Semester 4: Execution
Launch Your Design Career.
Cross the finish line with real-world client experience, capstone portfolio curation, and rigorous industry evaluation. Semester 4 transitions you directly from student to career-ready design professional.
GRDS-112: Graphic Design Workshop
3 Credits (Prerequisite required)
Focus: Function as an active design team completing live projects for community clients and non-profits. Experience real production constraints, client presentations, project management, and team collaboration.
GRDS-113: Digital Media Preparation
3 Credits (Prerequisite required)
Focus: Master the creation and deployment of modern digital marketing assets. Learn to design multi-platform digital ad campaigns, engaging social media graphics, responsive email marketing templates (eblasts), and manage content updates using WordPress-based web tools.
GRDS-116: Integrated Design Thinking
3 Credits (Prerequisite required)
Focus: Apply human-centered design principles to complex, multi-faceted communication challenges. Bridge research, strategy, visual identity, and user experience to deliver holistic visual systems across physical and digital platforms.
GRDS-153: Portfolio Assessment
3 Credits (Prerequisite required)
Focus: Finalize your personal brand, website, resume, self-promotional print materials, and digital portfolio showcase. Present your completed body of work for formal evaluation by local Milwaukee design professionals and faculty.
Featured Semester 4 Capstone Deliverables
What You'll Create
Live Client Case Study: Fully realized collateral created for a real Milwaukee business or non-profit client (GRDS-112).
Integrated Digital Marketing Kit: A complete digital campaign including custom social media assets, HTML eblast layouts, interactive web banner ads, and a customized WordPress professional portfolio site (GRDS-113).
Integrated Design System: A multi-channel campaign addressing complex user-experience and visual identity challenges (GRDS-116).
Professional Portfolio & Personal Brand: A customized self-promotional printed portfolio book, resume, and business cards ready for job applications (GRDS-153).
