mfa graphic design thesis topics

DigitalCommons@RISD

Home > Graphic Design > Graphic Design Masters Theses

Graphic Design Masters Theses

RISD’s graduate program in Graphic Design prepares students for professional practice by emphasizing the roles of social context, media and aesthetics in the production of visible language systems. As a reflection of the discipline itself, the program encourages a nimble and intelligent response to constant change and burgeoning technology, while building a strong foundation of formal, aesthetic and analytical knowledge.

Individual thesis investigation is central to the final year of MFA study and culminates in the comprehensive presentation of work representing an original voice for visual and verbal expression of design thinking. The thesis should be equal parts exploration, explanation, provocation and contribution. Guest critics participate throughout the year and in the year-end thesis review, which offers a forum for critical dialogue focused on each student’s contribution to the field of graphic design. All MFA candidates also submit a written thesis and as a group participate in the RISD Graduate Thesis Exhibition , a large-scale public show held annually.

These works are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License .

Theses from 2023 2023

Making Then Meaning , Ben Denzer

Form Follows Feeling Follows Form , Harshal Duddalwar

Making time: Gentle invitations for radical slowness , Lian Fumerton-Liu

Superbland , Dougal Henken

Crossover Logics , Serena Ho

Connective Movements , Ian Keliher

Invisible Systems , Mina Kim

Press Play , Karan Kumar

Searching for New Landscapes , Halim Lee

Moving at the Speed of Trust , Sun Ho Lee

Access in Ambiguity , Moritz Lónyay

Infinitely Incredible Configurations , Jenni Oughton

Virtual Fantasy , Joey Petrillo

Surfacing: a (loose) manual on unlayering / stuff-making and hypervisibility , Zoë Pulley

OtherWorldly Gestures , Sadia Quddus

Input / Output , Zach Scheinfeld

Particular Proceedings , Ingrid Schmaedecke

Writ In Water , Jack Tufts

Theses from 2022 2022

Ports of entry , Forough Abadian

Capture, control, circulate : can we queer regulatory power in Graphic Design? , Adie Fein

Alien Encyclopedia , Zengqi Guo

Re-order the order of thing , Yingxi Sabrina Ji

Openness , Qiwen Ju

! , Nick Larson

Oral History Interview with Preston McClanahan, November 8, 2022 , Preston McClanahan, Holly Gaboriault, and RISD Archives

Connect: translating complexity through visual simplification , Ilhee Park

Other realms , Louis Rakovich

Slow ruptures; slow formations , Asta Thrastardottir

Theses from 2021 2021

Open articulations , Matthew Bejtlich

Paperwork , Romik Bose Mitra

Community, harana & karaoke: towards a theatrical design , Ryan Diaz

Personal positioning system , Laura Diez de Baldeon

Parentheses asterisk ellipses , Everett Epstein

Refiguring relations , Daphne Hsu

CTRL SHIFT , Kit Son Lee

Jettisoning the frame: strategies for designing at the threshold , Will Mianecki

Future as medium , Georgie Nolan

Elsewhere: impressions of sense & nonsense , Madeline Woods

The relativity of value , Lai Xu

Theses from 2020 2020

My millennial Asian fetishized American fantasy , Seyong Ahn

Temporal collisions , Lizzie Baur

Strata : lessons in latency , Mukul Chakravarthi

Re: Ornament , Aleks Dawson

A very large array , Hilary duPont

Oh wait, is this a loop? , Carl-Gustaf Ewerbring

Counter formation , Fabian Fohrer

Binge [Fantasy reality] , Elena Foraker

How to do things with things , Emily Guez

Skew-morphic dream , Yoonsu Kim

Ancient hyper present , Sophie Loloi

EthnoGraphemes , Vaishnavi Mahendran

U+16E99 , Bobby Joe Smith III

Something to see here , Weixi Zeng

Theses from 2019 2019

Record : from signal to atmosphere, and the spaces between silence and noise , Amy Auman

