Experience the graphic arts industry from concept to production
Everything you interact with—online, in print, or on the shelf—starts with a powerful
visual idea shaped by thoughtful design.
At Harper, you'll learn to create visuals that not only look great but communicate
clearly, gaining a deep understanding of design principles and visual storytelling
that will set your work apart. You’ll dive into the full spectrum of the graphic arts
and design industry. With hands-on courses in image editing, illustration, typography,
layout, color theory, and production workflows, you'll learn how professional graphics
are designed, built, and delivered.
Whether your goal is to enter the workforce or transfer to a four-year university,
with a degree from Harper, you’ll be equipped to shape how the world sees, reads,
and responds to visual messages and work in design studios, marketing departments,
publishing, packaging, and digital content creation.
Program highlights
Earn while you learn in our two-year Graphic Arts Apprenticeship Program, where you’ll gain paid, train with an industry mentor, build a professional portfolio,
and graduate with both an A.A.S. degree and a Department of Labor certification.
Participate in graphic design activities, filed trips, and guest speaker events from
industry professionals by joining the Graphic Arts Design Club.
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Earn a career-ready degree in Graphic Arts Design and Technology
Harper's two-year Associate in Applied Science—Graphic Arts Design and Technology (AAS) degree program offers the training you need to become a professional graphic designer.
With hands-on design courses in image editing, illustration, typography, layout, color
theory, and production workflows, you'll learn how professional graphics are designed,
built, and delivered.
You'll work with industry-standard software and hardware in a collaborative, studio-style
environment - guided by expert faculty who bring real-world experience into every
lesson. You'll also gain a deeper understanding of design principles and visual communication
that will set your work apart.
To make transferring to a bachelor's program in graphic arts design and technology
as easy as possible, Harper College has developed transfer agreements with area universities.
To learn more, visit our Transfer Information page or see your advisor.
Graphic Arts certificate programs
Harper's graphic arts and technology certificate programs are designed to give you
an introduction to the graphic design industry or add new skills. Many of the courses
you take for graphic arts certificate programs can also be applied to the Graphic
Arts Design and Technology AAS degree.
Explore Graphic Arts Design and Technology Careers
Learn more about career outcomes for Harper's Graphic Arts Design and Technology degree/certificate
programs. Each career profile offers a complete picture of the local job market, including
salaries, open positions, top local employers, and more. To learn more, visit Graphic Arts Design and Technology Careers.
Plan, direct, or coordinate advertising policies and programs or produce collateral
materials, such as posters, contests, coupons, or giveaways, to create extra interest
in the purchase of a product or service for a department, an entire organization,
or on an account basis.
Core tasks:
Plan and prepare advertising and promotional material to increase sales of products
or services, working with customers, company officials, sales departments, and advertising
agencies.
Inspect layouts and advertising copy, and edit scripts, audio, video, and other promotional
material for adherence to specifications.
Confer with department heads or staff to discuss topics such as contracts, selection
of advertising media, or product to be advertised.
Coordinate with the media to disseminate advertising.
Design and develop manufactured products, such as cars, home appliances, and children's
toys. Combine artistic talent with research on product use, marketing, and materials
to create the most functional and appealing product design.
Core tasks:
Prepare sketches of ideas, detailed drawings, illustrations, artwork, or blueprints,
using drafting instruments, paints and brushes, or computer-aided design equipment.
Modify and refine designs, using working models, to conform with customer specifications,
production limitations, or changes in design trends.
Evaluate feasibility of design ideas, based on factors such as appearance, safety,
function, serviceability, budget, production costs/methods, and market characteristics.
Confer with engineering, marketing, production, or sales departments, or with customers,
to establish and evaluate design concepts for manufactured products.
Quick facts:
Desktop Publishers
Desktop Publishers
* Data sampled April 2025. Visit the Desktop Publishers career profile for most current data.
$60,585 Median Salary
-11.9% Projected Job Growth (2025-2032)
0 Job Postings
Description:
Format typescript and graphic elements using computer software to produce publication-ready
material.
