Design
Graduates of LWTech's Design program go on to careers at design firms, high-tech companies, in-house design departments, advertising and branding firms, as well as working as independent consultants. The Design program offers a variety of degrees and certificates including a Bachelor of Applied Science in Design (BAS), three Associate of Applied Science-Transfer (AAS-T) degrees, and certificates in Digital Publishing, Web and Mobile Design, and User-Centered Design.
Faculty in LWTech’s Design program teach curriculum using industry-standard software. Students develop problem-solving skills, and learn industry best practices, and personal expression, in a fast-paced and ever-changing design industry. This workforce-focused program emphasizes real-world projects, deadlines, solving design problems, and focusing on the user experience.
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Design Program Degrees and Certificates
A Bachelor of Applied Science in Design (BASD) at LWTech is similar to a Bachelor of Art or Bachelor of Science degree program at universities, as far as academic rigor, course content and credit load. The program curriculum focuses on preparing students for specific design workforce careers. The BASD is a broad-spectrum, design program geared toward educating design professionals in design thinking, design strategy, innovation, human centered design and new design processes.
The program attracts students from a wide range of design and technical backgrounds including architecture, industrial design, interaction design, game design, graphic design, video/film making, and other disciplines such as welding, manufacturing technology, machining technology, engineering, journalism, and even business administration. The program brings relevance to design education in alignment with industry best practices. Faculty educate future design professionals who will be able to bring design thinking and innovative processes into the workforce with new best practices.
BASD graduates are prepared for today's careers in the design industry. They are also equipped with greater skills to succeed in long-term, fast-changing careers across a wide range of design and other disciplines. Graduates have gone on to successful careers at prestigious companies including Amazon, Boeing, Bungie, Microsoft, and Phillips. Also, many have been accepted into graduate programs such as: University of Washington Human Centered Design & Engineering, Cranbook Academy of Art, ArtCenter College of Design, Arizona State University, Parsons the New School, and the University of New Mexico, among others.
The Design AAS-T degree prepares students for entry level positions in graphic design, web design and user-centered design. Design students earning their AAS-T degree are prepared to analyze and create an assortment of visual solutions to produce websites, content for mobile devices, design layouts and interactive documents for print and/or screen-based publishing industries. The two-year curriculum also incorporates the concepts of user-centered design, human centered design, user experience (UX) design, user interface (UI) design, as well as concepts related to the consideration of human perspectives throughout the design process and the design of multisensory experiences.
Courses are delivered through face-to-face, online, and hybrid formats, allowing students to practice skills necessary in the design industry. Students will conduct industry research to identify career pathways, learn professional practices; including, copyright, file management, portfolio development, and workplace ethics. Students culminate their learning experience at the end of their studies with a showcase of their portfolio.
The AAS-T Design degree naturally matriculates with LWTech’s Bachelor of Applied Science in Design (BASD) program. The credits earned in AAS-T Design can be applied towards the BASD degree upon approved applications.
The User-Centered Design AAS-T degree introduces design and research methods. It incorporates technology, human activity, and data in order to prioritize user needs and wants for product or service development. The over-arching goal is to prepare students in technology and information-gathering that is in line with industry standards and for entry-level employment.
The Design program offers a multitude of certificates of completion or proficiency in digital design, user-centered design, and web and mobile design. These certificates offer students an opportunity to gain specialized skills and knowledge in Adobe Suite programs, such as Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign, as well as apply methods and principles of design and user research theories for creating user-friendly products, processes, and services for digital and print mediums. Students also evaluate and examine methods of human-centered design—design and management framework that develops solutions to problems by involving the human perspective in all steps of the problem-solving process. Web and mobile certificates prepare students to design, build, and maintain websites and screen-based interactive content for mobile devices.
