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Digital Media and Design

Design a Better Digital Experience

The ever-growing technology industry needs talented people like you to create and design digital elements for countless applications. As a digital media and design student, you will be prepared to stay ahead of technology and digital trends by working on real-world projects like the iconic, outdoor murals on the World’s Only Corn Palace. Where else can you have your artwork admired by half a million people each year?

What jobs can you do with a
digital media and design degree?

Make a living as a digital designer and practice your passion in any of these career areas: 

Architecture Design

Graphic Designer 

User Experience (UX) Designer 

User Interface (UI) Designer 
Digital Strategist
Web Designer

What's the Difference? 

  • DWU is the only university in South Dakota that teaches UI and UX design.  
  • Choose from a graphic design, web design, digital marketing or architecture and design concentration.  
  • Work in our student-centered 24-hour design lab. 
  • Assist real-life business owners with creating social media plans.   
  • Organizations love to hire DWU grads! Find a creative, fulfilling job with a large regional corporation: Innovative Systems, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Sanford, Furniture Mart USA, and others.
Perks

You will have 24-hour access to our cutting-edge labs to ensure you can learn on your schedule. Digital Media and Design majors also enjoy free subscriptions to software that can be installed on your own devices. Graduates are prepared for a smooth transition right into a professional design job upon graduation. 

Internships and Hands-on Experience

You will have an opportunity to intern, or complete other outside-the-classroom learning. An internship will allow you to work alongside businesses and organization in the region to develop business-used projects and build authentic client-designer relationships before you graduate.  

  • Participate in Dark Lab, our student-run creative agency. Build your portfolio by working with local organizations and on-campus departments for their design and marketing needs. 
  • Explore our partnership with Innovative Systems. We connect you with a local telecommunications and engineering company who is eager to provide internships and potential employment to design students. 

View DWU student work at facebook.com/dwu.designs.

 

Digital Media and Design Courses

Check out the design classes you'll take at DWU. You'll review topics such as color theory design, social media strategy, UX design, and website design.  

DMD 101 Introduction to Design

3 Hours
This foundation course combines studio work with classroom instruction. Using the elements and principles of design, students work in various black-and-white and color media while developing drawing skills. Along with learning and applying professional presentation skills and craftsmanship, the development of ideas and problem-solving skills are the focus of this course. This is a studio course requiring extended hours.

DMD 203 Digital Imaging

3 Hours
The course will provide an Introduction to and application of computer-generated graphics, imaging and photo manipulation using industry standard software. Includes lecture and laboratory.

DMD 247 Web Page Design

3 Hours
Students are trained in using the Internet, designing Web pages and developing websites. File transfer, browsers, evaluation of sites, copyright, and principles of layout and design are included. Students will use Adobe Dreamweaver to create Web pages, will learn the basics of CSS and will review the basics of HTML coding.

DMD 305 Color Theory Design

3 Hours
This course provides an introduction to color theory. Students learn key terms and the basics of color physics and the physiology of visual perception. Students become familiar with theories of color relationships as they apply to graphic design. The psychological effect of colors, along with symbolism and cultural associations are addressed. Professional presentation skills and craftsmanship are emphasized. Computer skills are crucial. Prerequisites: DMD 101 and DMD 202.

DMD 330 Communication and Social Strategy

3 Hours
Students reflect and examine important concepts and principles of communication as it relates to social media, digital and content strategy. Students will develop essential social marketing skills and design intentional social media strategies to better understand, grow and engage with a specific audience in mind.

DMD 456 Digital Media/Design Portfolio

1 Hour
This course allows students to further develop professional portfolios as dictated by future goals. Students research career opportunities while re-evaluating, critiquing and refining existing portfolio pieces. Portfolio pieces are expected to meet professional standards. Each work in the portfolio should demonstrate the ability to convey complex compositional organization, problem solving, creativity and originality along with mastery of media in single and/or multi-piece design. Completed artifacts include design analysis, letter of intent, design philosophy, resume, process book and 20 completed professional-level designs. This class is repeatable for two credits. Prerequisite: Senior standing and a graphic design major/minor with consent of department chair.

ENG 215 Business and Technical Writing

3 Hours
Students will be introduced to professional expectations for written communication in the workplace and on the Web. Students will develop an understanding of purpose and audience while writing and revising a variety of goal-oriented projects. In preparation for a research project, students will develop a variety of texts, including memos, letters, analytical reports, presentation and proposals. Prerequisite: Successful completion of ENG 111.

