The Program
About the Certificate in Design and Creative Technologies
The 19-credit Certificate in Design and Creative Technologies (DCT) prepares undergraduate students for the innovative roles the visual arts and digital media play in shaping contemporary culture.
This certificate integrates research-driven design thinking and digital media-making with the study of technologies used in professional creative industries.
Program Goals
- Provide students with the opportunity to advance their practice through innovative uses of digital technology, whether they see themselves as “artists” and “designers” or not.
- Help students to stand out on the job market by showcasing their dedication to professional art production utilizing industry-standard technologies.
- Support future educators, graphic designers, studio managers, technologists, and independent artists interested in technology-focused creative projects, collaborative design-based learning, and managing workspaces, such as: makerspaces, digital media and tech firms, nonprofit organizations, design studios, and media production houses.
- Provide participants with the opportunity to advance social justice through emphasizing digital accessibility, and inclusive design thinking principles.
Why study Design and Creative Technologies?
The DCT certificate explores the relationship between the design process and use of accessible technology including but not limited to: raster and vector-based image editing, visual communications, 3D rendering, digital fabrication, motion media and animation, creative computing, and interactive media.
In a world of increasing prominence of digital design, fabrication, and audience-engaged practice, it is more essential than ever to demonstrate proficiency in a range of digital skills as artists. The certificate provides this diverse training to students so that they may become leaders in the design thinking, creative direction, and tech-centered maker movements.
Curriculum
This program is intended for students who desire a solid foundation in digital media, design thinking, and creative production.
Students begin by engaging with one of the “Foundational Courses” in visual composition, drawing, and design (2D/3D/4D) (ART 104, 105, 110, 120, 131, or 153), as a prerequisite for the “Digital Core Requirements.” Current BA-Studio Art or BFA-Studio Art students who pursue this certificate will have already completed the requisite foundation requirement in their first year.
Digital Core Requirements:
ART 234 Art and Code explores the creative possibilities of code-based art. Students explore interactive artwork using both analog and digital processes; learn computer programming fundamentals in an arts context; and gain an understanding of procedural, generative, and algorithmic logic as seen within a range of art and design practices. Lectures, discussions, and demonstrations provide a conceptual, aesthetic and technical foundation in code-based art as a creative practice. Emphasis is on the development of creative studio projects that demonstrate independent experimentation with the tools and concepts explored in class. No prior experience with computer programming is required for this course. While we will be working in the Web browser with p5.js, a JavaScript framework built with artists and designers in mind, the skills learned in this class can also be applied to a variety of other programming languages and environments.
ART 275 Digital Imaging explores the creative possibilities of digital image creation and manipulation as well as fabrication using laser cutters and router-based digital fabrication. Through demonstrations, creative technical assignments, students explore the digital workflow in independent projects and get experience in Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.
ART 264 Digital Design engages students in a core study of how to communicate visually using digital technologies, such as Adobe Illustrator and InDesign to create integrated communications for both print and screen-based media. Classes are structured around individual and collaborative design assignments with a focus on project management, process documentation, digital composition, typography, and layout.
Studio Electives:
After the foundation and “Digital Core” courses are complete students are then able to pursue elective studio courses throughout the Department of Art that fit their interests by either getting specific in a particular area of design, art and digital media, and creative technologies, or trying different things.
Design Studio Requirements:
These intermediate and advanced design requirements encourage students to synthesize their studio explorations into an immersion into design thinking for the production of digital and hybrid media.
ART 364 Design Thinking for Social Innovation engages students in the design thinking process and making using digital tools. In collaboration with UMass Amherst Civic Engagement and Service-Learning, students and faculty work with partnering organizations to do original design research, prototyping, and testing for a real world socially engaged project.
ART 390U Anti-User Experience approaches human-computer interaction from the perspective of contemporary artists who are misusing, appropriating, and breaking the conventions of user experience and user interface (UX/UI) design. Starting from the assumption that no technological standard is neutral, students will examine the work of practitioners who shed light on the human construction of everyday digital tools and processes by working against the norms built into them. Lectures, demonstrations, guest speakers, and studio work will introduce students to both common practices in the UX/UI field and the ways they can be subverted or critiqued. Students will build bespoke yet functional projects that reject the premise of seamless, invisible interaction design in favor of more experimental, individualized, or frustrating approaches to engaging with technology.
ART 464 Design Projects and Production is an intensive course that involves bringing integrated design projects from idea to production. Students work across the Adobe Creative Cloud (and other tools) to design visual identities, determine use and functionality of a product or campaign, and finalize components for print, fabrication, and development. Projects are reviewed by industry professionals and become part of portfolios that students can use for internships and job searches.
