Great graphic designers are trained in Lansing, Michigan! Each year I spend time with local graphic design experts as well as Lansing Community College’s, (LCC), Communication, Media, and Arts Department faculty members. The LCC Annual Advisory Board Meeting is a time where faculty and selected professionals from the Lansing, Michigan graphic design community discuss what is most important for students to learn to succeed in the graphic design industry. It is interesting to hear other professionals and instructors share what talents they are seeing from students and what skills are sorely lacking as they enter the workforce.

Because LCC is a community college, many students are enrolled for an Associates’ degree. This means they receive a mere two years of training. Other students are there to earn credit to transfer to a four-year college. When students are able to attend a four-year university the additional two years at University offers educators the ability to dive deeper into philosophy.

Graphic Design Theory Including:

• Design concepts
• Color theory
• Drawing techniques
• Nuances in typography
• Problem-solving
• Graphic design software training

However, the majority of LCC students plan to earn their Associates’s degree in Graphic Design, Website Design, or Animation, and enter the workforce right after graduation. The challenge for the faculty and Advisory Committee each year is to determine the most important graphic design training for students during their limited enrollment. These students need to have skills and knowledge that employers find valuable. They need to hit the ground running to be able to compete in a competitive field.

In an ideal world, training would cover all areas. This luxury is saved for the colleges and universities where students will receive Bachelor’s in Graphic Design degrees or hang out until they earn a Masters in Graphic Design.
It is a dilemma that we face each year. In the era of COVID, decreased enrollment, reduced budgets, and inflated graphic design software costs, the questions are even more important. What I appreciate most about our annual meeting is that we are determined to address the needs of the students.

Some of the questions we ask include:

• What can we do to build better graphic design modules for students?
• What does a graphic designer need to know to hit the ground running when they graduate?
• Should there be a strong focus on teaching drawing techniques?
• Are problem-solving techniques most valuable?
• What about software, is Adobe Creative Suite® the only game in town?
• How much time should be allotted for learning specific software?
• What if graphic design firms switch to a different software?
• What is a process that separates the creative graphic designer from the novice?

So many clearly important questions and all are difficult to answer. Each of our views is distinctive to our chosen areas of expertise. As designers and art appreciators, we consider what we like and what we look for as employers and instructors. My favorite discussion from this year’s meeting was the list compiled of creative prompts and practices all great graphic designers would benefit from establishing. I would love to adopt many of these into my own daily practice as well as my team of the graphic designer team at Connection Group.

Every Graphic Design Student will:

1. Complete 7 sketchbook pages each week
2. Design and develop at least one web component with each brand project
3. Show process – steps taken to get to the finished design
4. Demonstrate a clear understanding of fonts and how it relates to other visuals
5. Create a clean design of a boring project, such as a form (shows tenacity!)
6. Share designs in public – on Pinterest, Facebook, or other platforms and forums
7. Develop an online portfolio and a solid, neat interview portfolio
8. Research great design in print and digital format
9. Subscribe to Communication Arts and other print or digital design magazines)
10. Students and designers will enjoy doing some of the tasks above and some may find them tedious.

The interesting part is that all of these tasks are important if a graphic designer is going to be well-rounded and successful.

I believe the skill of graphic design can be taught. However, graphic design that stands out, conveys and emotes a moving and clear message is created by those who are skilled in the ability to see things others don’t see. Great graphic designers can break down complex ideas into simple visuals and messages the mass market understands. Neither a two-year or four-year degree ensures this ability.

Whether it is determined that a sketchbook is required in all graphic design classes, or that software training should be the focus, regular review is ket. I am happy LCC critiques their program and is always striving to bring the highest value to their students and to the organizations that hire them. I am proud to be a member of the LCC Graphic Design Department Advisory Board. I know the entire committee is committed to the success of the students and the value they will bring to the industry we love.

So what did I miss? What daily practices do you think great graphic designers can implement to stay inspired?