Digital Art & Design
8 courses · Napa Valley College · 2026-2027 Catalog
Classes: Fall 2026 · Spring 2027
DART-101 Graphic Design Foundations
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 108 hours activity; 108 hours total
- Transfers to
- UC, CSU
Graphic Design Foundations is an introductory course with emphasis on the foundations of the Graphic Arts. Course content includes concept development, design processes, production, presentation, technical skills in both traditional and digital media, and solving visual communication problems. Projects include lettering/typography and layout/composition.
DART-120 Introduction to Digital Art
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 36 hours lecture; 54 hours lab; 90 hours total
- Advisory
- Completion of ARTS-101 or DART-101 with a minimum grade of C.
- Transfers to
- UC, CSU
This course provides an introduction to visual design concepts and contemporary professional practices in digital art using industry-standard software. Students will learn about digital art history, contemporary and historical artists, digital art across cultures and various industries.
DART-125 Animation
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 36 hours lecture; 54 hours lab; 90 hours total
- Transfers to
- UC, CSU
An introductory course in the basic principles and technology of animation. Both traditional and digital animation styles will be covered with an emphasis on creating effective sequences appropriate for the subject or narrative.
DART-130 Introduction to Digital Imaging
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 36 hours lecture; 54 hours lab; 90 hours total
- Advisory
- Completion of DART-101 or DART-120 with a minimum grade of C.
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course focuses on the creation and editing of digital images using industry standard software. Students in this course will learn to fuse traditional artistic concepts with contemporary digital tools to create original art works. For example, in this class you will create digital paintings, digital photographs, and, or digital collages.
DART-140 Drawing & Typography
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 36 hours lecture; 54 hours lab; 90 hours total
- Advisory
- Completion of DART-101 or DART-120 with a minimum grade of C.
- Transfers to
- UC, CSU
This course focuses on typography fundamentals, history, theory, letterforms, and type design and typography's relationship to drawing and image making. Students will use both traditional and digital media. Coursework includes the of study typographic characteristics, relationship between type and image, visual hierarchy, grid systems, and layout. Students will work with industry standard software programs such as Adobe Illustrator to create graphic designs with an emphasis on drawing and typography.
DART-150 Digital Layout and Publication
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 36 hours lecture; 54 hours lab; 90 hours total
- Advisory
- Completion of DART-101 or DART-120 with a minimum grade of C.
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course focuses on layout and composition for digital publications; print and e-publications. Students will develop effective visual communication skills to create multi-page publications. Course content includes type, layout, hierarchy, alignment, repetition, printing processes and digital output.
DART-160 Introduction to Multimedia
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 36 hours lecture; 54 hours lab; 90 hours total
- Advisory
- Completion of DART-101 or DART-120 with a minimum grade of C.
- Transfers to
- CSU
Introduction to Multimedia prepares students for the dynamic and everchanging landscape of design and technology. The course introduces students to the design process, creative problem solving, interactivity, and user experience. Students will solve visual problems and combine multiple forms of media such as web design, imaging, graphics, animation, audio, and text.
DART-170 Digital Video Editing
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 108 hours activity; 108 hours total
- Transfers to
- UC, CSU
This course introduces students to the creative and technical aspects of digital film and video editing. Historical developments, digital video and audio formats, techniques and theory of editing, non-linear editing skills and cinematic storytelling are covered.