Plenty : wanting, choosing,, overwhelming unloading , Christopher Cote

Among : a series of enactments , Joel F. Kern

Let's meet over there / Eury Kim. , Eury Kim

Lateral movements : in multifaceted time and space , Jieun Kim

Making common , Elaine Lopez

Standards, rules, setting , Robert McConnell

Abjad orientations , Mohammed Nassem

Softweave , Annaka Olsen

Groundwork , Marcus Peabody

Body of work , Oliva de Salve Villedieu

Cosmosis , Angela Torchio

Re-creation : a package design for daily life , Wei-Hao Wang

Interface philosophy , June Yoon

Theses from 2018 2018

This is public work , Nick Adam

Haunt : casual surrealism , Cara Buzzell

Placefulness , Ellen Christensen

Anachropomorphism! , Carson Evans

Lingua Franca , Tatiana Gomez Gaggero

Field guide : collected studies of a symbiont , Jennifer Livermore

Tiny Diasporas , Angela Lorenzo

Reading rooms , Jinhwa Oh

Space, Junk , Brandon Olsen

Hyperlink : connecting space, time, language, and technology , Marie Otsuka

Constellations , Maria Rull Bescós

Squishy Play , Lauren Traugott-Campbell

Monument for feeling : Notes from the Archivist , Melissa Weiss

Theses from 2017 2017

Otra vez : hierarchy as designer , Jordyn Alvidrez

Double takes : secular magic & empathic vision , Lake Buckley

Playgrounds , Cem Eskinazi

Content-aware : investigating tools, character & user behavior , Llewellyn Hensley

Space as a practiced place , Elizabeth Leeper

Frame-work , Drew Litowitz

Scripting allographs , June Shin

Our measured world : a poetic translation , Minryung Son

Identity production , Boyang Xia

Design syncopations , Mary Yang

Theses from 2016 2016

Hyphen nation: a reconciliation , Lynn Amhaz

Rapid response , James Chae

Continuum of significance , Diane Lee

Live edges: all possible adjacencies , Rebecca Leffell Koren

Practice makes practice , Gabriel Melcher

Dimensional flatland: Beamer, drone, flash drive , Scarlett Xin Meng

Traversing languagescapes , Desmond Pang

Theses from 2015 2015

Multiple influences: from witnessing language to performing it , Viviane Jalil

Speculative politics -fictionalized spectacle , Prin Limphongpand

Theses from 2014 2014

Speculative archives : an index , Sameer Farooq

• All Collections
• Departments
• Online Exhibitions
• Masters Theses
• Disciplines

Advanced Search

• Notify me via email or RSS

Contributor Info

• Contributor FAQ
• RISD Graphic Design MFA

Permissions

• Terms of Use

Home | About | FAQ | My Account | Accessibility Statement

Privacy Copyright

• Future Students
• Parents/Families
• Alumni/Friends
• Current Students
• Faculty/Staff
• MyOHIO Student Center
• Visit Athens Campus
• Regional Campuses
• OHIO Online
• Faculty/Staff Directory

Art and Design

School of Art + Design

• College of Fine Arts Capital Project
• Meet the Dean
• The Value of a Fine Arts Degree
• Faculty & Staff Directory
• News and Events
• Events Newsletter Signup
• Alumni Magazine
• Make a Gift
• Undergraduate Offerings
• High School Scholarship Competitions
• Learning Community
• Admitted Undergraduate Students
• Admitted Graduate Students
• Student Resources
• Visiting Artists & Scholars
• Athena Cinema
• Athens Community Music School
• Athens International Film + Video Festival
• Kennedy Museum of Art
• Ohio Valley Center for Collaborative Arts
• Global Arts Festival
• Performing Arts Series
• Summer Arts Programs
• Tantrum Theater
• Admitted Students: Next Steps
• Art + Design Degrees
• Admission Requirements
• Financial Aid & Scholarships
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Art + Design Graduate Programs
• Master of Arts Administration
• Arts in Health Programs
• Faculty & Staff
• Art + Design News
• Art Galleries & Exhibitions
• Foundations Program
• Museum Studies Certificate
• Bachelor's Degree Programs
• Graduate Programs
• Graduate Requirements
• Live Streamed Concerts
• High School Opportunities
• Faculty and Staff
• The Marching 110
• Student Resources and Materials
• Theater Degrees
• Undergrad Auditions/Interviews
• Theater Graduate Programs
• Graduate Auditions/Interviews
• Graduate Funding
• Current Season
• Get Tickets
• Production Gallery
• The Healthy Village
• Theater News
• Dance Degrees
• Dance Graduate Programs
• Summer Dance Institute
• Featured Alumni
• SHAPE Clinic
• OHIO Performing Arts Series
• Film Undergraduate Programs
• Film Graduate Programs
• Honors Tutorial College Curriculum
• Application Process
• Scholarships and Aid
• Facilities and Resources
• Doctoral Programs
• Scholar/Artist Track
• Undergraduate Courses
• Interdisciplinary News
• Art Galleries and Exhibitions

Helpful Links

Navigate OHIO

Connect With Us

M.F.A. Graphic Design Curriculum

The first and second years of the MFA are devoted to studio research, seminars, art history, elective coursework, plus a professional experience in design. The third year is an intensive commitment to research in preparation for the thesis presentation that results in a comprehensive written document along with a complementary exhibition.

