Keystone College Fine Arts Blog

I have been asked the question: Why would a prospective student want to go to a Liberal Arts college like Keystone to obtain a degree in art or, more specifically, design?

From my perspective as a graphic design instructor and as an experienced publication designer, I have to say that it is essential to have a liberal arts education, at least at the undergraduate level to succeed as a graphic designer. Artistic skills, whether they be traditional or contemporary as in painting or digital painting are necessary, but what sets applied artists apart from each other is how they show what they think, sense, feel, and perceive. It is the developed personality of a designer that impresses most prospective employers or clients. A good designer can engage in many subject areas and apply their visual creativity to many topics. Therein lies the necessity for the liberal arts education. A good designer faces many challenges when serving clients. The more subject areas that a new designer is familiar with, the better the chance that he or she will be able to develop an effective visual solution to any design problem.

The Liberal Arts degree with an emphasis in art and a concentration in design can be the best education for many students wishing to get started in the field of graphic design.