The Design Academy

The Rolla Technical Institute Design Academy is a series of pathways for students interested in entering a career in the Visual Arts Career Cluster that includes graphic design, animation + game art design, animation + game art development (programming), website design and development, interior design, and drafting design.

The Mission of the Design Academy

The mission of the Design Academy is to empower students with knowledge of the technical, employable and leadership skills needed to be successful in the creative arts industry.

Six Pathways/Emphasis Areas of Study

Each pathway allows students to focus on one area of concentration in a specific area of the visual arts field. The subjects studied in each area will prepare the high school student to continue their education after high school or, in some cases, enter the local workforce using the hands-on skills they have learned in their specific area.

Pathways/Emphasis Areas of focus are:

1. Graphic Design
2. Animation + Game Art Design*
3. Animation + Game Art Development/Programming*
4. Website Design & Development
5. Drafting Design
6. Interior Design*

*You will need to continue your education to get your Bachelor Degree in order to enter the workforce in this specific field of study.

What Are Careers in the Visual Arts Field?

If you are unsure exactly which Pathway/Emphasis Area you should select, here are some descriptions of each focus area.

Graphic Design

Graphic Design is simply "visual communication" - just about everything around you has graphic design with it. Some examples would be the t-shirts from Aeropostale in the mall are designed by graphic designers; food packaging at fast food restaurants and in the grocery stores are designed by designers; television commercials and sitcoms have designers on staff; movie/film production companies in Hollywood have graphic designers creating set designs and graphics for the movie; and even when you go to the doctor for a checkup, you will see informational pamphlets on the counter about healthcare, all designed by graphic designers.

In this career, you will work with other creative professionals to solve a problem: communicate a message to the end user-visually!

Graphic designers might work in advertising agencies creating advertisements and identity branding for products for specific clients of the agency, such as Olgivy and Mather. Ogilvy site Graphic designers might also work for a national magazine (such as Time or Better Homes & Garden), or at the local newspaper designing advertisements and graphics for the newspaper. Other places of employment might be for design firms, such as Pentagram or Push Pin Studios in NYC, that specialize specifically in graphic design services for clients, such as Visa and Capital One. Or, large corporations, universities and hospitals sometimes have their own in-house design team to handle their marketing and image branding needs for brochures, newsletters and annual reports.

On the production side of things, designers are also employed in t-shirt screen printing companies and in print houses that handle the printing of the materials such as brochures, newsletters and annual reports. Another area of industry would include sign shops and even auto collision centers that specialize in custom vehicle graphics! (Who knew, right?!)

Animation + Game Art Design

• Visual communication theory and practice
• Adobe software: Photoshop and Illustrator
• Digital photography
• Digital layout
• Animation principles
• Multimedia presentation design
• Basic typography
• Information graphics
• Animation software: Blender and 3DS Max

Animation + Game Art Development/Programming

• Visual communication theory and practice
• Adobe software: Photoshop and Illustrator
• Digital photography
• Digital layout
• Animation principles
• Information graphics
• Animation & game engine software: Blender and 3DS Max
• Database structures
• C# programming

Website Design & Development

• Visual communication theory and practice
• Adobe software: Dreamweaver, Fireworks, Flash, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and Acrobat
• Digital photography
• Digital layout
• Animation principles
• Multimedia presentation design
• Basic typography
• Information graphics
• Coding language: HTML, PHP, CSS

Drafting Design

• Engineering drawing (CAD I & II)
• Architectural drawing (CAD I & II)
• Technical drawing
• 3D architecture and engineering
• Advanced CAD applications
• Geotechnologies (land surveying & GIS)

Interior Design

• Visual communication theory and practice
• Adobe software: Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign
• Digital photography
• Digital layout
• Animation principles
• Multimedia presentation design
• Basic typography
• Information graphics
• Engineering drawing (CAD I & II)
• Architectural drawing (CAD I & II)
• 3D architecture and engineering

A complete description of the coursework studied in each pathway is located in the respected section.

Entrance Requirements • Rolla High School Students

Students outside of 8th grade may apply for entrance into the Design Academy. The application can be found in the menu at the right.

Regardless of pathway, students must have at least a 9th grade reading level. This is due to the textbook materials that are used in the coursework. Students with a reading level lower than 9th grade could encounter comprehension problems.

All students must have completed and passed Algebra 1. This will prove that the student knows basic math concepts (multiplication and division).

All students must have taken one full year of high school art. This will ensure the student has basic drawing skills, as there is not enough time to teach that skill in the program.