MFA Graphic Design Curriculum 

The graduate program leading to the MFA degree in graphic design requires the completion of at least 90 semester hours of graduate study, including at least. 

• 28 credits in studio courses within the major
• 12 credits of additional studio, these must not be drawn from the major
• 6 credits in seminars, (3-credit seminar in area + 3-credit School of Art teaching seminar)
• 12 credits of art history/academic studies (including AH 5101 and AH 5902 "theory” course)
• 7 credits of discretionary electives, (electives are selected in consultation with faculty,4 credits written thesis is requested of all graphic design MFA students)
• 65 SUBTOTAL minimum course credit requirements
• 25 studio thesis
• 90 TOTAL: The specifics for these categories are outlined in the Graduate Guide for your entering semester.

Each course will research various design paradigms. Depending on the faculty, exploration can be done through a rebuilding of pragmatic processes or theoretical and critical analysis of design thinking.

ART 5000 - Graduate Teaching Seminar : Assists graduate associates with practical and pedagogic support. Coursework investi- gates issues specific to teaching in the studio. ART 5510 - Graphic Design I : Research of various design paradigms will be explored through a rebuilding of pragmatic processes to an end that assists all students to reach an industry standard of research, skills, and exploration process. ART 5520 - Graphic Design II : Research of various design paradigms will be explored through a rebuilding of pragmatic processes to an end that assists all students to reach an industry standard of research, skills, and exploration process. Includes research to identify a site for the research to be conducted during ART 6510.

ART 6500 - Graphic Design Seminar : Lectures, discussions, field trips, and media presentations dealing with contemporary issues of critical discourse in design and the related social dynamic. Seminar content will vary depending on the professor of record. Seminar content will vary. ART 6510 - Graphic Design Research Fellowship : Participation in a design internship/assistantship with a recognized designer or design firm, or a study abroad experience related to the field of research chosen and approved by the student’s committee. ART 6520 - Graphic Design III : Continued research of various design paradigms will be explored through the rebuilding of the pragmatic design processes. A comparative analysis process will prepare students for the thesis and third year of visual research. The design thesis proposal will be presented for approval.

ART 6950 - Studio Art Written Thesis : Written studio art thesis. In addition to the MFA candidate’s final presentation format this course requires the thesis to be submitted in TAD (Thesis and Dissertation) format to the committee. ART 7960 - MFA Studio Thesis : Content will vary as per the MFA candidate’s topic. Regardless of topic, the MFA in Graphic Design’s thesis is identified in the following way. The thesis consists of two components: Visual and Written. How the thesis is presented can be decided by the student depending on audience and intention in consultation with their committee. Whichever final format the research takes, it needs to be submitted in TAD (Thesis and Dissertation) format to the committee.

Design Electives

These courses are offered when scheduling allows. ART 5530 - Letterpress and Bookmaking : An introduction to handprinting techniques utilizing the letterpress, with emphasis on the design and making of the handmade book. ART 5540 - Typography and Image : Experimentation and integration of typography for form and meaning in a variety of contexts. Use of traditional and experimental methods and materials to support and strengthen meaning and purpose.

Connect with us

Request more information from the College of Fine Arts.

Graphic Design (MFA)

Graphic design requires active thinking and making. Our dedicated faculty, vibrant curriculum, and well-equipped studio environment help MFA designers build deep formal skills, nimble thinking strategies, and rich professional portfolios. Graduates of the program work nationally and internationally as creative practitioners, educators, and thought leaders.

Program Overview

MICA's Graphic Design MFA is an incubator for design research and personal growth within the context of a leading US art college. The 60-credit curriculum includes structured studio courses, critical seminars, and guided independent work. In electives offered by the GD MFA program and across MICA, students explore typography, UI/UX, publication design, motion graphics, letterpress, screenprinting, illustration, social design, and more. Every semester, visiting designers and critics infuse GD MFA’s core program with new perspectives.

