For students with a background in design, what Day 1 CPT programs should you consider?

In today’s rapidly evolving digital age, the design and creative industries are experiencing unprecedented growth. The emergence of “Black Myth: Wukong” not only garnered widespread attention globally but also redefined the standards of modern game design. Its success not only demonstrates the innovative power of game design but also highlights the gaming industry’s demand for high-level design talents. This trend is vividly apparent not only in game design but also in user experience, product design, motion design, and other design-related fields. Due to this growth and diversified demand, design and related fields have become increasingly popular career choices. Are you also a professional with a design background? If you are looking for suitable Day 1 CPT programs for positions in these fields, then this article will certainly be of help to you.

 💡 Common Design-Related Careers:

• User Experience/Interface Designer (UX/UI Designer): Responsible for researching user behavior, optimizing product interfaces and experiences, and focusing on the visual design of applications and websites.
• Product Designer: Designs physical or digital products from concept to production.
• Graphic Designer: Engages in the design of visual content for branding, advertising, publications, etc.
• Motion Designer: Creates animations and interactive effects for videos, applications, etc.
• Interior Designer: Responsible for planning and designing interior spaces to ensure aesthetics, functionality, and safety. They often work in residential, commercial, hospitality, and retail sectors.
• Landscape Designer: Focuses on the design of outdoor spaces, including parks, gardens, urban green spaces, etc. Their work often involves designing environments that are both beautiful and functional, and harmonize with natural landscapes and architecture.
• Game Designer: Develops the background story, character development, and narrative structure of games. Defines game rules, character abilities, level design, etc. Tests and adjusts gameplay to ensure player immersion and enjoyment. Works closely with programmers, artists, and sound designers to ensure the game’s visuals and audio align with the design concept.

Over the past few years, CISI has provided Day 1 CPT related consultations for many design-oriented students. Today, we are sharing some schools and programs that students with a design background might consider.

✅ Harrisburg University HCID Program — This is essentially the only Day 1 CPT program in the USA directly related to Design!

The MS in Human-Centered Interaction Design (HCID) at Harrisburg University is highly suitable for applicants with a design background, especially those looking to engage in practical work through a Day 1 CPT program. The program emphasizes the integration of design, technology, and user experience, covering courses in design research, intelligent technologies, and service design. These courses are highly relevant to practical job responsibilities like UX design and digital service design, making it an ideal choice for CPT applicants in the design field.

The required courses are set as follows:

• HCID 500 – Design Perspectives (3 semester hours)
• HCID 504 – Qualitative Discovery Research (3 semester hours)
• HCID 510 – Theories of Human Interaction (3 semester hours)
• HCID 520 – Users and Populations (3 semester hours)
• HCID 540 – Design Tools and Processes (3 semester hours)
• HCID 570 – Design Patterns and Contexts (3 semester hours)
• HCID 695 – Design Research Studio (3 semester hours)
• HCID 699 – Applied Project in Human-Centered Interaction Design (3 semester hours)

✅ Business Analytics Majors — Also a viable option with high relevance to design careers!

Majors in Business Analytics such as MS in Business Analytics at Trine University, can meet the CPT requirements for design-related job duties, mainly because of the widespread application of business analytics skills in modern design work and their close connection. Here are some reasons why:

• Data-Driven Design Decisions: In design work, an increasing number of decisions are based on data. For example, by analyzing user behavior data, market trends, and competitor data, designers can better understand customer needs and optimize design solutions. This capability for data analysis and decision-making is central to business analytics. 

Relevant MSBA course at Trine University: [Data Driven Decision-Making].

• Project Management and Coordination: Design projects often involve collaboration across multiple departments, including marketing, development, clients, and management teams. The management, coordination, and communication skills cultivated in a business analytics program can help designers better manage project timelines, optimize resource allocation, and ensure projects are completed on time and meet expected outcomes. 

Relevant MSBA course at Trine University: [Project Management].

• Efficiency Improvement and Process Optimization: Through process improvement tools in business analytics, designers can identify and eliminate bottlenecks in the design process, enhancing overall work efficiency. These skills have practical applications in design work.

Relevant MSBA course at Trine University: [Operations Analytics].

• Financial and Budget Analysis: Design projects usually require strict budget control, and students in business analytics possess the skills to analyze and optimize budgets, ensuring that design projects are completed within budget while maximizing return on investment. 

Relevant MSBA course at Trine University: [Financial Modeling].

• Market and Consumer Analysis: Skills in market analysis and consumer behavior analysis from business analytics can help designers better understand market demands and design more competitive products and services. 

Relevant MSBA course at Trine University: [Business Analytics Capstone].

By integrating these business analytics skills into design work, CPT applicants can reasonably demonstrate the connection between the two, proving that design job responsibilities extend beyond creativity to include management, optimization, analysis, and strategic decision-making, thus meeting the requirements for CPT applications.

✅ Management-oriented Day 1 CPT Programs — Effective design work also requires essential management skills!

Management-focused programs (such as MBA at Trine University) can meticulously meet the requirements for CPT applications in design-related jobs, mainly reflected in the following areas:

• Project Management and Planning: Design work is typically project-oriented, requiring effective management of time, budget, resources, and personnel. Project planning and management methods covered in MBA and project management courses help designers better arrange and execute design projects. 

Relevant MBA course at Trine University: [Project Management].

• Cost Control and Financial Management: Design projects require strict budget control. Cost analysis and budgeting skills taught in management programs help designers optimize resource use. 

Relevant MBA course at Trine University: [Corporate Finance].

• Strategic Decision-Making and Market Analysis: Design is not just about creativity; it also involves understanding market trends, competitive environments, and customer needs. Strategic analysis and market research skills covered in MBA courses can help designers make long-term beneficial design decisions and drive brand development. 

Relevant MBA course at Trine University: [Strategic Marketing Management and Decision Making].

• Team Leadership and Communication: Design projects often involve cross-functional team collaboration. Leadership and communication skills developed in MBA and project management courses help designers coordinate different departments such as marketing, product development, and customer service, ensuring smooth project progression. 

Relevant MBA course at Trine University: [Executive Communication].

• Innovation and Product Development: MBAs generally encourage innovative thinking and product development. Designers can apply these skills to the design process of new products or services, promoting corporate innovation. 

Relevant MBA course at Trine University: [New Product Development & Innovation Strategies].

Through these aspects, the capabilities cultivated in management-oriented programs not only complement designers’ strengths in creativity but also enhance their overall qualities in project management, financial control, strategic planning, and team leadership, making design work more commercially valuable and executable. This can also make the CPT application more persuasive.

💰MBA Programs (sorted by annual tuition in ascending order):

• Trine University | Phoenix, AZ; Reston, VA; Detroit, MI | Annual tuition $8,000
• Humphreys University | Stockton, CA; Modesto, CA | Annual tuition $9,000
• Monroe University | New Rochelle, NY | Annual tuition $12,000
• Sofia University | Palo Alto, CA; Costa Mesa, CA | Annual tuition $12,000
• CiAM | Los Angeles, CA | Annual tuition $13,000
• Ottawa | Phoenix, AZ; Overland Park, KS; Brookfield, WI | Annual tuition $15,000
• Harrisburg University PM program | Harrisburg, PA | Annual tuition $17,000
• Westcliff University | Irvine, CA; Miami, FL; Santa Monica, CA; Orlando, FL | Annual tuition $18,000

☎️Contact us:

If you have more questions about Day 1 CPT applications, feel free to contact Carnegie International Student Institute (+1 (412) 313-4232 or [email protected]) for consultation! Our service is completely free!