Our program includes a wide variety of courses in Advertising, Motion Graphics, Publication Design, Letterpress Printmaking, Web Design, Interactive Computer Multimedia, Typography and History of Graphic Design. Our Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design is a professional degree, meaning it has a large number of hours in the major. Approximately 80 of the 130 hours a student takes are specifically in art and graphic design. This ensures students have as much exposure as possible to various graphic design techniques and processes. 99% of the undergraduate alumni in the School of the Arts (2014-2017) were employed or pursuing continuing education within 6 months of graduation. No minor is required.
Graphic Design as a Career
Graphic design is a wonderful career because it merges creativity, art, and visual problem solving. Graphic design often refers to both the process (designing) by which the communication is created and the products (designs) which are generated. Common uses of graphic design include identity (logos and branding), publications (magazines, newspapers and books), print advertisements, posters, billboards, website graphics, and elements and sign and product packaging. For example, a product package might include a logo or other artwork, organized text and pure design elements such as images, shapes, and color which unify the piece. (source: Wikipedia).
You can learn more about graphic design at AIGA. If you are unsure about majoring in graphic design you could try contacting a graphic designer in your area and shadow them at work for a day.
Here are some examples of the amazing places our graduates have worked
- Richard Attias & Associates
- Threadbird
- New York Times Interactive
- OOBE
- Mountaintop Community Church
- Salesforce
- Signet Jewelers
- Big Communications
- Cayenne Creative
- Womens Missionary Union
- Jones Valley Teaching Farm
- International Missions Board
Challenge
Being a graphic designer is extremely rewarding, but it is not for everyone. It requires dedication, hard work, good communication skills, and the ability to continually adapt and learn. Our classes are rigorous. Our students are pushed to learn as much as possible, so they are well prepared to take their place in the workforce when they graduate.
Purchasing a Laptop
It is a requirement for students to have a laptop with the creative cloud software. Students can purchase Adobe Creative Cloud for $19.99 a month. We recommend a MacBook with at least 8GB of RAM and 512GB of hard drive space. We have a graphic design lab with a large number of 27" monitors for students to plug their laptops into. This gives students the opportunity to be around others who are working on similar projects, and this encourages discourse and learning.
Scholarships
No previous experience is required to apply for the graphic design program, although we have scholarship opportunities for high school students who have experience and a portfolio. Please contact arts@samford.edu for more information about our scholarship program.
Portfolio
All of our classes are practical and give students the opportunity to create creative portfolio pieces. Students use their portfolio to land internships and jobs. Our graphic design students are required to create a portfolio book, website, and digital PDF portfolio.
Internship
We have a very successful internship program, and we recommend students do their internship during the summer between their junior and senior year. Internships give students real work experience and this often leads to job opportunities. The majority of students are paid during their internships and many receive job offers. The following are a few places our students have interned:
- Intermark Group
- Books-a-Million
- Moon Dog Animation Studios
- Shades Mountain Baptist Church
- Luckie Advertising
- Southern Progress Corporation
- International Missions Board
- o2 Ideas
- St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
- Blue Sky
- Hatch Show Prints
- Good Grit Magazine
Cohort
All of our graphic design majors have a class cohort. Typically, you will take two graphic design classes with your group each semester starting your sophomore year. Students will get to know their fellow group members and often become lifelong friends.
Change of Major
Are you thinking about changing your major to Graphic Design? Are you a Freshman? If so (depending on the classes you have taken) it should be possible for you to change majors to Graphic Design and graduate on time or close to on time. Please contact srfisk@samford.edu with questions about transferring into graphic design.
Tour?
Interested in learning more about our program? Want to take a campus tour or visit a class? Please contact arts@samford.edu.