Today’s designers confront exciting creative and intellectual challenges across diverse media and environments. MICA's two-year MFA program provides an extraordinary setting for developing critical ideas about the history, future, and social uses of visual communication.

Who Should Apply

MICA’s Graphic Design MFA program serves designers seeking to expand their capacity as visual communicators and work creatively in the profession. Selected from an international pool of applicants, students include experienced designers seeking to deepen their skills and perspectives, recent graduates of intensive design programs, and creative thinkers from related disciplines such as data science, photography, journalism, and the fine arts.

STEM OPT for International Students

MICA’s Graphic Design majors are eligible to apply for a 24-month STEM OPT Extension. Designers can apply for the extension while completing their first year of OPT.

Read more about STEM OPT

Placeholders

Graphic Design, MFA Placeholders is a reflection on memory, pop culture, and loss. This thesis leverages the power of storytelling in design to create a world that blends the widely recognizable and the deeply personal. Utilizing a broad range of design methods including typography, type design, photography, illustration, 3d, photo editing, and collage, this exhibition varies broadly in its execution but becomes a unified whole in its color, typography, and highly structured arrangement. IG: @sara.aust Website: saraustin.design

Image courtesy of the artist.

The Matrix of Language

Graphic Design, MFA Based on the International Phonetic Association, the constituents of ~7,100 languages can be distilled into 107 sound symbols. The Matrix of Language shows the interconnectedness of languages and translates its sonic features and nuances into shapes, hues, sizes, and locations. This exhibit visualizes the 44 core sounds that are present in English. The network shows how sounds, the building blocks of language, are integral in forming and navigating linguistic systems. In practice, graphical guides provide an approachable tool for learning to pronounce words in new languages, empowering people to have agency over their linguistic journeys. @crissyvr / [email protected]

Images are courtesy of the artist.

Veiled Aggressions

Graphic Design, MFA Veiled Aggressions explores how people’s hidden aggressions and biases cause biracial and mixed-race people to feel like they do not belong in their environment. As a result, these actions begin to tear and rip apart pieces of that person—forcing them to piece together their past experiences in a new environment where they can find a sense of belonging and understanding.

Graphic Design, MFA Bio-form creates a healing world through graphic therapy. My visual vocabulary stems from biomorphic theory and biomorphic Surrealism. By summarizing abstract shapes from nature and combining them with hidden alphabets, I built a graphic microcosm of an imaginary world. Soothing 3D motions and gradient colors provide a therapeutic journey inspired by natural creatures, petri dishes, and laboratory equipment. The goal is to give people a breathing space for appreciating microorganisms in nature and micro-movements in the mind.

Images courtesy of the artist

The ADHD Atlas

Graphic Design, MFA The ADHD Atlas is a guidebook exploring the experiences of people with ADHD and the tools they have created for learning, growing, and navigating their lives. Graphic design has been used strategically as a tool to clearly communicate information to people with ADHD and successfully hold their attention. The exhibition that accompanies the book, shown here, uses posters to showcase an exaggerated version of a day in the life of someone with ADHD. Website: http://hannaheve.design/ IG: @hannaheve.design Email: [email protected]

Visual Disturbances

Graphic Design, MFA This thesis explores visual analogies of optical disturbances. It attempts to translate bodily experiences and symptoms of ocular migraines into visual forms in order to describe sensations. The piece invites the viewers to encounter these visceral effects through two- and three-dimensional form. Experimental visualizations of unquantifiable feelings act as field guides toward understanding and sharing these disturbances, which affect many people during the course of their lives. Website: drishtikhokhar.com IG: @drishti_khokhar Email: [email protected]

Slow Cubicle

Graphic Design, MFA Slow Cubicle challenges the conventional ideals of efficiency by utilizing iconic workplace objects as vehicles to explore slowness. Slow Cubicle also revamps the grid system by infusing mindfulness with squares, lines, and circles. Each Slow Calendar collects all the days of the week into a separate banner, overriding linear time in favor of lived experiences. The Slow Planner encourages present planning through poetic prompts and ethereal tasks. Slow Sticky Notes urge deceleration with mind-provoking graphics. Together, these objects ask individuals to pause and contemplate amidst the modern focus on speed and productivity. website: https://jinghanhu.com/ IG: @m0lanewhohuwh0 email: [email protected]

Toaster Type Foundry

Graphic Design, MFA Toaster Type Foundry presents three different typefaces, CRAFT, REFLECT, and CUT. CRAFT reacts to calligraphic strokes and the sharpness of digital type. REFLECT employs a repeated counter shape, striving to remain consistent at all costs, while CUT tries to be as inconsistent as possible. Each typeface explores the constraints and conventions of typeface design to create new and intriguing forms.

