A Look into the Digital Media Major

By Francesca Leggio, Sophomore BA student

Coming into college I had absolutely no idea of what I wanted to major in, but by the end of my first semester I had figured out what I wanted to study for the next four years. Not having a major picked in my first semester allowed me to explore the different courses offered at the Institute of Lorenzo de’ Medici. Of course, I took the mandatory freshman courses, but I was also able to explore my other interests. My favorite class that semester was fresco painting, and it made me realize that I should focus my search for a major in the art field. Because of my passion for studio art and my interest in the digital world of art, I decided to major in digital media, with a concentration in graphic design, and a minor in studio art.

My second semester of freshman year, although unfortunately cut short due to Covid-19, was very interesting because I started taking classes directly related to my major. I had my first graphic design course which gave me an introduction to the digital art world that I would be entering. I also had the opportunity to take color theory, which I ended up continuing in the fall semester of my sophomore year. Color theory is one of my favorite courses so far, as it allows me to have a greater understanding of the important uses of color, and understand how different compositions are made. What I loved about both my graphic design and color theory courses was how hands-on they were. Since the practical courses are longer than the theoretical courses, our class time would be split about 70% practical and 30% lectures with a break for coffee or lunch.

This semester I’m continuing to explore further what graphic design is, and develop more skills in a broad range of subjects. I am taking a digital photography course, web design, a higher level graphic design course, color theory (again), and quarters of Florence. This semester, while different due to the Covid-19 restrictions, I am still able to participate in practical courses in person. The city and the school feel altogether different, but with fewer students in each class, and the emptiness of the city, I am able to focus even more on my schoolwork. In two of my courses this semester, web design and graphic design, I am the only student. This seems daunting at first, but has allowed me to work at my own pace, and explore new concepts and learn new skills I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to learn in a normal course. Through all the courses I’ve taken so far I’ve realized that there is still so much to learn about my major. In my graphic design courses, I’m learning how to create dynamic and conceptual designs for posters or logos for different companies while working in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.

There is no simple way to describe my major. Digital media is a combination of many different concepts and skills, and I feel like in each class I am exploring a new area of digital media. I love this aspect of digital media, there are so many different things you can do with it. At first, I went into my major solely interested in designing page layouts for magazines, but now I’ve also become interested in coding websites, taking photographs, and creating dynamic logo designs. Studying at LDM, and taking these courses has really helped me amplify my interest in digital media, and made me excited for what I will do in the future.