Core tasks:
Operate desktop publishing software and equipment to design, lay out, and produce
camera-ready copy.
Position text and art elements from a variety of databases in a visually appealing
way to design print or web pages, using knowledge of type styles and size and layout
patterns.
View monitors for visual representation of work in progress and for instructions and
feedback throughout process, making modifications as necessary.
Enter text into computer keyboard and select the size and style of type, column width,
and appropriate spacing for printed materials.
Quick facts:
Graphic Designers
Graphic Designers
* Data sampled April 2025. Visit the Graphic Designers career profile for most current data.
$55,370 Median Salary
-2.5% Projected Job Growth (2025-2032)
248 Job Postings
Description:
Design or create graphics to meet specific commercial or promotional needs, such as
packaging, displays, or logos. May use a variety of mediums to achieve artistic or
decorative effects.
Core tasks:
Key information into computer equipment to create layouts for client or supervisor.
Review final layouts and suggest improvements, as needed.
Determine size and arrangement of illustrative material and copy, and select style
and size of type.
Develop graphics and layouts for product illustrations, company logos, and Web sites.
Bind books and other publications or finish printed products by hand or machine. May
set up binding and finishing machines.
Core tasks:
Examine stitched, collated, bound, or unbound product samples for defects, such as
imperfect bindings, ink spots, torn pages, loose pages, or loose or uncut threads.
Read work orders to determine instructions and specifications for machine set-up.
Stitch or glue endpapers, bindings, backings, or signatures, using sewing machines,
glue machines, or glue and brushes.
Trim edges of books to size, using cutting machines, book trimming machines, or hand
cutters.
Format and proof text and images submitted by designers and clients into finished
pages that can be printed. Includes digital and photo typesetting. May produce printing
plates.
Core tasks:
Generate prepress proofs in digital or other format to approximate the appearance
of the final printed piece.
Proofread and perform quality control of text and images.
Enter, position, and alter text size, using computers, to make up and arrange pages
so that printed materials can be produced.
Perform "preflight" check of required font, graphic, text and image files to ensure
completeness prior to delivery to printer.
Quick facts:
Printing Press Operators
Printing Press Operators
* Data sampled April 2025. Visit the Printing Press Operators career profile for most current data.
$42,946 Median Salary
-11.7% Projected Job Growth (2025-2032)
84 Job Postings
Description:
Set up and operate digital, letterpress, lithographic, flexographic, gravure, or other
printing machines. Includes short-run offset printing presses.
Core tasks:
Start presses and pull proofs to check for ink coverage and density, alignment, and
registration.
Examine job orders to determine quantities to be printed, stock specifications, colors,
or special printing instructions.
Adjust ink fountain flow rates.
Collect and inspect random samples during print runs to identify any necessary adjustments.
Design digital user interfaces or websites. Develop and test layouts, interfaces,
functionality, and navigation menus to ensure compatibility and usability across browsers
or devices. May use web framework applications as well as client-side code and processes.
May evaluate web design following web and accessibility standards, and may analyze
web use metrics and optimize websites for marketability and search engine ranking.
May design and test interfaces that facilitate the human-computer interaction and
maximize the usability of digital devices, websites, and software with a focus on
aesthetics and design. May create graphics used in websites and manage website content
and links.
Core tasks:
Collaborate with management or users to develop e-commerce strategies and to integrate
these strategies with Web sites.
Collaborate with web development professionals, such as front-end or back-end developers,
to complete the full scope of Web development projects.
Communicate with network personnel or Web site hosting agencies to address hardware
or software issues affecting Web sites.
Conduct user research to determine design requirements and analyze user feedback to
improve design quality.
Quick facts:
For more information about the Graphic Arts Design and Technology program, contact
Kelly Taylor, Program Coordinator, ktaylor@harpercollege.edu, 847.925.6092. For more information about graphic arts courses and transfer opportunities
at Harper, please contact Admissions Outreach at 847.925.6700.