Be Queer, Rest Here

Graphic Design, MFA Queer people are tired and need spaces of rest. This body of work creates conditions in which an audience can situate themselves to slow down. The target audience is queer people, though all are welcome to rest. In a capitalist society, being busy is glorified and idleness is stigmatized. The notion of rest as resistance is at the core of each piece produced in this collection of objects and images. A visual thread uniting much of the work is illegible type and lettering. Unreadable words act as visual metaphors for slowing down as they require readers to pause to decipher meaning. IG: @alfie.marsland Website: althemiamarsland.com Email: [email protected]

Images are courtesy of the Artist

A Musician's Translation

Graphic Design, MFA A musician’s internal, abstract understanding of music is invisible to see, which makes it difficult to acknowledge. This understanding can be revealed graphically and translated visually. My thesis introduces a sophisticated interpretation of how I look at music as a musician through the lens of a graphic designer. Through my experiences, memories, and subjectivity, I compose my own visual music by experimenting with abstract notations and creating a personal language. IG: ms_odette103 Website: michelleshin.space/

Hypno Coffee

Graphic Design M.F.A.

Image courtesy of the artist. 

Museum of Regret

Video courtesy of the artist.

Video courtesy of the artist.  

Don't Be Angry

Featured course, advanced publication design.

In this portfolio-oriented course, graduate students will work on publication design projects involving complex typographic systems, hierarchies, formats, and sequences. The course will encourage students to expand and demonstrate their typographic vocabularies.

Graphic Design stories:

Kristen Spilman ’05: Design as a Way of Life

Henry becker.

Site Specific, The San Francisco Bay Area

Search for anything and everything at mica:.

Applying to UW-Stout

Academic Programs & Courses

Dive Into Campus Life

Elevate Your Business

Our Polytechnic Advantage

M.f.a. design, design your future in creative leadership..

At UW-Stout, our Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in Design is not just a degree—it's your canvas to lead, inspire, and instigate change. Blending practical problem-solving with a 'change the world' ethos, we elevate the traditional art school experience, crafting leaders who are as adept at teaching as they are at design. The M.F.A in Design is accredited by the National Association for Schools of Art and Design.

National Reputation & Recognition.

The MFA in Design is regularly ranked by the Princeton Review as a  Top Graduate Program for Game Design . In addition, students from the program frequently present their work in  film festivals , exhibitions,  competitions , and a variety of academic design conferences.

Request Information

Nationally Ranked

Refine your expertise..

Our M.F.A. Design program utilizes a cross-disciplinary approach allowing you to blend your interests into a personalized education path. Our dedicated faculty work with you to weave course offerings and independent projects leveraging synergies among diverse disciplines.

Focus Areas

• Animation & Digital Media
• Cinema, Video, & Photography
• Experience Design
• Game Design & Development
• Graphic Design & Interactive Media 
• Industrial & Product Design
• Interior Design
• Sustainable Design
• User Experience Design

Hybrid Degree Model.

Designed for contemporary creatives, the UW-Stout M.F.A. in Design operates with a hybrid model, merging flexibility with academic foundation. Core classes are offered during the evenings with a combination of on-campus and online meetings. Students can opt for full-time, on-campus studio courses or customize a part-time plan with hybrid classes and independent projects. This program does not offer a fully online experience.

Program Accreditation

The B.F.A Studio Art program provides a specialized education and is accredited by the National Association for Schools of Art and Design .

Career-Defining Curriculum

Our MFA program's core curriculum fosters an understanding of design principles through an immersive blend of historical insights, ethical frameworks, and sustainable practices. Our students engage in rigorous research strategies, critical analysis of design education, and a culminating creative thesis that together empower them to emerge as thought leaders in the design community.

View program plans, credit requirements and course descriptions.  

Program Handbook

The Master of Fine Arts in Design Program Handbook serves as an essential guide, encompassing a comprehensive overview of program structure, course offerings, and key academic policies. It's a valuable resource for students, offering insights and answers to facilitate their journey through the MFA program.

