Art and Design

Bring your Ideas to Life

Studying art and design is a powerful way to turn creativity into a meaningful, in-demand career. You can develop practical, job-ready skills in areas like graphic design, digital media, branding, and visual communication while building a professional portfolio that showcases your abilities to employers.

With a focus on real-world projects and industry-relevant tools, art and design programs prepare graduates for careers in fields such as multimedia design, interior design, visual communication, fine arts, or drafting design. Whether entering the workforce directly or continuing their education, students gain the creative and technical expertise needed to compete—and succeed—in today’s design-driven economy.

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Highline College offers Art and Design programs in the following areas:

Multimedia Design

Multimedia Design brings video, audio, graphics, photography and web design into one technical skill.
Interior Design - Interior Designers know how to plan and visually present a space to either an individual and business client. Interior designers are knowledgeable in every aspect of interior planning from material and production specification to health and safety issues, building codes and other technical aspects.

Visual Communications

The Visual Communications program (VICOM) will prepare students for a job in the field of Graphic Design. Students will learn the fundamentals of design for both print and online media including: logo and brand design, web page development, character design, animation, and advertising and marketing. Students will use the industry-standard software and equipment to design creative solutions.

Drafting Design

The Drafting Design program prepares student to take ideas, sketches and specifications and bring them to life. Students work with industry software and other hands on applications to learn industry standards for creating professional drawings in the architecture and mechanical fields.

Fine Arts

The Fine Arts program offers courses that allow students to fulfill their Humanities credits for the AA degree. This program also can serve as a foundation to transfer to a bachelor’s degree in art. Courses encourage students to cultivate and discover unique perspectives through a variety of mediums.

Interior Design, AAS

This program helped me prepare for a career in residential design, and has fueled my desire in becoming an interior designer. The content of classes were practical, providing me with many opportunities to design an actual interior space for an actual client as if I was working for a real job setting. After having completed this program, my vision is to design interiors that are a healthy living space for the people and their environment.

Saori Ichikawa

Drafting Design, AAS

The Drafting and Integrated Design programs at Highline College are beneficial to my career goals. I have been able to acquire most skills required in my job market through the projects that we take on in different classes. I used my coursework portfolio when looking for a position at my current job. A student that is looking for well laid out classes and has a passion in drafting/design would really benefit from this program. I also like that the student to instructor ratio is low. This means the instructor has enough time with every student.

James Mwangi Kariithi

Graphic Design, AAS

Coming to Highline and into this program was the best decision I have ever made. I knew almost nothing about design before coming here and after taking the wide variety of classes offered and learning from my inspiring instructors, I feel that I have developed a strong grasp of graphic design and have the right tools for a fulfilling career.

Cody Scott

Multimedia Design, AAS

The Multimedia Design program at Highline College provided me with all the tools and support I could ask for in my art and design journey. Not only could my instructors give me advice on creating art in the workplace, but I gained valuable instruction on design, art fundamentals, and knowledge of how to use the software that is required in most design and multimedia careers. I feel fully equipped to jump right into an occupation that utilizes all that I’ve learned at Highline College.

Regina Warren

Start Here, Stay Here!

Highline College offers students a seamless transition into our Bachelor of Applied Science in Integrated Design. Integrated Design takes a holistic approach by combining your passion for visual design, technology, and problem-solving with accessibility, equity, and universal design. You will discover the relationships between various design fields, and prepare yourself to become part of the next generation of forward-thinking designers.