Art + Design: Graphic Design
BFA , Concentration , Minor

On-campus Undergraduate Concentration Minor

Graphic design is a creative practice of visual communication, using type, image, and technology to communicate ideas, inspire action, and shape meaningful experiences. At UMass Dartmouth, you will learn to design across a range of media and platforms, from publications and brand systems to apps, websites, and motion graphics. Our program prepares you for a dynamic and evolving design field, where communication strategies, storytelling, and user experience intersect with cultural, environmental, and technological change.

As a graphic design student, you will pursue a professional degree that emphasizes both depth and breadth. The curriculum blends intensive studio coursework with the flexibility of a university education, encouraging you to explore complementary fields such as business, marketing, computer science, media arts, and communication.

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What you'll explore:

Design grounded in research, strategy, and human-centered approaches
Typography, branding, and systems designed for print and digital platforms
Visual storytelling and narrative strategies
Industry practices, teamwork, communication, and presentation skills
Interaction design, UI/UX, and web development
Motion graphics, visual effects, and time-based media
Emerging areas including AI, AR, and immersive technologies
Cultural and environmental context, and ethical design practices
Community, client, and cross-disciplinary collaboration

Coursework emphasizes a blend of digital and physical forms of design. You will learn to translate complex information into compelling visual systems that inform, persuade, and connect. Projects grow in scale and complexity throughout the program and often involve real-world collaborations and interdisciplinary approaches, providing valuable experience and professional feedback.

Our faculty are active professionals who offer one-on-one mentorship and cultivate a studio environment that values experimentation, conversation, and curiosity. Through career-focused seminars and coursework, you will identify professional pathways, grow your network, develop digital portfolios and communication materials, strengthen interview and presentation skills, and prepare for internships and job opportunities.

You will graduate with adaptable design skills, real-world experience, and a competitive portfolio. Alumni have gone on to successful careers in branding, advertising, content creation, UX/UI, packaging, motion graphics, typography, publishing, web and app development, environmental graphic design, and creative entrepreneurship.

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

Computer requirement for CVPA majors

Course descriptions, schedules and requirements

The graphic design minor gives students from any major the opportunity to develop creative and strategic design skills. Through project-based learning and concept-driven coursework, you will gain experience designing for print and digital environments, creating engaging user experiences, and communicating effectively across platforms.

Students in the minor will:

Understand the role of design in communication industries
Develop visual problem-solving skills and design strategies
Learn technology and methods for designing across a range of media
Build a portfolio with work in branding, publication, web, app, interface, and visual systems design

The minor includes 18 credits: two required introductory courses and four courses selected from a range of graphic design offerings. You will have the flexibility to shape your experience around your interests while gaining practical, transferable skills. While the minor provides a strong introduction to the field, it is not intended to prepare students for direct entry into competitive professional design practice.

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

Parker Sowersby '25

Graphic design student builds diverse résumé with minors in art history and communication, a study abroad trip to Germany, and an award for video editing at the New Bedford Film Festival.

Graduate Schools

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

Career placements

Bose Corporation
Boston Bruins / TD Garden
CVS Health
EF Education First
Fidelity Investments
Game Seven Marketing
Hasbro
Hill & Partners Branded Environments
Inspire Brands
KVH Industries, Inc.
Liberty Mutual Insurance
Monotype Corporation
Pilot Agency / Yellowfly
Pipar\TBWA Advertising
Puma
RMS International
Scratch Marketing + Media
TJX Companies
US Army Devcom Soldier Center
Wayfair

Professional experience: gain real-world experience through client-based projects, community partnerships, and internships. Apply your skills in professional settings while building confidence and a strong portfolio.
Facilities: work in digital labs equipped with industry-standard software, hardware, printers, and scanners. Additional resources include a fabrication lab for prototyping and mixed-media projects, a screen-printing studio for apparel design, and access to the Media Center, where you can borrow professional-grade equipment such as cameras, tablets, lighting gear, and audio-visual tools for photography, video production, and animation projects.
Interdisciplinary opportunities: take advantage of the university setting by exploring courses and collaborations across business, marketing, computer science, sustainability, communication, and more. Expand your perspective and apply design thinking in diverse contexts.

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.