Lab, Studios & Galleries.

At UW-Stout’s School of Art & Design, our polytechnic tradition merges with diverse studios and labs, from digital realms to tactile arts, empowering you to prototype and perfect your creative pursuits. Every space is designed to foster discovery, ensuring your journey from concept to creation is filled with hands-on learning that defines your future. As you explore and experiment, you’re not just using facilities; you’re crafting a path that harmoniously blends your education with real-world application, supported by our commitment to your success.

Vicon Motion Capture Lab Photogrammetry Lab Green Screen Studio Recording Studios Photography Studios Editing Suites

Wacom Digital Drawing & Sculpting Labs Game Design Central Studio Gaming & Digital Innovation Lab Digital Fabrication Lab Traditional Process Lab Furlong Gallery

Faculty at the Forefront of Innovation.

Erik A. Evensen, MFA

Program Director, M.F.A. Design  Professor, Department of Design 323C Applied Arts Building Phone: 715-232-5324 Email: [email protected]  

Student Support Specialist

Shannen Jochim 312 Sorensen Hall Phone: 715-232-2636 Email: [email protected]

Julie E. Peterson, PhD Professor of Interior Design Courses: Ethics in Design, Research Strategies in Design

Robert Fraher, MFA Professor of Graphic Design and Interactive Media Courses: Design Seminar 2, Critical Issues in Design Education and Practice

Wendy Jedlicka, MIM Senior Lecturer of Sustainable Design Courses: Sustainable Design Practice, Sustainable Design II: Global Impact

James E. Bryan, PhD Professor of Design History Courses: History of Design Seminar

Dave Richter-O'Connell, MFA Associate Professor of Industrial & Product Design Courses: Sustainable Design Practice

Michael Heagle, MFA Assistant Professor of Time-based Media Courses: Creative Thesis in Design

Andrew Williams, PhD Professor of Design History & Game Design Courses: History of Design Seminar

A Legacy of Graduate Success.

Since our inaugural graduate in 2015, our MFA alumni have ascended as industry innovators, creative directors, and academic mentors, shaping the future of their respective fields. Their journey from Stout to success is a testament to the transformative education and hands-on experience that propels our graduates to excel and lead.

"Playing with Heartbreak: Research and Development for a Game about Breaking Up"   Jackie Cummings ('22) Game Design, Illustration & Storytelling

"Representation and Diversity in the Horror Genre: How Design Research can Inform the Creation of a Themed Lifestyle Publication"   Jessica Kromrie ('22) Graphic Design, Art Direction, Cinema/Video

"Changing Design Aesthetic: Trends and Social Organizations of the Growing Toy Market for the Adult Collector"   Shane Sanders ('22) Product Development, Toy Design, Entrepreneurship

"Out of the Darkness: Defining the Three Eras of Film Noir"   Drew Hagen ('21) Cinema/Photography

"Designing the Future: Diegetic Sculpture & Literary Adaptation in Speculative Fiction Cinema" Jonathan Wheeler ('21) Cinema/Video

"Web-based Media for Asynchronous Communication Among International Students at the University of Wisconsin–Stout"   Liang Wu ('20) Graphic Design & Interactive Media

"From vacant shopping malls to thriving senior living facilities"   Nicolette Brehm ('20) Interior Design & Sustainability

"Sun of the Children"  Hue Vang ('18) Game Design

"Forgotten Treasure: An Ode to the Omaha Train Depot in Menomonie"  Dharshana Gopalakrishnan ('18) Interior Design & Sustainability

"No Parent Left Behind: A UX Research & Design Project"  Michelle Mailey Noben ('17) Graphic Design & Interactive Media

“A Thread Through History: How Interlinking Contemporary Art with Paj Ntaub Can Connect Generations.”  Jackson Chufeng Yang ('23) Graphic Design, Illustration & Storytelling

Andrew Murphy ('18) Head of Strategic Projects Apple

Michelle Mailey Noben ('17) Senior Manager, User Experience Grainger

Dharshana Gopalakrishnan ('18) Designer Wilkus Architects

Stackable Certificates to Enhance Your Degree.

Our graduate-level professional certificates are more than accolades. They are milestones on your path to the comprehensive M.F.A. Design program. Begin your journey with intention and discover where mastery can take you.

Design for Sustainability Certificate

Improving the user experience certificate.

