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- David Orr Belcher College of Fine and Performing Arts
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- Bachelor of Fine Art, Emphasis in Graphic Design
Bachelor of Fine Art, Emphasis in Graphic Design
The Bachelor of Fine Art degree with Emphasis in Graphic Design focuses on design thinking, interactive and experience design, communication design, social practices, and developing professional production skills.
The program combines strategic interdisciplinary relationships with research, cultural investigations, and design and communication in a broad range of media. The 4-year program requires a summer internship, and prepares students for the collaborative, interactive, and participatory nature of careers in design fields and graduate study in related disciplines.
About the Program
Graphic Design is uniquely defined by the diversity of studio and academic courses available within the program. Interwoven with courses in liberal studies, are studio courses in fine arts, print and screen-based communication design, interactive and motion design, with emphasis on developing a range of technical, conceptual, and design process skills.
Our graphic design graduates work within diverse fields of interdisciplinary applications of professional design, including healthcare and marketing, motion design, animation, web design, interactive design, and design studio practices.
For questions or to arrange a visit during the academic year please contact: MaryAnna LaFratta, lafratta@wcu.edu, 828.227.2463.
Major Requirements
Students interested in Graphic Design must successfully complete the Art Foundation studio classes: ART 131, 132, and 142, and submit an entrance portfolio. A limited number of seats are available in the program.
A grade of C or greater must be earned in all required ART classes within the Graphic Design program. If this benchmark is not met for the required graphic design studio classes, the class must be retaken before moving forward in the program sequence.
All required Graphic Design emphasis studio classes are sequential (prerequisites of the studio classes that follow in the sequence) and must be taken in the semester in which they are offered. Graphic design studio classes are currently offered once an academic year. Getting out of sequence can result in a delay of graduation.
Students pursuing the BFA with emphasis in Graphic Design are required to have a laptop that meets the system requirements for the current Adobe Creative Cloud software applications and an Adobe CC software license. Students use a range of the Adobe applications throughout the program. Educational discounts are available for laptops (Dell and Apple) through WCU Information Technology - Technology Commons. Adobe also offers educational discounts for its licenses.
Suggested computers are listed on the university Computer Requirements webpage, under College of Fine and Performing Arts Graphic Design Program.
The BFA with Emphasis in Graphic Design requires each student to formally apply with a portfolio of work. Students need to submit their entrance portfolio during the spring semester of the Freshman year or the fall semester of the Sophomore year. Acceptance is mandatory prior to enrolling in Graphic Design emphasis studio classes, beyond ART 270 Communication Design.
Current students need to submit their entrance portfolio during the spring semester of the Freshman year or the fall semester of the Sophomore year. Acceptance is mandatory prior to enrolling in Graphic Design emphasis studio classes, beyond ART 270 Communication Design. Directions for how to submit portfolio will be communicated to current students via email for several weeks leading up to the deadline (5th Friday of Fall and Spring semesters). If you would like to submit your portfolio prior to the 5th Friday deadline, email Professor LaFratta at lafratta@wcu.edu or Professor Seefeldt at jseefeldt@wcu.edu to discuss options.
TRANSFER and INCOMING students should submit a portfolio via Acceptd. Refer to the Prospective Students Information section on this webpage.
Submission for CURRENT WCU students:
BFA with emphasis in Graphic Design Portfolio Guidelines
Deadline for Current Students is the 5th Friday of the fall and spring semesters. The Fall 2023 deadline is Fri
Sep 22nd, 11:59pm.
Apply here: design.wcu.edu
The BFA with Emphasis in Graphic Design requires all students to participate in an internship to graduate. This requirement strengthens the ability of graduates to excel in competitive professional opportunities.
Student successes working within the design professions after graduation include employment in: design studios, healthcare and marketing, motion design, animation, IT support technicians, web design, and interaction and experience design.
The School of Art and Design within the University is supported by a vibrant artist/designer lecture series including residencies and summer programs.
Recent visiting artists have included:
Karen Britt, Art Historian
Douglass Grimmett, Graphic Design
Hoss Haley, Sculpture
Ann Hamilton, Sculpture/Installation
Molly Hatch, Ceramics/Painting
Shaurya Kumar, Printmaking + Painting
Eleanor Lupton, Graphic Designer
Mark Mothersbaugh, Conceptualist, visual artist, composer
Paula Scher, Designer/Typography
Buzz Spector, Printmaker
Suzan Szenazy, Design Advocate
Piotr Szyhalski, Graphic Design
Sarah Tangy, Curator
Clare Twomey, Ceramics
Sam Van Aken, Interdisciplinary artist
Lee Walton, Sculpture
Chakaia Booker
Raven Chacon
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