Course Overview

Highway billboards, magazine covers, web banners — commercial art is all around us. In our Advertising Design/ Commercial Art program, students learn how pairing artistry with technical know-how can lead to a fulfilling career in this exciting field. As they learn to solve communication problems with visual media, students are introduced to the following concepts, software and skills:

• Drawing and illustration techniques ranging from traditional to digital
• Digital photography — still life, portraiture, etc. — and photo editing
• Adobe applications, including Photoshop®, Illustrator® and InDesign®
• Color theory, typography, layout, design process and their multimedia applications

Students sharpen their design skills by using industry-standard equipment and software to develop everything from logos to marketing campaigns. Demonstrating safe practices, employing the spoken or written word to effectively present ideas and estimating production costs are important elements of the program, as well.

Hands-on training includes creating appliques, banners, vehicle wraps and more for LCTI and other schools. Upperclassmen are encouraged to build their professional portfolios by securing internships or co-op positions with local companies. Students also have ample opportunity to earn industry credentials that signal their experience to employers and qualify them for articulated college credits.

Course details

Course length: 9 months

Next start date(s): Fall 2025 dates TBD

Tentative schedule: 8:15 am – 2:45 pm, M-F

Credentials & college credit

Students who complete our course earn the following industry-recognized credentials:

• Adobe Certified Associate via Certiport®
• OSHA Certification via CareerSafe
• Pennsylvania Skills Certificate via NOCTI®

Students who complete our course are well-positioned to earn associate degrees at the following school(s):

The following schools have articulation agreements with LCTI that allow Commercial Baking students to earn college credit for work they complete in high school:

• The Art Institute of Pittsburgh
• Lehigh Carbon Community College

Career pathways

with credentials earned at LCTI:

• Desktop publisher
• Graphics installer
• Screen printer

with associate degree:

• Graphic designer
• Multimedia illustrator
• Production artist

with bachelor’s degree:

• Advertising manager
• Creative director
• Website designer

Learn more about potential career pathways.