Mission Statement

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.

Program Description

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.

The Multimedia/Graphic Design program tracks approximately 46 students who have graduated with a degree in either Graphic Design or Multimedia Studies, and 39 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. Last year, we finalized the grant and our Makerspace was named one of the Top 5 makerspaces within this grant. The Makerspace is still functioning and growing, though it was put on hiatus during the pandemic.

The program offers 11 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.

Our most recent course offerings are a VR and AR course that have been approved by curriculum to be taught in the Spring 2021 semester.

Class sizes are based on the number of available computers (25 in each of three Apple computer labs).

Student Learning/Administrative Unit Outcomes

Standards/Goals for Student Achievement (Instruction Departments)

Graphic Design
The Graphic Design program has held steady in growth from 2016, and did not seem to get his as hard as some of the other programs in Art & Design. We continue to do outreach and promotion to community and local high schools to try and recruit and build enrollment.
The Multimedia Studies Program has had coninued decline from 2016, and shows a bigger hit from the Camp Fire and Pandemic. We continue to try and build the program to offer skills that can get students employed in the community, and this shows that there is a gap in the Success Rate, due to the fact that students have been gaining skills and getting jobs before finishing their degree. An example is a student who started our program and in the second semester, she had gained enough skills to get an entry level job at Build.com, where she is still employed as a lead designer making a high wage and full benefits. Our Dsign program has also taken a hit over the past few year due to losing one of our FT faculty in the Design program and not having that faculty replaced, placing a burden on the remaining FT faculty who is also the Chair of the entire Art/Design department. This lack of time to build the program, teach courses, and do outreach to schools on a regular basis, is shown in the declining student enrollment, which was also hit hard by the Camp Fire and the pandemic.



Multimedia Studies

Standards/Goals for Student Achievement (All Other Departments)

Our department manages the Makerspace in Arts, and we are constantly working to recruit students outside of our area into the Makerspace, which introduces these students to the arts and design programs in the building.

Strategic Direction

Program Review

1. Hire two new FT faculty - This has not been addressed though we have submitted requests each year.
2. 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
3. Increase efforts to maximize students’ completion of certificates and/or degrees - We are developing new pathways and courses for students
4. Promote all DA&D programs - We are doing social media promotion as well as outreach to community and high schools
5. Implement Learning Communities - This has not been addressed
6. Review pages and course descriptions for accuracy, currency and clarity - We are reworking our curriculum and adding new courses to respond to students' needs.
7. 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.
8. Develop additional courses and degrees - We have written five new courses that are currently going through curriculum committee

Department Goals

The goal of the Multimedia and Graphic Design program is to build upon the past growth and create a pathway for our students to obtain eployment in the high-earning areas of the Design workforce. This includes updating our courses and equipment to match the rapidly changing sectors where there is the most need; drones, virtual and augmented reality, social media, video, and the print industry.

Future Development Strategies

Requested Non-Financial Resources

Current Financial Resources

Augmentation Requests