Are you a creative interested in visual communication? Become a creative professional graphic designer by learning how to synthesize complex information into visual systems, and support business and social goals for communication, branding, entertainment, justice, sustainability or education.
The graphic design program in The Design School is committed to excellence in traditional and contemporary graphic design education, professionalism, research and service for the community at large. Faculty, alumni, students, and visiting designers and educators constantly reinforce the link between society and nature and vigorously advocate quality in developing communication strategies.
The BSD curriculum acknowledges the need for creative environments that address ecological concerns and encourages students to develop sustainable, transdisciplinary work sensitive to cultural aesthetic. The curriculum develops a strong foundation of design principles through lower-division studio and lecture courses, using this to build an overall understanding of how design can shape perception and meaning using visual media. Upper-division studio courses provide opportunities for students to work in collaborative teams addressing professional projects in information design, interaction design, exhibition design, animation, motion graphics, branding, publication design, web design, interface design and the multiple contemporary facets of sensorial design.
Graphic designers are responsible for designing how information is communicated. Forms of communication include print, video, film and electronic (web). Graphic designers are concerned with appearance, choosing the appropriate mechanism for communication, clarity of information and its effectiveness and how communication is transferred and received.
The Bachelor of Science in design program in graphic design places an emphasis on strategic communication developed through a design process that includes research, analysis, conceptualization, planning and realization. The process leads to innovative visual communication design solutions for contemporary design problems that are local to global in scope.
All students who are admitted to the major must pass a degree milestone at the end of the first year to continue in the major. For more information on the milestone process, students should visit The Design School milestones webpage: https://design.asu.edu/resources/students/milestones. This is an eight-semester graphic design program that requires sequential completion of studio coursework or approved equivalent at any point of entry.
At A Glance
Graphic Design, BSD
- Offered by: Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts
- Location: Tempe, Online
- Math Intensity: General
Required Courses
A major map outlines a major's critical requirements, courses, and optimal course sequence and aids students in remaining on track to graduation.
While circumstances vary between students and their paths towards graduation (utilizing placement testing to fulfill required math or foreign language courses, fulfilling multiple General Studies requirements with one course, etc.), completing the courses listed in a major map fulfills all of the requirements for graduation.
Application requirements
Apply to ASU to view the admission requirements and begin your application.
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements:
Affording college
Scholarships
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Financial Aid
ASU has many financial aid options. Almost everyone, regardless
of income, can qualify for some form of financial aid. In fact,
more than 70 percent of all ASU students receive some form of
financial assistance every year.
Career outlook
Based on a diversified portfolio upon graduation, those who opt for the graphic design profession gain employment in:
- advertising and marketing design
- brand and corporate identity design
- broadcast (TV graphics) design
- interaction and interface design
- museum or exhibition design
- publication design
- visual communication design
- web design
Specific examples of graphic designers' work include:
- annual reports
- books
- environmental graphics
- information design
- motion graphics
- multimedia presentations
- publications
- websites
Graduates also may pursue graduate studies leading to careers in design education and other fields of professional endeavor in design.
Example careers
Students who complete this degree program may be prepared for the following careers. Advanced degrees or certifications may be required for academic or clinical positions. Career examples include but are not limited to:
| Career | *growth | *median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Special Effects Artists and Animators | 4.1% | $77,700 |
| Art Directors | -1.8% | $97,270 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 5.6% | $69,690 |
| Desktop Publishers | -19% | $47,560 |
| Graphic Designers | -3.8% | $53,380 |
| Commercial and Industrial Designers | -3.5% | $71,640 |
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | 5% | $60,820 |
| Prepress Technicians and Workers | -20.7% | $41,410 |
| Set and Exhibit Designers | 1.2% | $58,180 |
* Data obtained from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) under sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA).
- Bright Outlook
- Green Occupation
What are ASU's Online Programs?
ASU Online offers programs like Graphic Design in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year.
More information on the program is available directly from ASU Online.