Graphic Design
With state-of-the-art computer labs, real-world internship experience, and personal interaction between faculty and students, you’ll learn the best professional practices to prepare you for a career in the in-demand graphic design field.
Success After Graduation
Graduate With More Than A Single Major
At RWU, we encourage powerful combinations - our programs allow you the space for an additional major and/or minor, which gives you the skills and diverse experiences that set you up for success.
Placement of 2022 Grads
Our graduates consistently find success in employment or in graduate schools within 6 months of graduation.
Real-World Experience
Our students get the experience employers are looking for from internships, research programs, and hands-on projects unique to each school and major.
Degree Requirements
Global Studio Japan Summer 2024
In July of 2024, Director of Strategic Partnerships, Clinical Experiences, and Compliance Kimberlee Johnson-Smith and Assistant Professor of Graphic Design Denielle Emans led 10 students to Japan for the Global Studio: Japan program. “Through Global Studio: Japan, our students explore and design new ways to inspire, educate, and foster international friendship between the United States and Japan. 10 Graphic Design students showed their deep commitment to upholding social justice and international amity through varied approaches to graphic design practices; designers as educators and educators as designers,” said Johnson-Smith.
Courses are taught in the state-of-the-art Graphic Design Communications Lab, where you have access to the latest technology.
Get a Great Internship
The Graphic Design program includes a guaranteed internship. Our students have interned with organizations including:
- Walt Disney World
- iRobot
- Business Journals, Inc.
- Fuzion Design
- SiriusDecisions
- Staples
- Sailing World Magazine
Alumni Share Their Experiences
Leah Saccoccio '12, a digital brand manager for Anheuser-Busch, created the eye-catching design for the popular strawberry lemonade Naturdays beer. At RWU, Saccoccio double majored in Graphic Design and Marketing.
Senior Graphic Design Exhibition
To culminate your program and complete the major, you will gain professional experience presenting your work in the Senior Graphic Design Exhibition as part of the Portfolio course (DSGN 450).
Ways to Get Involved
Graphic Design Club
RWU's Graphic Design Club is focused on the art of Graphic Design as well as visiting design firms and hosting speakers to discuss topics pertaining to this field.
American Institute of Graphic Arts
RWU’s chapter of the is the oldest and largest professional membership organization for design and is now known simply as “AIGA, the professional association for design.”
Customize Your Studies
Juris Doctor/Bachelor's 3+3 Accelerated Program (J.D.)
Earn your bachelor’s and juris doctor degrees in six years through RWU’s Three-Plus-Three Law program. You’ll get a jump-start on your J.D. by integrating law courses into your undergraduate studies and completing undergraduate requirements in your first year of law school. Accepted students will take first-year courses in the School of Law along with legal electives to fulfill undergraduate fourth-year requirements. Interested students must indicate their intent to pursue a 3+3 pathway early in their undergraduate studies for curriculum planning and advising.
Learn More About the 3+3 Program
A statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
In the Graphic Design major, we believe in the power of design processes and creative inquiry to inspire innovation and promote equitable and anti-discriminatory practices. We strive to support a rich tapestry of learning styles and encourage transdisciplinary collaboration within purpose-built spaces that champion community, accessibility, and inclusivity. The program aims to empower students to challenge conventions, push boundaries, and explore new horizons in design while upholding the principles of DEI. Together, we aim to shape a future where design becomes a force for positive change, a catalyst for social justice, and a medium through which we harmoniously connect with diverse ecosystems and environments.