplinary design education, prepares students to be future designers, and strengthens links to the professional and university communities.
The goal of the Butte College Graphic Design program is to prepare students for entry-level positions in the Design industries. Students who successfully complete the program and plan to earn a four-year degree will have a solid foundation for application to the design school of their choice. The Bureau of Labor Statistics suggests "Employment of Multimedia Designers" is expected to grow 8 percent, as fast as average for similar occupations from 2016 to 2026, but this does not take into account that Design Students are learning more than basic Print Design, and are more in line with the BLS statistics of Web Developers, UX and UI Designers, where the growth is expected to be close to 20% by 2020. This past Fall 2017 semester, the FT faculty in the Multimedia/Graphic Design program did a survey of 37 students who have graduated with a degree in either Graphic Design or Multimedia Studies, and 34 of these students are currently working in local design positions within local businesses, the other students have started their own businesses, or are working a freelance designers and supporting themselves through local freelance design. In Feb of 2018, one female student in her third semester within the Multimedia and Graphic Design program, obtained a full-time position with a local industry leader, Build.com. The student's starting wage is $16hr, with full benefits. As demand for design continues to increase from advertisers, publishers, and computer design firms. Some of this increase is expected to stem from the expansion of the video entertainment market, including drones, virtual reality, and 3D printing technologies, all of which are being implemented in our MSP department. Moreover, designers with Web site design and animation experience will especially be needed as demand increases for design projects for interactive media—Web sites, video games, cellular telephones, personal digital assistants, and other technology. Demand for graphic designers also will increase as advertising firms create print and Web marketing and promotional materials for a growing number of products and services. There are currently one fulltime and five associate faculty on the main campus teaching day and evening classes. In 2017, the college applied for and received a $500,000 two-year Makerspace development grant. This space is currently in development and will increase FTES, and skills building for students across disciplines and especially within the Design and Arts departments. The program offers 8 courses in Graphic Design and Multimedia Design, and has submitted curriculum for another 6 courses to be added over the next two years. There are another seven classes that crossover from the Multimedia Studies program. We have also added two new Drone Management and Drone Video courses, as well as a Makerspace course to align with our new Makerspace in the Arts building. Class sizes are based on the number of available computers (25 in each of three Apple computer labs).
The Graphic Design/MSP program received $55,000 to begin developing a drone program. Drones have been ordered and will begin to be used in multiple courses in the Design department. Two Drone courses are currently being put through the curriculum process, and will be offered in 2018/2019 school year.
The drones we purchased will offer students the ability to build skills that lead directly to employment and entrepreneurship in the Design and Multimedia fields. The Drone curriculum will also prepare students for drone flying ceritification and allow them to work in the industry.
The Graphic Design/MSP program was given Strong Workforce funding to purchase 3D Printers/Virtual Reality equipment. Multiple 3D printers and VR equipment has been purchased.
We have written a 3D Printing course that is currently going through curriculum and classes will be offered in the 2018/19 schol year. This equipment will help students gain valuable skills that relate to employment in fast-growing tech industries.
Reflections were performed in all Multimedia courses and faculty are beginning to add more succinct and thoughful comments on how SLOs in their courses are performing. In many ourses, the wide range of student abilities within the individual classes that are stacked, do not allow faculty to easily cover content relevant to the specific course and needs of students. In other courses, instructors are planning on doing more in-depth research into the needs of students and SLOs in program and curriculum review.
Student Success
2012FA 93.62%
2013FA 87.04%
2014FA 77.5%
2015FA 91.23%
2016FA 90.3%Degrees and Certificates
2012-13 AA/AS 19
2013-14 AA/AS 14
2014-15 AA/AS 7
2015-16 AA/AS 6
2016-17 AA/AS 10
The Design and Multimedia department is developing new courses and incorporating new technologies that will give students skills that are current with workforce needs, such as using drones, and 3D printing. The drone course will allow students across multiple disciplines to be able to take courses in MSP, and add to skills in their areas of study, such as Agriculutre, Law Enforecement, and GIS.
PROGRESS: .2: The Multimedia and Design programs are building a Makerspace that is focused on building student skills that directly relate to local industry.
COMPLETION: .2: The makerspace will also engage students and facultu with community.
1. Hire two new FT faculty - This has not been addressed though we have submitted requests each year.
2. Reinstate the DA&D lab tech to 12 month - This has not been addressed though it is still needed, though we were able to add one month to two of our techs with the makerspace grant we recieved for two years.
