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Studies & Degrees in Graphic Information Technology

Graphic information technology is the technical side of visual communication. It covers how images, text, video and interactive content are designed, produced and delivered, in print and on screens. The name is used mainly by universities in the United States. Elsewhere the same content is taught as graphic communication, graphic and digital media, computer graphics, digital design or graphic arts technology.

The subject differs from a fine-art or pure design course in its weight on production and technology. Students learn design principles and typography, and also the software, file formats, colour management and workflows that turn a design into a finished product. Typical modules are digital imaging, page layout, web and interface design, motion graphics, 3D, photography, prepress and printing processes, and some programming. The Grado en Diseño Digital at U-tad in Spain, for example, includes subjects such as Tratamiento Digital de la Imagen, Infografía y Visualización de Datos, Programación para el Arte y el Diseño, Motion Graphics and Diseño y Usabilidad de Interfaces.

Qualifications and levels

  • Associate degrees. Community colleges in the United States offer two-year degrees. At Bergen Community College the Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Graphic Design and Computer Graphics is designed to give students the coursework needed to transfer to a four-year institution, with options in graphic design or computer graphics.
  • Bachelor's degrees. A bachelor's degree is the usual entry qualification for design work. In Spain, official bachelor's degrees (grados) have 240 ECTS credits. The Grado en Diseño Digital at U-tad has 240 ECTS credits, lasts four years, and is taught in Spanish on campus in Las Rozas (Madrid) and online. U-tad describes it as an official degree of the Centro Universitario U-tad, which is attached to the Universidad Camilo José Cela.
  • British degrees taught in Spain. Marbella Design Academy teaches a three-year Graphic Design & Media programme in English. The school states that the BA (Hons) degree is validated and awarded by its UK partner, the University of Bedfordshire, and counts it as 360 UK credits, equal to 180 ECTS credits. Students who need the degree recognised in Spain or in their home country should ask the school about it.
  • Vocational training. Spain's vocational system (FP) has a higher-level qualification in the graphic arts family, Técnico Superior en Diseño y Edición de Publicaciones Impresas y Multimedia, which lasts 2,000 hours.
  • Master's degrees. Official master's degrees in Spain have 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits. Graduates use them to specialise, for example in interaction design, animation or visual effects.

Most programmes ask students to build a portfolio. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that candidates for graphic design positions should have a portfolio that demonstrates their creativity and originality.

Where to study

SpainExchange lists 11 active schools for graphic information technology. Eight are in the United States, two in Spain and one in Zimbabwe.

The schools in the United States are a mix of universities and community colleges. They include Ferris State University in Michigan, Morehead State University in Kentucky, Central Connecticut State University and the State University of New York (SUNY) system, and the community colleges Alamance (North Carolina), Bergen (New Jersey), Kirkwood (Iowa) and Broward College (Florida). In Spain the list has U-tad, a private university centre for digital technology and art in Las Rozas, near Madrid, and Marbella Design Academy in Monda, in the province of Málaga. The National University of Science and Technology in Bulawayo is the school in Zimbabwe.

Programmes in the United States are taught in English. In Spain the language depends on the school: U-tad teaches its digital design degree in Spanish, and Marbella Design Academy teaches in English.

Careers

Graduates work as graphic designers, web and interface designers, prepress and production technicians, multimedia artists and art directors. Employers include design studios, advertising agencies, publishers, printing and packaging companies, and the in-house teams of other businesses. Bergen Community College names art director, multimedia artist and graphic designer as career paths. Spain's vocational training portal lists graphic designer, multimedia publication designer, packaging designer, editorial production technician and prepress technician for the higher-level FP qualification.

The outlook differs by role. For the United States, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of graphic designers to decline 2 percent from 2025 to 2035, although it still expects about 16,000 openings each year as workers leave the occupation. It projects overall employment of web developers and digital designers to grow 5 percent in the same period, and employment of special effects artists and animators to show little or no change. Programmes that combine design with web, interface and motion skills prepare students for the growing part of the field. These figures describe the United States; other countries publish their own data.

Frequently asked questions

How is graphic information technology different from graphic design?

Graphic design concentrates on the visual concept. Graphic information technology adds the production side: software, web and interface development, colour and print processes, and project workflow. Many programmes cover both.

How long does it take to qualify?

It depends on the level. In Spain a higher-level FP qualification lasts 2,000 hours and an official bachelor's degree has 240 ECTS credits; the digital design degree at U-tad lasts four years. The BA (Hons) programme at Marbella Design Academy lasts three years.

Do I need a degree to work as a web or digital designer?

Not always. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, educational requirements for web developers and digital designers range from a high school diploma to a bachelor's degree, while graphic designers usually need a bachelor's degree.

Can I study this subject in English in Spain?

Yes. Marbella Design Academy teaches its Graphic Design & Media programme in English. The digital design degree at U-tad is taught in Spanish.