What is Graphic Media Management?

I get a lot of questions about my degree, Graphic Media Management. People seem to assume more often than not that I mean graphic design, and I can’t blame them. I don’t think the title tells you what I am studying. Graphic Media Management is a print management degree. I get to learn all about the printing process in my first two years studying, and then in my final two years, I get to learn about business processes. This helps me tie together what I know about print, and how print businesses will operate.

Graphic design and print do go hand in hand, after all, we’d have nothing to print if it weren’t for the designs we receive. Some of my classes do require design work, such as our packaging design course. We learn how to design a package that stands out on a shelf, but we also learn how to build the package in a CAD software. We also learn the requirements and regulations set by government organizations such as the FDA.

I also take classes that teach us about pre-press work. Imagine an entire semester class on PDFs — sounds exciting, doesn’t it? Well, it was probably one of the most useful classes I’ve taken. Who knew there was so much to know about PDFs?

We also have classes that teach us imposition, color management, RIPing, and more. I also have production classes that teach not only how to run different types of presses, but also binding and finishing operations. We get experience with digital printing, large-format, garment printing, and some offset. We also have classes that teach us about different inks and substrates, and how they can affect a product, and how to use them to enhance a project.

All of these courses require learning different software. For example, we get experience with Adobe Creative Cloud, Fiery RIP software, ArtiosCAD (for packaging design), Microsoft applications (such as Visio, Excel, and Project), XMF and Kodak Preps (imposition). I know I’ll be learning a few more in the next couple years as well. We also learn how to run all the equipment we have in our lab. Our printers include a Konica Minolta, an HP large-format printer, and an Epson direct-to-garment printer. For binding and finishing we have a Challenge cutter, a glue padder, slitter, and a folder. We also have a couple of duplicators that we don’t run often, but we do projects surrounding them so that we can get used to the process, including making plates with our platemaker. Some of the equipment is used more than the others, but we still get to see how they work. We’ve also recently gotten a small flatbed diecutter that I’m excited to use in the upcoming semesters.

I am learning about the printing industry, which is great. It means I have the base knowledge to take with me to any company, but another advantage of my degree is that I am also taking business courses. I get to learn management, marketing, estimating, and statistics. This makes anyone with my degree well-rounded and ready for any position in the printing industry. It also allows the flexibility of changing positions. With all of this, we have an understanding of the printing process from beginning to end, and understand how a business operates.