Laptop Recommendations

Software Requirements

Digital Viewbook

As a hybrid program, the M.F.A. in Design uses Customized Instruction tuition model.

Customized Instruction at UW Stout can be described as programs that are designed with the adult learner in mind. If you're comparing UW-Stout's customized instruction tuition to our competitors, keep in mind:

• Customized instruction tuition rate  includes the textbook rental fee.
• There are no additional university-based semester or technology fees.
• Students in customized instruction programs pay the same rate of tuition regardless if Wisconsin residents, out-of-state or international participants.

Value for your Money

There’s more to value than just tuition. UW Stout also provides:

• Program Director – faculty with discipline expertise.
• Student Services adviser – one point of contact, providing support to students for each program.
• Course sequences and matrices – know what courses are offered when so you can plan ahead.
• Courses and programs may be stackable for use in another program.
• Courses are flexible and convenient for working professionals.

Other universities will present costs and value differently - make sure you're comparing apples to apples.

•  Graduate Assistantships: A limited number of department-funded Graduate Assistant positions are available each year. They provide a monthly stipend with the requirement of 10 hrs. per week of departmental assistance in the classroom, technology labs, or offices. Both domestic and international applicants are eligible for Graduate Assistant positions. To be fully considered, please apply by the priority deadline of April 1.  
• Advanced Opportunity Program: The Multicultural Student Services Offices offers the AOP with the intent to provide financial assistance to designated minority and disadvantaged graduate students. Please visit the MSS website for more information.   
• Wisconsin GI Bill Benefits: The state of Wisconsin offers financial assistance to veterans and their family members. Please contact our Office of Veteran Services for more information.   

This is an example of a three-year course plan for a full-time student. This is not reflective of part-time study. Please review the Graduate Bulletin for the official program planner, credit requirements, and course descriptions. Please note that core courses are on a two-year rotation.

First Year (24 credits) Fall Semester DES-700 Design Seminar I (3 cr.) core ARTH-720 History of Design Seminar (3 cr.) core DES-XXX (3 cr.) focus area

Spring Semester DES-730 Critical Issues in Design Education & Practice (3 cr.) core DES-561 Transmedia Studio (3 cr.) focus area Focus Elective (3 cr.)

Summer Term DES-710 Ethics in Design (3 cr.) core DES-750 Graduate Design Studio (3 cr.) focus area

Second Year (24 credits)

Fall Semester DES-701 Visual Communication for Graduate Study (3 cr.) focus area DES-800 Design Seminar 2 (3 cr.) core Focus Elective (3 cr.)

Spring Semester DES-524 Color Seminar (3 cr.) focus area DES-712 Sustainable Design Practice (3 cr.) core DES-725 Research Strategies in Design (3 cr.) core

Summer Term DES-715 Sustainable Design II: Global Impact (3 cr.) focus area DES-750 Graduate Design Studio (3 cr.) focus area

Third Year (12 credits) Fall Semester DES-870 Creative Thesis in Design (3 cr.) core Focus Elective (3 cr.)

Spring Semester DES-870 Creative Thesis in Design (3 cr.) core DES-870 Creative Thesis in Design (3 cr.) core

General UW-Stout Graduate School Application

All prospective graduate students at UW-Stout must follow a standard application process through our  Graduate School . Beyond that, each graduate program has specific requirements that must be met to be successfully admitted to the program:

Program-Specific Admission Requirements

To apply to the M.F.A. Design program, you will need to submit additional application materials through our SlideRoom account :

Visual Portfolio

10-15 examples of creative/professional work from your area(s) of expertise:

• A series of 10-15 images or documents of creative/professional work, and brief written descriptions. 
• A limit of 5 motion/video images will be accepted as part of the total 10-15 examples, each no more than 3 minutes in length. External video links accepted.

All work must be created by you, the applicant. Failure to follow this rule will result in immediate rejection. If your work is the result of a group project, highlight the role you played in its creation within the written description list.

Written Statement of Interest

This 2-3 page statement should describe your goals for graduate study, your topics of interest for research and exploration, and should provide context for your work included in the visual portfolio.  PDF preferred.

Resume or Curriculum Vitae

PDF Preferred, and titled with your last name ( i.e. Nelson_CurriculumVitae.pdf ).

Candidate Recommendation Form

Three letters of reference from individuals who can speak to your abilities or potential as a designer, creative practitioner, and graduate student.  PDF preferred.

