Animation & Character Design
Bring Stories to Life
Do you like to like to tell stories, sketch, and work with technology? A career in Animation & Character Design may be right for you! Animation is powerful, it can speak across different cultures, ages, genders, and languages to move people to laughter and tears—sometimes at the same time. Learn to tell your own unique story, create characters, and develop the skills required to work in this dynamic and growing industry. Students will develop skills in drawing, painting, storyboarding, modeling, and industry software toward careers in Character Design, Animation, Environmental Artist, Visual Effects Artist, 3D Modeler, and Look Development Artist.
Animation & Character Design Options
Bachelor of Applied Science in Integrated Design BAS
- Program Length: Two years for full-time students. (Full-time is 12 credits or more)
- Costs Per Year: $7,849 tuition and fees
- Program Map: Integrated Design, BAS
- Catalog: Integrated Design, BAS
Career
Highline College’s Bachelor of Applied Science in Integrated Design is an affordable
two-year program that will engage you in multiple areas of design practice. You will
specialize in a specific design discipline while exploring what it means to be a multidisciplinary
designer. Highline offers the following specializations:
GRAPHIC DESIGN – Create visual concepts to communicate information. Create everything from posters and billboards to packaging and marketing materials.
MULTIMEDIA DESIGN – Create digital art and interactive content for video games, web content, commercials, TV, and film.
INTERIOR DESIGN – Make indoor spaces functional, safe, and beautiful by determining space requirements and selecting essential and decorative items, such as colors, lighting, and materials.
DRAFTING DESIGN – Prepare technical drawings and plans, learn specialized software to convert architectural architect and engineering drawings into technical drawings. All classes are in the evening with virtual (Zoom) options to support your busy lifestyle!
Animation & Character Associate of Applied Science AAS
- Program Length: Two years for full-time students. (Full-time is 12 credits or more)
- Costs Per Year: $4,914 tuition and fees
- Program Map: Animation and Character Design, AAS
- Catalog: Animation & Character Design, AAS
Career
The Animation and Character Design program prepares graduates for diverse technical and creative career pathways within the visual arts and digital media industries. Graduates develop multi-disciplinary technical skills suited for various specialized roles within media and digital arts industries:
- Character Designer / 3D Modeler (junior/assistant): Translates concept art into fully realized 2D and 3D digital models.
- Junior Animator: Applies principles of motion, pacing, and visual storytelling to bring characters and objects to life.
- Environment Artist: Designs and constructs 3D digital landscapes, props, and scenic elements.
- Visual Effects (VFX) Artist: Integrates dynamic simulated elements, lighting, and visual assets into digital productions.
- Look Development Artist: Defines material properties, texturing, and final rendering aesthetics to maintain artistic visual cohesion.
After Highline College
This Associate in Arts AAS degree at Highline College will allow you to transfer to a 4-year college or university where you can pursue a bachelor's degree in animation and character design or a related field. Please see an email advisor at integrateddesign@highline.edu if you would like to pursue this option.
All of the AAS degrees in the Art and Design department transition seamlessly into Highline College's Bachelor of Applied Science in Integrated Design. Students looking to transfer to a 4-year university to pursue a career in Art and Design may use Fine Arts courses to satisfy their Humanities credits.
AAS degrees are designed to provide direct workforce skills, the Animation and Character Design AAS has the option to transfer.
Top Transfer-To Institutions
- Highline College
- Lake Washington Institute of Technology
Get In Touch
| Department |
|---|
| Department Directory |
| Department Site |
| Location: Building 16 |
| Phone: (206) 592-4037 |
Request Information
To check current course offerings, check class schedule.
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.
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