WEBVTT 00:00:09.000 --> 00:00:17.000 My name is Jun Li. I'm from Guilin, China. I'm a junior at Western Oregon University. 00:00:17.000 --> 00:00:22.000 Several new degrees have recently been added to meet growing student needs and demands. 00:00:22.000 --> 00:00:27.000 Visual Communication Design featuring Digital Arts is one of them. 00:00:27.000 --> 00:00:32.000 My career goal is to become a successful comic book illustrator. 00:00:36.000 --> 00:00:45.000 Li: I chose to study at Western Oregon University because I believe this is a very good place to start and it's a very comfortable campus. 00:00:45.000 --> 00:00:50.000 You can get along with professors very easily and also people are very, very nice. 00:00:50.000 --> 00:00:54.000 Visual Communication Design is a course of study offered by the art department, 00:00:54.000 --> 00:00:59.000 and it teaches strong communication skills across a wide range of digital media, 00:00:59.000 --> 00:00:65.000 including video and animation, print design, web design, motion graphics. 00:01:05.000 --> 00:01:12.000 And because we're in the art department, students have a chance to create interactive installations, which I think is really exciting. 00:01:12.000 --> 00:01:19.000 Li: The type of illustration I like to create is to combine with Eastern sensibility with Western thoughts. 00:01:19.000 --> 00:01:23.000 For example here, this Michael Jackson panda, 00:01:23.000 --> 00:01:28.000 I take panda from Eastern and combine with Western pop culture. 00:01:28.000 --> 00:01:31.000 Bracy: James is a fun student to have because he's very thoughtful. 00:01:31.000 --> 00:01:38.000 He asks great questions, and he continually strives to improve his visual and verbal communication skills. 00:01:38.000 --> 00:01:44.000 His design solutions are unique because he brings something personal into every project I assign. 00:01:44.000 --> 00:01:51.000 Professors here, they really push students to limit to achieve their career goal to create something very unique. 00:01:51.000 --> 00:01:57.000 Tarter: The Art department at Western Oregon University has two degrees, the Art major and the Visual Communication Design major. 00:01:57.000 --> 00:01:63.000 The Art major is for students studying printmaking, painting, sculpture, and ceramics. 00:02:03.000 --> 00:02:09.000 And then the Visual Communication Design is for students who are interested in graphic design, interactive design and web design, 00:02:09.000 --> 00:02:13.000 and time-based media like video and animation. 00:02:13.000 --> 00:02:20.000 Bracy: Our students will leave here with an understanding of the history of graphic design, the role typography plays, 00:02:20.000 --> 00:02:28.000 when print applications versus mobile apps or Internet applications or other interactive media is appropriate. 00:02:28.000 --> 00:02:36.000 Tankersley: Technology is always changing, and the only way to learn to use it creatively is through a lot of hands-on experience. 00:02:36.000 --> 00:02:43.000 Now, our labs have brand new computers, cameras, projectors, printers, sound equipment. 00:02:43.000 --> 00:02:45.000 It's amazing. 00:02:45.000 --> 00:02:53.000 As I stand in the gallery today surrounded by artwork by Western students, I am reminded of things that I talk to my students about 00:02:53.000 --> 00:02:58.000 when it comes to the importance of visual understanding. 00:02:58.000 --> 00:02:66.000 So, what we're trying to help our students do is really connect with the possibilities, the profession, 00:03:06.000 --> 00:03:09.000 and what it's going to be in the near future. 00:03:09.000 --> 00:03:16.000 We also stress the social role of design, um, through community-based and campus-based projects. 00:03:16.000 --> 00:03:23.000 Students get to see firsthand how their skills are powerful in promoting positive change. 00:03:23.000 --> 00:03:29.000 Li: I enjoy being here. I learn a lot as an artist, and it's a very small and safe campus. 00:03:29.000 --> 00:03:31.000 Tankersley: I love teaching. 00:03:31.000 --> 00:03:38.000 I love digital art. I love working with students who have ideas and energy and creativity. 00:03:38.000 --> 00:03:41.000 That's the best part about Western for me.