Department of Design

Faculty and Fields of Interest

Scott Ahrens digital media

Jean Francois Allaux illustration

Michelle Bowers visual language, typography

David Chapman graphic design

Vicky Crayhon photography

James Edwards illustration

Jan Fairbairn graphic design, typography

Laura Franz (Chairperson) typography, graphic design

Harvey Goldman digital media

Spencer Ladd graphic design, typography, photography

Yoon Soo Lee graphic design, typography

Bruce Maddocks (Director of Foundations Program) illustration, graphic design

Mark Millstein digital media

Ziddi Msangi graphic design

Heather Shaw digital media, graphic design, typography

Shawn Towne digital media

Janine Wong graphic design, typography, book arts

The department offers a BFA in Visual Design.

In this major, students pursue work in a variety of options: Digital Media, Graphic Design, Illustration and Photography.

The Design Department takes advantage of being in a university structure by providing a challenging stimulus within the whole, and by interrelating the verbal with the visual and the conceptual with the perceptual. Because the function of design is to communicate, it has a built-in relationship with all disciplines, and involves cultural, behavioral, social and technological factors.

Admission to specific options requires submission of a portfolio.

All transfer students who wish to be admitted to courses marked with a “*” above the sophomore level must bring a portfolio to transfer orientation. Acceptance into advanced courses is rare, not automatic.

Learning Outcomes in Design

The Design program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). Specific learning outcomes for each course are available on the syllabus for that course. Upon successful completion of the degree requirements in Design, students should possess:

Visual and written communication skills;
The ability to perform critical analysis of communication, form and concept;
The ability to solve visual, conceptual and communication problems through the process of independently-motivated trial, error and refinement;
Production expertise in their own field of study;
Familiarity with the history of their field, theoretical framework of their field and contemporary work being done in their field;
The ability to present themselves in a professional manner appropriate to their field of study;
A portfolio of work that represents their ability to do all of the above.