Graphic Design

In today's world, we are surrounded by graphic design. From billboards and soda cans to social media posts and political ads, graphic designers develop engaging material that communicates a pointed message and persuades an audience. The form of the communication can be physical or virtual and may include images, words, or graphic elements. The work can happen at any scale, from the design of a single postage stamp to a national postal signage system. It can also be for any purpose, whether commercial, educational, cultural, or political. However you define it, graphic design is ubiquitous.

Fairfield University’s interdisciplinary minor in graphic design asks students to learn, reflect, and act as designers, preparing them for work in the increasingly complex design world. The minor offers students the ability to develop design skills, explore different understandings of visual communication, enhance other fields of study, and prepare for a variety of careers. Students often combine this minor with a variety of majors, including studio art; marketing; theatre; English; journalism; communication; film, television, and media; and management.

Students seeking a minor in graphic design demonstrate proficiency in design principles, design process, theory, history and contemporary design practice. They develop an understanding of design process and problem solving methods and explore the effects graphic design has upon the human environment from social responsibility, sustainability, and interdisciplinary perspectives. Students also gain proficiency in identified technical skills and understand and apply basic principles in the process of creating, analyzing, and evaluating graphic design solutions in relation to specific end uses and consumer needs. They also develop proficiency in research, writing, communication, and presentation skills.