 
Graphic Design Program Director:
Prof. John Luttropp
973-655-4163
Overview | Curriculum | Faculty | Studio Facilities | Student Work | Careers and Resources | Accreditation | Applying | All Design programs
BFA in Graphic Design/
What It’s About
From logos to brands, book covers to packaging, posters to building facades, Web sites to movie titles, including interactive, visual environments ... graphic design can be found everywhere. Whether for purposes of entertaining, reporting, promoting, or disclosing, graphic designers harness words, images, color, and technology to communicate the services and values of not only individuals, but also businesses and institutions of all types and scale.
Graphic designers today work in a faster-moving and increasingly complex economy, which is why our program emphasizes cross-disciplinary research as much as the production of studio work. Our integrated curriculum, in fact, draws upon many subjects and resources to prepare students to address the widest range of design problems with innovative solutions.
What do Graphic Designers Do?
Graphic designers help their clients by creating visual solutions to promote their product – whether it be an object or service, or philosophy or idea. Frequently they partner with other artists including photographers and illustrators, as well as with technicians such as computer programmers, printers and fabricators.
What qualities do we look for in a graphic design student?
Students who succeed in the program tend to take great interest in their visual environment. They enjoy looking at billboards, magazines, and all forms of graphic communication. The look, feel and choice of the message capture their attention as much as the product being sold.
Graphic design involves research, development and refinement of ideas; clear communication with clients and manufacturers; as well as a keen sense of business and marketing. For this reason, to be successful, students must become good at managing their time and making sure that all details of a project come together.
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What You Will Study
Through coursework in design, composition, color theory, and art history, students are taught the basic principles of art making. Subsequent study focuses on theories and practices of visual communication including the selection and use of type and image; professional presentation; as well as computer applications for professional production. Concept development and design skills are emphasized, as are content preparation for print, multimedia and the Web. In addition to coursework in graphic design, students take a range of general education courses that foster an appreciation of broad knowledge and abilities to think critically. Class sizes range from 18-22 students to ensure individualized attention.
The PDF Fact Sheet of the Graphic Design program, available as a Download, provides supplementary information including the sequence of study, requirements for the degree, and valuable program resources.
Curriculum Links —
Curriculum requirements and course descriptions for the BFA in Graphic Design major and other programs in the Department of Art and Design may be found through the following links:
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An Outstanding Faculty
Graphic Design students work with an outstanding faculty and interact with world-recognized visiting designers who bring expertise in graphic, Web and interactive design; branding; print publication; communication technology; and multiple areas of knowledge in design and fine arts. Within the Department of Art and Design, more than 28 full-time faculty and 90-plus adjuncts and visiting professionals mentor our students every semester.
Students are also exposed to internationally recognized designers through class visits to studios and lectures in New York City. On campus, Montclair State’s Art Forum Series has brought many outstanding designers, including John Gall, Jan Wilker, Joshua Davis, Stefan Sagmeister, Alexander Isley, Emily Oberman, Andrew Byrom and Paula Scher, among others of such caliber.
Faculty Links —
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Studio Facilities
The Department of Art and Design occupies several buildings on campus and includes a multifaceted studio/lab for Graphic Design. The main studio is in College Hall, and is a fully integrated design facility with areas for discussion and critique, computer- and hands-on production and printing, as well as exhibitions of student work. During the fall and spring semesters, the studio is open for up to 40 hours weekly for assisted lab time outside of class.
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Student Work
Throughout their course of study, students create work using a variety of media and techniques that feature the use of typography, photography and digital and drawn imagery. By senior year, portfolios generally include projects demonstrating skills in poster and advertising design; logo and brand development; brochures, books, Web-site development; interactive media design; packaging; magazine layouts; and other manifestations of visual communication.
Student Work Galleries —
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Careers in Graphic Design /
Professional Resources
Graduates of the program find that their knowledge and skills are marketable in a wide range of professional settings.
Graphic designers find full-time work in design studios, advertising agencies, PR firms, and at newspapers and magazines. Others work as free-lancers or start their own business. Web design and teaching are additional career options.
Career-related Links —
Sample Career Areas
- Advertising
- Book Cover Design
- Corporate Communication
- Environmental Design – the design of signs and sign systems
- Exhibition Design for trade shows and museums
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- Film ,Video and Video Game Titles
- Interactive Design for Web Sites, Video Games and Computer Displays
- Logo, Identity and Brand Design
- Magazine and Page Layout Design
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- Map, Chart and Graph Design
- Package Design
- Product Graphics
- Retail Design
- Television Graphics
- Type Design
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Accreditation
Montclair State’s art and design programs, including Graphic Design, meet the rigorous standards of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), thus, placing them among the most-competitive programs in the region.
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How to Apply
Along with their enthusiasm for the visual arts, candidates for the program are required to demonstrate an interest in reading and writing as fundamental to problem solving and concept development. Applicants, furthermore, must demonstrate an understanding of graphic design as an artistic, intellectual, and commercial endeavor.
Information on applying to the BFA in Graphic Design and all programs in the Department of Art and Design is available on the Department Admissions page
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All Design programs
The College of the Arts offers additional programs for students interested in design.
All programs:
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