Using three groups of community college students, this study addresses the process students Using three groups of community college students, this study addresses the process students use to construe, reformulate, and synthesize knowledge, and discusses the connection between drawing skills, sketching, and digital design production. In addition this study analyzes the effectiveness of face-to-face instruction, online instruction, and the ability of students to bring prior knowledge to digital design. In order to accomplish this, the focus is on what can be learned from students with drawing skills that can help art educators teach digital design, graphic design, multimedia, and new media using computer technology. Specifically, if digital design is dependent upon drawing experience, then how do computer graphics students without such experiences become perceptive to production and craftsmanship in digital design technology? The results of the study indicate that there is a direct connection between the number of years of drawing experience students bring to digital design, intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation, traditional and changing technologies, and the ability of students to develop artistic insight as they design using computer software. The study concludes with educational implications and recommendations for teaching digital design at the college level now and into the future. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]