Professional Development Requirement:
The certificate is completed with either the opportunity to pursue a credited internship in a creative field of their choice, with options to pursue on-campus, off-campus, or remote internship and practicum opportunities, or take the Art 389 Portfolio Practicum course (1-credit) geared towards developing portfolio for post-graduation job-search.
Curriculum Structure
The curriculum will be composed of “Foundation Requirements”, two “Core Digital Media requirements”, two “Studio Electives” in areas of interest, a “Design Studio Requirement”, and at least a 1-credit “Professional Development Requirement” as a capstone (19 credits minimum).
Individuals who complete all seven courses will be awarded a certificate, conferred by the University of Massachusetts Amherst at the point of graduation.
Foundation Requirements (3-4 credits):
Choose one
ART 104, 110, 120, 131, 105, or 153
Core Digital Media Requirements (6 credits):
ART 275 Digital Imaging 3 credits or ART 234 Art & Code 3 credits
ART 264 Digital Design 3 credits
Possible Studio Electives (6-7 credits):
Choose two. Studio Electives cannot also count as Core Digital Media and/or Design Studio Requirements.
ART 230 Image Capturing 3 credits
ART 234 Art & Code 3 credits
ART 275 Digital Imaging 3 credits
ART 276 Introduction to Animation 3 credits
ART 345 Digital Media: Printmaking 3 credits
ART 347 Digital Media Silkscreen 3 credits
ART 360 Sculpture 3-Mold Making & Casting 3 credits
ART 375 Moving Image 3 credits
ART 377 Experimental 3D Animation 3 credits
ART 385 Media & Motion Graphics 4 credits
ART 390R - This is the Remix 3 credits
ART 390STC - Publishing As Practice 3 credits
ART 390U Anti-User Experience 3 credits
ART 364 Design Thinking for Social Innovation 3 credits
ART 476 Advanced Animation Seminar 3 credits
ART 490STB - Topics in Design: Public Art 3 credits
Design Studio Requirement (3 credits):
Choose one after you have taken 12 credits. Courses may not be repeated.
ART 364 Design Thinking for Social Innovation 3 credits
ART 390U Anti-User Experience 3 credits
ART 464 Design Projects & Production 3 credits
Professional Development Requirement (1 credit minimum):
Choose one in your final year. ART 389 can only be taken in spring of Junior or Senior year and cannot be taken in first semester of the certificate
ART 389 - Portfolio Practicum 1 credit
ART 298 or ART 398 - Practicum / Internship (1 credit minimum)
Total Credits: 19 credits (minimum)
Notes: No more than 6 credits may be transferred into the program. Prerequisites moving on to more advanced work. Department Practicum credits (e.g. internships) must be arts-related, sponsored by full-time Department faculty, and approved by the Undergraduate Program Director. Currently, we do not offer any summer or winter art courses but you can take courses at any of the other Five Colleges or Massachusetts community colleges and transfer in the credits. Internships/Practicums may be taken for credit in the summer semester through University Without Walls, contact Career Development and Professional Connections for more information. Please make sure you fill out and submit the Prior Approval Form. For the Senior Year in Absentia, please use this form.
Apply to the Program
The Certificate in Design and Creative Technologies (DCT) offers undergraduate art majors in the BA program an opportunity to focus on design and digital media. Majors in the BFA Art & Design program are encouraged to work towards a concentration in "Design and Technology" instead of declaring the DCT Certificate. To apply, art majors must complete the following declaration form or application by the end of their sophomore year (57 credits).
Starting in Fall 2024, DCT Certificate will no longer be open to BFA students except Art Education Majors. BFA Majors admitted into the program before May 2024 may finish the program.
DECLARATION FORM FOR CURRENT ART MAJORS
If you are interested in becoming a DCT Certificate student, please review the information below and submit an application or contact the Department of Art at artadvisor@umass.edu. You will receive an email reply to indicate if your application has been accepted or denied. Accepted students will also receive detailed information about required courses.
Majors from across the university and are welcome to apply to join the program as a certificate student through the application below. Please note that limited space in the program is available and applications are only reviewed once per year in March.
NON ART MAJORS - APPLY HERE
Non-Art Major Application information:
- Name
- ID#
- UMass email address
- Phone
- Current major/degree program
- Expected graduation semester/year
- Statement of purpose
- One letter of recommendation (emailed to mainoffice@art.umass.edu by the deadline)
What is the deadline to submit this form?
- March 15 (for Fall)
- Spring term admit is not currently offered
- Late applications will not be considered
What are the eligibility requirements to apply:
In order to ensure successful completion of requirements prior to graduation, applicants must have less than 57 credits to apply for a Certificate in Design and Creative Technologies. Exceptions will only be considered if a student has already taken the Foundation Requirement and at least three-credits of the Core Digital Media Requirements.