Graphic Design, B.F.A.

NOTE: THIS PROGRAM IS NO LONGER ACCEPTING NEW STUDENTS OR INTERNAL TRANSFERS

Arnold Bernhard Center
Telephone: (203) 576-4316

Curriculum and Program Requirements

The SASD Graphic Design Program offers two four-year B.F.A. programs: Graphic De­sign, and Graphic Design New Media. Each curriculum is a B.F.A. (Bachelor of Fine Arts) of 125 credits minimum.

Graphic Design students are versatile visual communicators, designing for a wide range of print and digital media, including identity systems, websites, posters, typefaces, motion graphics, and books.

Graphic Design New Media students special­ize in digital design, focusing on video, ani­mation, sound, electronic publishing, inter­active processes, user interfaces, augmented and virtual reality, and web-based design and development.

Both curricula consist of integrated, inter-disciplinary sequences which strengthen concept development, communication skills, critical thinking, problem solving abilities, creativity, research methods, and profession­al practice.

Graphic Design and Graphic Design New Media majors share the same foundation in the fundamentals of design. Beginning the second year, students choose electives in ac­cordance with their major and their interests, and proceed together through the Graphic Design Studio sequence.

Both programs offer opportunities for inter­disciplinary collaboration, internships, real-world client projects, social impact design, entrepreneurship, and a self-directed thesis project in the senior year.

Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate ability to identify, analyze, and solve design problems. Assessment: Portfolio projects and project research.
2. Demonstrate mastery of design tools, techniques, and concepts in design. Assess­ment: Projects and portfolios that evidence craftsmanship and adherence to project pa­rameters.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the aes­thetics of form development, and of the his­tory and current state of design. Assessment: Projects, papers, and presentations for art and design history courses; in studio courses, projects that appropriately reference histori­cal precedents.
4. Demonstrate proficiency in selection and use of relevant technologies in design. Abili­ties to use available technical and industrial processes to produce a design product, and to design and implement such a process. Assessment: Project and portfolio materials planned to be feasibly reproducible by in­dustrial means rather than by one-off or by hand.
5. Demonstrate an understanding of the cul­tural and societal connections linking design trends and processes as well as a knowledge of business practices and of the market place. Assessment: Projects and portfolio solutions that are culturally- and audience-appropriate for the problem as posed by the business and market briefs for the project.