B.F.A. in Graphic Design
The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in graphic design prepares the students to practice graphic design professionally. The study of design theory, history, methods, and professional practice through an internship experience give the students the knowledge and skills to develop their creative ideas and pursue a career in the field of Graphic Design. The program expects students to set their career goals with confidence, and to be able to grow with the profession of graphic design as it changes in relation to society, art and technology.
The program focuses on critical thinking and discovery through process, enabling students to work in any medium necessary to creatively and innovatively propose and solve design problems. Students design promotional materials, educational materials, identity systems, signs and symbols, architectural and directional systems, books, packages, exhibitions, motion graphics, videos, interactive computer interfaces, mobile experiences, and other forms of visual communication.
The students learn to work in teams, to develop an understanding of the business aspects of design, and to build working relationships with writers, artists, technicians, and others from a wide variety of disciplines. Through their studies they learn to grow as individuals as well as socially responsible designers.
CURRICULUM: Bachelor of Fine Arts IN Graphic Design
Basic studies requirement—12 credits
- 1040 Object Drawing*
- 1050 Drawing Studio*
- 1070 Form and Surface*
- 1080 Form and Space*
*Prerequisites for all studio art and art education majors and minors
Writing—3 credits
- 3250 Writing About Art
Art history—12 credits
- 2200 Caves to Cathedrals
- 2210 Modern and Postmodern
- Art history elective (3920 is recommended)
- Two art History electives 3000-4000 Level
Photography—6 credits
- 2160 Black & White Photography I
- 3470 Digital Photography I
Art studio electives—9 credits
- Select from art studio courses. Two courses must be in sequence.
Graphic design sequence—46 credits
Sophomore: fall
- 2500 Color for Graphic Design
- 2600 Visual Aesthetics
Sophomore: spring
- 2510 Typography I
- 2610 Graphic Form
Junior: fall
- 3500 Typography II
- 3600 Visual Systems
- 3710 Special Topics: Cultural Context of GRD
Junior: spring
- 3510 Typography III
- 3610 Design Applications
Senior: fall
- 4600 Advanced Problems
- 5700 Intern I (Design Center)
- 3710 Special Topics*
Senior: spring
- 4610 Senior Projects
- 5710 Intern II (Design Center)
- 4920 Graduation Presentation
*Choose only one 3710 Special Topics Course to complete the 43 hour requirement
Summary of Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design
- Graphic Design Major—88 credits
- General Education—37 credits
- Total Credit Hours—125 credits
Students should consult the WMU catalog for the graphic design program course descriptions and requirements.
Visiting Artists
The mission of Frostic School of Art’s Visiting Artist program is tri-fold: to provide students direct, meaningful contact with working artists, both established and emerging; to elevate the regional, national, and international profile of the Frostic School of Art and Richmond Center for Visual Arts; and to nurture a sense of community among students, faculty and staff within WMU’s College of Fine Arts. Recent visiting artists and scholars that supported the graphic design curriculum include; Nico Raddatz, Mary Foyder, Mike Daines, Becca Eley, Wally Krantz, Tori Thomas, John M. “Jack” Carney, and Rick Valicenti.
Portfolio reviews
Portfolio reviews for admission into the B.F.A. program with a major in Graphic Design will be held in the spring semester of the freshman year, and will be applicable for admission in the fall semester of the sophomore year. In order to remain in this program, students must take their graphic design courses in their proper sequence.
Faculty
Staff
Design Center
The Design Center has been an operating curricular component of the Graphic Design program for over 40 years. The Intern course structure offered in the Design Center is a unique capstone experience. Currently each student enrolls in Intern I for three credit hours in fall semester and Intern II for six credit hours in spring semester. There are 20 senior student interns divided into two sections. The Design Center is directed by one full-time faculty member, and is staffed with a part-time production manager, and an office associate during the academic year. The Center has a dedicated space with state-of-the-art technology and operates as a design studio in the practice.
Through the Design Center we provide students skills to make the transition from education to design practice. While focusing on professional practice we maintain the philosophy of experimentation and design process. The students work with the creative director of the Design Center and focus on creative collaborations with peer student designers. By working on client-based design projects from concept to completion they gain experience for their future in the design profession. They learn communication with clients, writers, printers, computer programmers for website and interactive design development, paper companies and others connected to the design and production process.
Projects are taken based on educational merit and the clients are from non-profit organizations in the University, Kalamazoo, and regional communities. We develop exciting partnerships with our clients who support our philosophy of research, analysis, exploration, and discovery that allows us to recommend a variety of design solutions for the intended audience. Clients do not pay a design fee but pay for materials, digital production, printing and any services necessary for completion of the project. Our partnership is based on an exchange with the community for students to gain professional experience and to build their final portfolio. Clients sometimes make donations to assist with our professional development trips or for our equipment needs.
Graphic Design Recommended Purchase
Upon admission into the Graphic Design Program at WMU, students are recommended to purchase an Apple laptop computer and software necessary to complete the sequence of courses. The software will include programs for page layout, drawing, photo manipulation, Web design and the standard office package. The computer and software will be used in courses throughout the remainder of the degree program. For details, please review the Computer Purchase Recommendations for Graphic Design Students.
Student Group
The purpose of the Western Michigan University chapter of AIGA is to create an affiliation with the national design association AIGA and to provide student activities that integrate an understanding of design business, design ethics and design practice.
Student Work
Typographic Installation by Cristian Cardoso, Rafael Lopez, and Chris Zheng
Typographic Installation by Maddie Christians, Nora Duncan, and Sam Wiker
Audubon Book Covers by Rebecca Schaefer