Major

Art - Graphic Design

Overview

Graphic Design at Illinois State fosters a collaborative environment engaging you with print and emerging digital media. Our program prepares you to contribute to positive change for the betterment of society.

Students graduating from the Graphic Design program can pursue successful careers in client-based design or self-initiated research. You'll have opportunities to work at design studios, advertising agencies, and diverse corporations or institutions.

Our alumni continue to be a part of the Wonsook Kim School of Art after graduation and we continue to harness professional relationships and networking connections between them and our current students through social media and CrossPlatform, the Graphic Design student club.

We offer three programs in Graphic Design: Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BS) and Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA).

BA/BS in Graphic Design

In the BA/BS in Graphic Design sequence, you'll develop an understanding of topics such as brand identity, typography, interaction and time-based media, design history, multicultural perspectives, and civic engagement.

In addition, you will gain professional experience through Graphic Design Internship or Design Streak Studio.

BFA in Graphic Design

The BFA in Graphic Design sequence is a highly selective course of study which prepares you for a professional career in graphic design and related fields in visual communication.

This program offers twelve Graphic Design courses and several electives such as Digital Media, Video, Photography, Game Design, and Expanded Media. You will explore diverse topics such as design thinking and research methodologies, advanced typography, systems design, branding, interaction and time-based narratives, design history, multicultural perspectives, social impact, and civic engagement.

In addition, you will gain professional experience through Graphic Design Internship or Design Streak Studio. Senior students are required to create and develop an independently chosen research topic for the BFA student design exhibition.

Point of Pride

Design Streak Studio, a social innovation lab, facilitates an interdisciplinary environment for students to promote human-centered research, experimentation, and service learning. In addition, students can apply for graphic design internships offered every semester to earn pre-professional work experience.

Why study Art - Graphic Design?

The program prepares you to enter creative professional practice through theoretical and applied instruction in topics such as systems design, interaction and time-based media, and typography.

You'll engage in real-world projects where you can experience multicultural perspectives and practice civic engagement.

Schedule a Visit

Come see campus and meet with campus representatives either in person or virtually. Optional chances to meet with academic department, honors, and financial aid.

How to Apply

Applying to Illinois State

Incoming freshmen will initially apply to the Wonsook Kim School of Art by submitting a five-piece portfolio of artwork upon the University accepting the student’s admissions application.

Applying to BA/BS in Graphic Design

Students seeking to major in Graphic Design must submit a digital portfolio as part of their application.

Applying to BFA in Graphic Design

To apply for the Graphic Design BFA, students must already be attending ISU as an Art major or be an incoming Transfer student. An additional portfolio review is required.

Admissions Digital Portfolio Requirements for all BA/BS Sequences

Wonsook Kim School of Art reviews digital application portfolios submitted by the first of every month. Applicants are encouraged to submit their portfolio as soon as possible for best consideration for both admission to the Art major and for departmental scholarships. Applicants may expect their portfolio review results by email during the third week of the month during which the portfolio is reviewed.

You are encouraged to consult with your current art educators with assistance in selecting the work that best exhibits your strengths, talents, and understanding of art principles for your portfolio. No artist statement is required.

Digital Portfolio Requirements and Information

Images of (at least) five pieces of your art:
- Artwork may be any combination of mediums.
- Artwork is not required to be related to the major to which you are applying.
- Please do not submit your portfolio as a website link or PowerPoint. Individual files, Word Documents, or PDFs are preferred.
- Refer to our recommendations on how to photograph your artwork digitally.
An indexed list of your artwork:
- This includes the title, medium, approximate dimensions, and year of creation for each piece of art submitted.
- As you upload your artwork to the portfolio portal, you may either list these specifications in the description textbox available for each image or upload them as a list within a text file (Word Document or PDF).
How to submit your digital portfolio:
- Digital portfolios may be uploaded through your ISU application.

If you have questions, comments, or concerns please email Art@IllinoisState.edu or call (309)-438-5622. We look forward to sharing the endless experiences and opportunities of our campus art community with you, #FutureArtRedbird!