Additional Design Program Information
- Design AAS-T Program Admission Dates
- Fall Quarter
- Spring Quarter
- Design BAS-D Program Admission Dates
- Fall Quarter
- Design AAS-T & BAS-D Program Format
- Hybrid (part of class time on-campus, part online)
At LWTech, we welcome all students as an open enrollment college and we are committed to your inclusion at the college. The Design program of study leads to an industry or specific employers that may require a full or partial background check as well as a drug test before you start the job.
Please know LWTech is committed to your inclusion at the college and you can talk with an advisor about alternative options that may be similar to this program.
Applicants to the Bachelor of Applied Science in Design are selected on a competitive basis. This program has application and qualification requirements with an application deadline unique to the program. Program information sessions and specialized advising is available before applying to this program.
Students who wish to take courses without being admitted to the program (non-matriculated) may be considered on a space-available basis.
BAS Prerequisites
Note: If you have not already taken classes at LWTech, you must fill out the online application to receive a Student ID number and an LWTech issued email address. You will not be able to fill out the BAS application without completing this step.
Completion of requirements for an earned Applied Associate Degree or equivalent from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum of 60 quarter credits in an appropriate technical area of concentration or a Design related discipline.
Minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA across all college course work in the associate degree.
Completion of 30 credits of General Education courses from the list below with a minimum of a 2.0 GPA in each class.
- ENGL& 101 English Composition I 5 credits (or equivalent)
- College-level Social Science course 5 credits
- College-level Humanities courses 10 credits (drawing, art history, and design related courses preferred)
- MATH& 107 Math in Society 5 credits (or any college-level math course with pre-algebra as a prerequisite)
- College-level Lab Science course 5 credits
Students who have not completed the required Applied Associate Degree or General Education requirements, must submit a written plan for completion of the requirements, including which courses will be taken, where, and when (required for application to be considered complete). Students who have not met the requirement of an Applied Associate Degree or the General Education requirements can be granted conditional admission to the program. Priority for acceptance will be given to applicants with all completed requirements.
Applicants to the BAS in Design must also submit an essay and a design portfolio.
BAS Application
Admission Deadline
Fall 2024 Priority
May 20, 2024
Rolling Admission
September 1, 2024
Financial Aid Priority Deadline
TBA
Entry Date
Fall 2024
Additional Application Information
Application Preview
To apply for the BAS degree, you must create a Self Service Center account. You may preview the BAS application by downloading a PDF of the first page.
Entry into the Design program, AAS-T, and Certificates, requires completion of LWTech's online application.
Additional Admission Considerations
Not Sure Where to Start?
These helpful sessions present an overview of the Design program and explain the admission process. Attendance is highly recommended for all applicants.
All information sessions are in-person at this time. Attending in person is highly recommended. If you cannot attend any of the upcoming sessions, kindly reach out to Steve.Ater@lwtech.edu for inquiries about the program or to arrange an individual virtual information session.
Information Session Dates
Dates
January 23, 2024
February 20, 2024
March 12, 2024
April 9, 2024
April 23, 2024
May 14, 2024
4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Location
East Building, Room E207
Academic advising is a critical component to your college experience. Advising is an interactive process between you and your Student Success Navigator/Advisor to ensure student success through proactive support and guidance during your time at LWTech.
- For advising please visit Kirkland Campus West Building, W207 during drop-in hours.
- Or call (425) 739-8300 to schedule an appointment with an advisor.
- Or contact Kathryn Rogers, Student Success Navigator.
Lake Washington Institute of Technology does not offer every course each quarter. It is the student's responsibility to consult the Class Schedule and work out an individual schedule with an advisor or counselor.
Any developmental coursework a student might be required to complete may increase the program length.
Explore Careers and Paths in Design
Applied Bachelor's and Associate Degrees
To learn more about transferring to another college or university, please visit our Transferring from LWTech page.
Certificates
Related Programs
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PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
I have a tendency to get pretty hungry about learning. Faculty and staff go above and beyond as far as making sure I have the skills, resources, and tools I need to be successful.
- Natalie Staaf
Design Student
HOW-to Apply for the BASD Program
Learn How To Fill Out the Admission Application
Filling Out the Admissions Application for BASD