Graphic Design
BFA

Prepare for a career in graphic design by learning how to communicate visually.

You’ll develop your talents and skills to achieve a high level of professional ability, while pursuing your own creative goals. The BFA in Art + Design: Graphic Design will prepare you for the many career opportunities available in contemporary design practice.

The BFA is a professional degree with concentrated areas of specialization, so you will take more art and design courses than you would in a BA program. At UMass Dartmouth, you also have the advantages of a university education where you can diversify your studies and expand your career opportunities by exploring fields such as business, sustainability, writing/communication, computer science, and many more.

Our faculty—who are also professionals in their fields—will teach you how to:

research and analyze content as part of the design process
work within the context of the message, audience, environment, and technology
develop graphic translations such as symbols, books, posters, and interactive media
create art with a purpose

For the BFA in Art + Design: Graphic Design, you'll take 78 credits in design and related art courses, and 120 credits overall.

You will:

study the principles of design and communication theory
explore classical and contemporary typography
apply industry practices and collaborative work methods
engage in design thinking addressing human-centric perspectives
learn through community engagement on and off campus
consider cultural and environmental context
bridge digital and physical making experiences
solve visual, conceptual, and communication problems

Your projects in diverse media will include:

books and periodicals
corporate identity and branding
visual systems
interactive media
web design
app design
information design
typography
motion graphics and visual effects
packaging

As you progress through the program, you will develop a professional portfolio that represents your ability to design solutions to communications challenges.

You’ll work in newly refurbished studio spaces equipped with contemporary technology and equipment that’s among the finest in New England.

Computer requirement for CVPA majors

Course descriptions, schedules and requirements

The minor offers students the opportunity to accomplish the following:

understand the role of a graphic designer in business and communication industries
work with digital tools such as Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, HTML/CSS, Invision, and other mock-up tools
develop skills which will enable design problem solving, production
produce a portfolio of icon, packaging, poster, book design, with the opportunity to include web, app, and information design pieces

Most small- to medium-sized organizations seek employees who can meet multiple needs. This minor will result in a portfolio showing the ability for a graduate to bring additional design experience, skills, and knowledge to the workplace. Based on the courses chosen, this minor may build a portfolio that focuses on branding, web/UX/UI design, publication design, or a range of skills. However, a minor in graphic design will not prepare most students to enter the competitive field directly.

For the minor, you'll complete 18 credits. Two required classes provide students with experience designing basic projects and in Illustrator and InDesign. Four electives are chosen from a list of recommended digital, graphic design, and typography classes, allowing each student to build a portfolio aligned with their personal interests.

Note: Minors in this concentration may be required to have a laptop.

Graphic Design student work

Cassie McKane - AXD 351 Information Design

Tayla Pimentel - AXD 351 Information Design

Erin Kinnane - AXD 354 Experimental Processes

Evan Boisvert - AXD 405 Professional Practice

Joseph Tavares - AXD 405 Professional Practice

Kyle Richer and Noah Tavares - AXD 354 Experimental Processes

Paula Morrall - AXD 405 Professional Practice

Cameron Reese - AXD 452 Graphic Design Capstone

Stephanie Pacheco - AXD 351 Information Design

Will McNamara - AXD 405 Professional Practice

James Carpenter - AXD 452 Graphic Design Capstone

Student success

Melanie Veilleux '24

Graphic design student builds professional résumé in on-campus experiences

Internships

Delin Design
Fresh Address, Inc.
Hasbro
Hill & Partners Branded Environments
ICA Boston
iRobot
Make & Co.
Next Mile Project
The Trustees of Reservations
Zeiterion Performing Arts Center

Graduate schools

Brown University
Cranbrook Academy of Art
New York University
North Carolina State University
Pratt Institute
University of the Arts
Vermont College of Fine Arts

Career placements

Alex and Ani
Arnold Worldwide
Bose Corporation
Boston Bruins / TD Garden
Brahmin
Catch Fire Creative
City of Boston
CVS Health
Digitas
EF Education First
Fidelity Investments
Game Seven Marketing
Grouper Design
Hasbro Gaming
Hill & Partners Branded Environments
KVH Industries, Inc.
Liberty Mutual Insurance
Matter Communications
Monotype Corporation
Monadnock Media Inc.
Puma
SmartPak
The Franchise Group
Uppababy

College of Visual & Performing Arts undergraduate median starting salary:
$55,000

NACE Data Collection of Class of 2023 Undergraduate Alumni

UMassD advantages

Internships: enhance your studies while gaining professional experience
Facilities: work with contemporary and historical tools; our computer and imaging labs feature industry-standard software and hardware workstations, printers, and scanners
CVPA Design Studio: work with real clients, cultivate community partnerships, navigate the business side of design, and produce professional work
Community: interact with professionals, alumni, and peers by attending guest lectures and workshops, going on the annual trip to New York City, and participating in the Graphic Design Club

Expand your opportunities

Master of Fine Arts in Visual Design: Develop your personal voice and advance your technical skills with a master's degree. You can choose to specialize in digital media, graphic design, illustration, or photography.

Graphic Design faculty

Meet Lara Henderson '05

Assistant Teaching Professor of Art + Design Lara Henderson '05 discusses the advantages of service-learning, majoring in graphic design, and an arts college education inside a wider university experience.