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Visual Communication Design - B.F.A.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Visual Communication Design prepares students for design and illustration professions. Students develop technical proficiency and design expertise in the organization of imagery and typography to communicate information in two-dimensional and three-dimensional forms using interactive media, environments and motion design. Students produce work for print, video, screen and interactive experiences, as well as package design, exhibition design and environmental wayfinding.

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Visual Communication Design is more than layout and graphic design. It's about conveying a feeling, information and a message through the design choices made. 

Design surrounds us everywhere we go. Look around you wherever you are. The phone in your hand, the computer in front of you, the magazines, signs, products, packaging -- all of it crafted and created with design in mind. The Bachelor of Arts in Visual Communication Design will help you develop and learn to effectively use your design skills and prepare you for the design jobs of the future.

Students can also develop their talents and network with other designers through extracurricular opportunities.

Explore Ways to Get Involved, Get Experience, Get Designing

IdeaBase: Student-Powered Agency

IdeaBase is a 江南体育 State student-powered design agency located in Franklin Hall. IdeaBase bridges the gap between classroom and career by bringing together top-performing 江南体育 State students to tackle real-world client problems. The team represents a variety of backgrounds, including visual communication design, public relations, advertising, digital media production, computer information systems, emerging media and technology, marketing and communication studies students.

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STUDENT MEDIA

In Student Media, students create content for our six print partners (five magazines and one newspaper) as well as for TV, radio, websites and social media. Together, they reach thousands of people every day, delivering original reporting, information, entertainment and advertising. 

Starting "Day One" of freshman year, students can work for these independent, nationally recognized, nationally award-winning student media outlets. In doing so, students gain relevant exposure to the communication industry, strong peer and faculty relationships and opportunities to launch meaningful careers. 

Glyphix Research Laboratory

Glyphix began as a full studio experience for students, and the student staffed studio was one of the first such programs in the U.S. and the prototype for many student work-study design groups now existing on university campuses. Now Glyphix is a Research Laboratory in the School of VCD. Students gain studio experience as they conduct research, develop concepts and produce design materials for clients and other stakeholders. 

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AIGA 江南体育 State

Meet other students studying visual communication design and all things graphic design as part of AIGA 江南体育 State's student group. Network with area designers and businesses, be part of the monthly meetings with the Cleveland chapter and participate in extracurricular learning opportunities that can help you develop as a designer. 

Program Information for Visual Communication Design - B.F.A.

Program Description

Program Description

Full Description

The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Visual Communication Design prepares students for design and illustration professions. Students develop technical proficiency and design expertise in the organization of imagery and typography to communicate information in two-dimensional and three-dimensional forms using interactive media, environments and motion design. Students produce work for print, video, screen and interactive experiences, as well as package design, exhibition design and environmental wayfinding.

This major leads to a professional degree and focuses on intensive work in the visual arts. The B.F.A. degree consists of approximately two-thirds of the coursework in the creation and study of the visual arts, with the remainder in liberal/general studies. Because of the greater emphasis on upper-level studio courses, the B.F.A. degree allows students an opportunity to dedicate more time to developing their portfolios. The B.F.A. degree is for students planning to pursue a career in visual communication design and graphic design.

Students may apply early to the following master's degree programs and double count 9 credit hours of graduate courses toward both degree programs. See the in the University Catalog for more information.

There are many study abroad/away opportunities. For more information contact the or coordinator of the college's

Admissions for Visual Communication Design - B.F.A.

Admissions

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

First-Year Students on the 江南体育 Campus: First-year admission policy on the 江南体育 Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the 江南体育 Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the .

First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to 江南体育 State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning a minimum 525 TOEFL score (71 on the Internet-based version), minimum 75 MELAB score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score or minimum 48 PTE Academic score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive Program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Transfer Students: Students who have attended any other educational institution after graduating from high school must apply as undergraduate transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.

Former Students: Former 江南体育 State students or graduates who have not attended another college or university since 江南体育 State may complete the reenrollment or reinstatement form on the University Registrar’s website.

Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog's .

Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the program's Coursework tab.

