Graphic Design
Lisa Pena
Mitzvah Estévez
About this opportunity
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 they vigorously advocate quality in developing communication strategies.
The BSD curriculum acknowledges the need for creative environments that address ecological concerns, and students are encouraged to develop sustainable, transdisciplinary work sensitive to cultural aesthetic. Students develop 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.
Thesis
Graphic Design seniors are required to have an applied capstone project focused on a "social issue" topic that is exhibited publicly in a senior show in May of their final semester.
Students are encouraged to fulfill their Barrett requirements by completing an honors thesis related to the capstone project. Any other topic of interest must be approved by the professor of record.
The Design School and Graphic Design also require a two-person committee that reviews the student in form of a defense after the senior exhibit.
The thesis director must be the professor of record for their final Design studio, and the second committee member may be a faculty member or qualified professional in the field.
Academic Preparation
At the end of the junior year during review, we advise students to consider their thesis ideas with the social issue topic and begin planning during the summer. At the beginning of fall semester, final year, students select their social issue topic and begin research. After selecting their social issue topic, Barrett students can decide on the extended topic relating to the issue and start thesis work. Students can plan with the FHA for their individual timeline of thesis preparation and work.
Recommended Timeline
Students should start asking for honors contracts and connecting with faculty early in their academic career. Participating in research is also encouraged for all Barrett students.
Honors contracts have two requirements:
- First: it must not be busy work, the area of focus must be a passion or interest of the student.
- Second: The students are encouraged to experiment with leaving their comfort zone. To try a new way to approach and present their project.
Other Honors Opportunities
Barrett students can see examples of their peer's work in the Design School here. Students may also view resources for internships, career services, and student support on the Current Student Resource Page.
College
Herberger Institute for Design and the ArtsCampus
Tempe