ENT 224 The Entrepreneurial Mindset

3 Hours
Students will practice concepts of entrepreneurial leadership with emphasis on self-awareness, team effectiveness, and leadership. Students will practice concepts related to intrapreneurship (corporate entrepreneurship), including growth mindset, visual thinking, psychological safety, prototyping, design thinking, and market research.

Get to Know Your Professors

In our program, you will learn directly from professionals in the field. A teaching assistant or graduate assistant will never supplement your education. You will leave confident, knowing that what you learned will be relevant to your career. 

Kyle Herges, MFA

Professor of Digital Media and Design

Find Your Creativity in
Digital Media and Design  

Become a more marketable asset to your field with area of interest in Digital Media and Design. Choose from a graphic design, web design, digital marketing or architecture and design concentration.  

Concentration in Graphic Design

Create visual representations of your voice. Use techniques like typography, visual arts and page layout to tell your story. 

Graphic designers are always in demand as visual storytellers.  You will learn to combine your creativity with the latest technology to create art, ads, brochures and other marketing materials.  

The concentration in graphic design will expose you to the cultural, aesthetic, technical and business aspects of graphic design. Grow confidence in your skills, as well as in critical and analytical thinking to help you grow as a designer. 

Take classes like:  
  • Computer Graphics 
  • Advanced Digital Imaging 
  • Desktop Publishing 
  • Photography 

Apply your skills in a career as a graphic designer, digital strategist or product designer.    

Concentration in Web Design

Use your creativity to help improve the experience of websites, mobile apps, every-day products, and more. Learn how to use technology to connect, inform and impress your audience. 

Design websites, apps and mobile sites from start to finish.  The concentration in web design will introduce innovation and technology to creativity and design.  If you are a creative, strategic designer and thinker, you will be energized by the new and existing technologies in this field. 

Take classes like:  
  • User Experience (UX) Design 
  • Mobile Applications 
  • Advanced Media Design 

Apply your skills in a career as a frontend designer, user experience (UX) designer or user interface (UI) designer. 

Concentration in Digital Marketing

Create with intent and deliver through numerous digital channels like search engines, websites, social media, mobile, and more. 

Learn to target a specific audience with intentional designs. The concentration in marketing is designed to take advantage of tangible design skills while having the ability to elicit an emotional response from your audience.  Learn to harness your creativity and engage audiences through digital channels such as search engines, websites, social media, mobile, and email. 

Take classes like:  
  • Consumer Behavior 
  • Content Strategy 
  • Interaction Design 

Apply your skills in a career as a digital strategist, marketing specialist, social media analyst. 

Concentration in Architecture and Design

In partnership with Mitchell Technical College, the Architecture and Design concentration blends hands-on design experience with essential architecture and construction courses. Starting with a strong foundation in design principles and drafting software, you will learn computer-aided drafting (CAD) and develop skills in both digital media and conceptual building processes. In addition, you will gain exposure to key techniques and knowledge in commercial construction, building materials and methods, graphic design, architectural design and more. This concentration offers a comprehensive approach to both the creative and technical aspects of architecture.

Take classes like: 
  • Building Design
  • Architectural Design
  • Computer Graphics

With this concentration, you’ll have classes at DWU and Mitchell Technical College. 

Apply your skills with a career as an architectural designer (working under licensed architects), drafter, project manager, construction manager, urban planning, or continue on to architecture graduate school.

Power To Design Scholarship

Turn your love for design into a reality with the Power To Design Scholarship. High school students interested in majoring in Digital Media and Design are encouraged to apply for this unique scholarship opportunity.  

Qualifications:    
  • Must be a high school senior and major in Digital Media & Design. 
  • Deadline to apply is April 1.  

Power to Design Scholarship Form

Related Majors & Minors

Creative Writing

Calling all storytellers! Refine your writing ability and passion for words with a creative writing minor.

Explore
  • Minor

Communication

When you pursue a communication degree at DWU, you will find countless ways to enhance your talent for speaking, writing, performing, or persuading.

Explore
  • Major
  • Minor

Business Administration

A degree in business administration will prepare you for a variety of career choices in the professional world.

Explore
  • Major
  • Minor

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