3. Collaborate both within the department and with faculty in other areas - We have worked with the Communication department to offer courses that articulate with CSUC
4. Increase efforts to maximize students’ completion of certificates and/or degrees - We are developing new pathways and courses for students
5. Promote all DA&D programs - We are doing social media promotion as well as outreach to community and high schools
6. Implement Learning Communities - This has not been addressed
7. Review pages and course descriptions for accuracy, currency and clarity - We are reworking our curriculum and adding new courses to respond to students' needs.
8. The Validation Team recommends that course sequencing be clearly stated, including prerequisites - We are working on developing promotional materials such as brochures and other marketing materials.
9. Develop additional courses and degrees - We have written five new courses that are currently going through curriculum committee
Strategy 1 - Community Outreach
The Graphic Design and Multimedia Design programs will strive to increase the awareness of local high school students and business leaders by establishing and maintaining contact with the local media, high school design and art teachers, and the local business community. We invite local high school classes to tour our facilities; and we inviting business leaders to join the advisory board and visit our design facilities.
The Graphic Design and Multimedia department continues to conduct tours and presentations to high school students. We are visiting local high schools to speak to students.
Strategy 2 - Increasing Student Skills and Preparing students for industry jobs
Our students learn by working hands-on with the most current and recent technologies in the Design industries. Specific software and hardware is needed to prepare our students for a competitive industry.
We have developed five new courses to address students' needs and maintain software currency.
Strategy 3 - Need for Full-time faculty
We have lost three full-time faculty from the Digital Art & Design department in the past five years, with no replacements for these faculty.
Full-time oversight and management is needed to give our students the highest level of training and to give direction to our programs.
To maintain the core program, new faculty are needed.
Strategy 4 - Increased hours for Design Department Tech
Our Tech is now being used for Theater and Music, as well as Graphic Design, Fashion, Multimedia and Photography.
Additional hours are still needed to allow him to maintain equipment and manage the labs for our programs. We were able to increase the Sculpture and MSP techs to one additional month each for two years based on a CCC Makerspace grant. This grant will end in 2019, and we will need to increase hours again.
The Photo Tech hours have been reduced and the workload continues to increase as other programs make use of these services.
Strategy 5 - Makerspace Learning Lab
The makerspace we are creating will create connections with local industry and businesses within the community. With the training and skills students will gain within the makerspace, students will be more prepared for industry and employment.
Students will be better prepared for entering multiple areas of industry and business, as well as become more prepared to start their own entreprenurial businesses.
None needed.
The Graphic Design and Multimedia programs finished with the Chico Unified High School District Pathways grant to build connections with local high schools and increase awareness of our programs.
We are continuing to implment the Strong Workforce Grant for Music/Photo/MSP/Graphic Design programs.
We have received $250,000 for two years from a CCC Makerspace grant to develop a makerspace for students and comunity.
| Original Priority | Program, Unit, Area | Resource Type | Account Number | Object Code | One Time Augment | Ongoing Augment |
| Description | Supporting Rationale | Potential Alternative Funding Sources | Prioritization Criteria | |||
| 1 | Multimedia/Graphic Design | Equipment | 1-000-512-1-061460 | 56411 | $62,000.00 | $0.00 |
| Wacom Cintiq Monitor Tablets to replace 11 year-old monitors | Based on research by our computer tech, Ross Pyromski, our 11 year-old Wacom Cintiq monitors will be unusable within one semester. Due to Wacom and Apple Computer not updating drivers and no longer supporting the tablets, students will no longer be able to use the tablets. Labor information: The projected change in employment of graphic designers from 2016 to 2026 varies by industry, but overall employment is expected to grow by 8%, the average among all industries. UX, UI, and areas that incorporate newer technologies such as Virtual Reality and Drones are quickly expanding and companies are in need of specially trained employees. Median pay is $65,300 per year and $31.40 per hour for basic design skills. UX designers currently make between $80k-$120k a year, and drone operators can make upwards of $75-$100 an hour. Locally, our Design students obtain employment in multimedia companies within Chico and Butte County, these include companies such as Build.com, 5th Sun clothing, Lulu's, Son Media, and LifeTouch. |
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| 2 | Graphic Design, Multimedia Studies, Photography, Fashion, Music, Theater | Personnel | 11-000-512-1-061460 | 11-000-512 | $0.00 | $4,500.00 |
| Reinstate lab tech to 11 months | Our lab tech is needed during the Summer months so that we have a tech to manage the equipment during Winter and Summer sessions. There is also additional work that needs to be completed that would be easier to have accomplished if the tech was here an additional month. |
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