MAJORS IN DESIGN: CAREERS IN CREATIVITY AND DESIGN
When envisioning your career, do you picture yourself in a studio, wearing messy overalls, engaged in painting or sculpting? Perhaps you imagine being in a concert hall, ready to present your first full orchestra composition, or in a vibrant fabric store, choosing exquisite materials for your final runway piece. Maybe you dream of breathing in fresh air as you plan a multi-level landscape design for an office complex, or see yourself as the architect behind the complex’s safe and stable infrastructure. If any of these design-focused careers resonate with you, you’re in the right place. Here are five majors at CSU that can lead you to rewarding careers in creation and design.
Landscape Architecture
In the Landscape Architecture major, you’ll delve into various landscape projects, studying the interplay between design, nature, and society. Each project is an opportunity for creative expression and offers a unique viewpoint. Landscape architects handle everything from residential landscaping to corporate outdoor spaces, parks, and even national parks and forests, with aims that extend beyond sheer aesthetic appeal. This major teaches you to aid in the ecological restoration of disrupted areas and ensures designs are appropriate for their environments by assessing factors like climate, soil, land slope, drainage, sunlight, and vegetation. Furthermore, you will gain skills in architectural design, enhancing your ability to create cohesive and innovative outdoor spaces. Upon completion, you’ll be certified to create sustainable and beautiful outdoor landscapes in all 50 states. This is a prime example of careers related to design that also focus on environmental sustainability.
Bachelor of Music with a concentration in Composition
At CSU, the Bachelor of Music program offers a Composition concentration, allowing you to channel your musical skills into creating original pieces for various platforms and career opportunities. The curriculum covers music theory, piano, voice, conducting, and arranging and orchestration, along with specialized composition courses in genres such as chamber music, electronic music, jazz, choral, and more. Graduates often compose original music for television, film, theater, live concerts, video games, and commercials, crafting intricate and unique musical works.
ART
The sky’s the limit when it comes to CSU’s Art (B.F.A.) major, a comprehensive program offering 10 concentrations across various artistic mediums. Whether you prefer traditional forms like drawing, painting, or pottery, or you want to explore fields like printmaking or metalsmithing, this program enables you to craft meaningful and impactful artworks. Graduates often go on to create or curate pieces in galleries, museums, and public spaces. Some concentrations also provide the chance to extend your designs into graphic design, electronic arts such as animation, and photography. Many art majors launch successful businesses or work as freelancers, often becoming their own bosses, while others find roles in art communities or nonprofit art organizations. No matter which medium you choose, you’ll gain exposure to all of them and develop a strong foundation in creative thinking, design, and technique.
Clothing and Merchandising
Do you aspire to bring your design visions to life in the fashion runway, outdoor community, entertainment industry, business world, and more? CSU’s Apparel and Merchandising major, focusing on Apparel Design and Production, offers the perfect blend of creativity and practicality. This concentration equips you with skills in sketching technologies, pattern drafting, garment construction, and the intricacies of the apparel industry. You’ll delve into conceptual design, technical production specifications, materials sourcing, and marketing. This comprehensive education prepares you for dynamic creative roles, including designer, CAD manager, creative director, fashion illustrator, and trend forecaster. Tilt Design Studio, for example, could be an ideal place to apply such skills.
Civil Engineering
A common misconception about an engineering major is that it lacks opportunities for unique and creative design. However, the Civil Engineering program at CSU emphasizes design and creativity in conjunction with math and science. Civil engineers are responsible for designing and constructing a wide array of structures, including buildings, bridges, roads, airports, aerospace components, car parts, and water supply systems. Design is an integral part of civil engineering because throughout your studies, you will encounter problems that necessitate innovative solutions. This prepares you for a career where creativity is essential. You’ll learn the scientific and mathematical principles behind structural design and then use this knowledge to develop solutions that address real-world challenges with originality. This field represents careers that combine art and engineering in the most practical of ways.
Conclusion
Choosing a major at CSU that aligns with your passion for creativity and design can lead to a fulfilling and dynamic career. Whether you are drawn to the artistic aspects of music composition, the practical applications of civil engineering, or the vibrant world of fashion design, there is a path for you. Explore these diverse fields and find where your creativity can take you. If you’re ready to take the next step in your educational journey, consider the option to buy a coursework online in US to get a head start in your studies.
Related Resources
American Society of Landscape Architects
National Association of Schools of Music
National Association of Schools of Art and Design