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate an understanding of the ethics (and legal issues) closely associated with fields of visual communication.
  2. Demonstrate an understanding of traditional hands-on skills relative to craftsmanship.
  3. Demonstrate an understanding of the basic use of digital technologies as they relate to their areas of study.
  4. Demonstrate an ability to create visual response to communication problems, including understanding of hierarchy, typography, aesthetics, composition and construction of meaningful images.

Coursework

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
CCI 12001PHOTOGRAPHY 3
VCD 13000VISUAL DESIGN THINKING 3
VCD 13001INTRODUCTION TO VISUAL COMMUNICATION DESIGN STUDIO (min B- grade)3
VCD 20010DESIGN RESEARCH AND METHODS 3
VCD 22000DESIGN/ILLUSTRATION TECHNIQUES I 13
VCD 22001DESIGN/ILLUSTRATION TECHNIQUES II 3
VCD 23001TYPOGRAPHY I (min B- grade)3
VCD 25000DESIGN HISTORY AND THEORY 3
VCD 33000GRAPHIC DESIGN I 3
VCD 33001GRAPHIC DESIGN II 3
VCD 33101INTERACTION DESIGN I 3
VCD 34004VISUAL ETHICS 3
VCD 34005ELEMENTS OF BRAND DESIGN 3
VCD 40035PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO BFA DESIGN 3
VCD 40182INTERNSHIP PREPARATION: DESIGN, ILLUSTRATION AND PHOTOGRAPHY 2
VCD 40192INTERNSHIP: DESIGN, ILLUSTRATION AND PHOTOGRAPHY (ELR) 21
VCD 44006MOTION DESIGN I 3
VCD 43002TYPOGRAPHY II 3
VCD 43003IDENTITY SYSTEMS 3
VCD 49198RESEARCH PAPERS AND PROPOSALS FOR DESIGN, ILLUSTRATION AND PHOTOGRAPHY (ELR) (WIC) 32
VCD Specialization Electives, choose from the following:12
VCD 40053
GLYPHIX RESEARCH LABORATORY
VCD 40089
GRAPHIC DESIGN-TRAVEL AND FIELD EXPERIENCE (DIVG) (ELR)
VCD 40095
SPECIAL TOPICS IN DESIGN, ILLUSTRATION AND PHOTOGRAPHY
VCD 42002
EDITORIAL ILLUSTRATION
VCD 42003
ADVERTISING ILLUSTRATION
VCD 42005
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT AND DESIGN: THE HUMAN FIGURE
VCD 42006
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT AND DESIGN: ANIMALS AND ENVIRONMENTS
VCD 42007
GRAPHIC NARRATIVE
VCD 43005
INTEGRATED BRAND DESIGN
VCD 43006
BRAND EXPERIENCES
VCD 43007
INFORMATION DESIGN
VCD 43060
TYPEFACE DESIGN
VCD 43101
INTERACTION DESIGN II
VCD 46002
RESPONSIVE WEB DESIGN
VCD 46003
EXPERIMENTAL TYPOGRAPHY
VCD 49199
CAPSTONE PROJECT (ELR)
VCD Additional Electives, choose from the following: 46
VCD 18002
PHOTOGRAPHY II
VCD 21000
INTRODUCTION TO WEB DESIGN
VCD 28003
DIGITAL IMAGING I
VCD 32000
ILLUSTRATION I
VCD 32001
ILLUSTRATION II
VCD 38004
ADVANCED PHOTOGRAPHY
VCD 40053
GLYPHIX RESEARCH LABORATORY
VCD 40089
GRAPHIC DESIGN-TRAVEL AND FIELD EXPERIENCE (DIVG) (ELR)
VCD 40095
SPECIAL TOPICS IN DESIGN, ILLUSTRATION AND PHOTOGRAPHY
VCD 40195
SELECTED TOPICS IN DESIGN, ILLUSTRATION AND PHOTOGRAPHY
VCD 42002
EDITORIAL ILLUSTRATION
VCD 42003
ADVERTISING ILLUSTRATION
VCD 42005
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT