Be a visual problem-solver
Prepare for the design profession by developing the conceptual skills needed to solve problems through visual communication.
-
Poster for a Visiting Typographer. Work by Tessa Campbell, Maddy Hanley, Batsheba Martinez-Castro from DES 303: Basic Typography.
-
Graphic Design
-
Illustration
-
Self-promotion Postcards. Work by Alina Viknianskiy, Chandler Wilhelmi (DES 452, DES 490)
-
Graphic Design-- letterpress
-
Murder Mystery Invitation. Work by Chandler Reed and Cory Sanders (DES 332: Image Design)
-
Digital illustration class
-
Graphic Design
Track options
Careers and outcomes
- Design studio
- Consultation
- Publishing house
- Web development
- Newspapers/magazines
- Studio owner
- Advertising
- Journalism
- Portraiture
- Education
- Entrepreneur
Facilities and Resources
Get a look at some of our state-of the-art buildings and studios.
Brick City Design Studio
Bring your artistic ideas to downtown Springfield in the Brick City Design Studio.
Helping you succeed
Make a smart investment in your future. Access financial aid and friendly support.
Immersive academics
Get ready to meet your next mentor. You’ll be prepared, confident, and ready for your career.
BFA in Design Program Mission
The BFA in Design develops the skills needed to solve problems through visual communication. Strong conceptual thinking and a refined intuitive approach are the prime components of the students’ creative endeavor. Design students study the fundamentals of visual language, methods, and materials of traditional and contemporary illustration and graphic design techniques. Students in the Graphic Design and Illustration emphases learn to create visual material that is responsive to industry, culture, and society. In developing skills to achieve expressive and commercial goals, Graphic Design students explore a wide range of subjects including web design, information architecture, interactive new media, information graphics, applied typography, publication and editorial design, and branding and identity, while Illustration students study image creation and manipulation for print, digital media, and the Internet.