All program application materials should be submitted digitally through SlideRoom .

Advisory Committee Members

University and partners continue to illuminate opportunities through graphic communications, design programs

MFA design graduate rediscovers his Hmong culture through traditional art of story cloths and Paj Ntaub

Game design students take chess to next level with Checkmight

M.F.A. in Design Degree

The M.F.A. in Design program at The University of Texas at Austin is distinctive by design. Here, you’ll receive individualized instruction from expert Design faculty in a cohort of four to eight students, enabling you to tailor the program to meet your future goals. In addition to advanced studio courses, you'll receive focused instruction on research, theory, and criticism to supplement your thesis on design-led topics like objects, interactions, systems, experiences, services, and more.    M.F.A. in Design graduates are expert designers and thoughtful, broadly educated critics and communicators prepared to enter careers as designers, writers, entrepreneurs, strategists, CEOs, university faculty, and more.

Program Focus

Interdisciplinary Experiential Learning

Engage in seminar and studio-based learning experiences designed to hone your making skills while building a professional portfolio of work that will help you thrive in an ever-changing world.

Individualized Study

Pursue a secondary area of study in an emerging area of design or a complementary field such as business, anthropology, creative technologies, engineering, or art that aligns with your interests and career goals.

Tier One Research University

Collaborate across disciplines and develop primary and secondary research skills to use as a tool for problem-solving from leading experts in the field.

Real-World Application

Explore how design thinking and process can be used to solve for complex social, environmental, cultural, and economic challenges.

Degree Plan 

M.f.a. design.

• 2 years + the intervening summer
• 12 credit hours of Thesis Studio
• 21 credit hours of Design Core
• 12-24 credit hours of Design Studio
• 6-18 credit hours of Electives (max of 9 credit hours for upper-division undergraduate courses)

Typical 2-year + summer course schedule for M.F.A. Design | 60 Total Hours 

This chart represents the typical course of study in the program. As a student, you will have the support of a Graduate Advisor to determine the best schedule to meet your unique goals.

Explore the M.F.A. Design Curriculum & Courses

M.F.A. Design Student Handbook

Ready for a deeper dive into the M.F.A. in Design program? Our student handbook covers curriculum and coursework, graduation requirements, policies, and more.

Review the Handbook

Back to Top

• Types of Jobs

Find the right school for you

Full Sail's Different - See how Full Sail’s approach to education is designed for you to get the most of your college experience – from hands-on learning in professional settings, to curriculum that helps you build upon your creative skills. Learn More.

Top 25 Graphic Design MFA Programs in the U.S. – 2021 College Rankings

What are the graphic design MFA programs for 2021?

Below are the Top 25 Graphic Design schools and colleges in the US offering Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree programs for 2021. For an explanation of ranking criteria,  click here .

Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) offers two- and three-year Tracks leading to the MFA in Graphic Design. The MFA Tracks allow students to tailor individual courses of study through cross-disciplinary electives. MFA students will also complete the Graduate Studio and Graduate Seminar Sequences. Course highlights include Graduate Form, Graduate Type Design, and Graduate Type Typography. Both MFA Tracks require a Thesis.

Graduates of both Tracks programs enjoy a high employment rate. Around 96% of all RISD graphic design graduates are employed one year after graduation, and 70% are employed in positions directly related to their major.

ArtCenter College of Design offers an MFA in Graphic Design (MGx) with two- and three-year options. The two-year option is five terms and the three-year option is seven terms. Students who need additional design skills typically choose the three-year program. Both programs require a thesis, Graduate Studio, Graduate Seminar, Professional Leadership, and Graduate Portfolio courses. MGx students also have the opportunity to complete Graphic Design Internship OR Studio Independent Study OR Testlab Berlin .

ArtCenter MGx graduates “are highly sought after by the most exciting and disruptive global brands,” says the school. They have been hired at Uber, Tesla, Google, Facebook, Nike, and creative agencies such as IDEO, R/GA, Local Projects, “and other future-forward organizations.”

The School of Visual Arts (SVA) offers a Design/Designer as Entrepreneur MFA that “inspires” students to conceive, produce, brand and market their own innovative content. Interaction, motion graphics, branding, and user experience are covered as well as typography as a visual language, video and new media directing, and art book and digital publishing. Students will also take classes in business, marketing, ethnography, strategy, research, advertising, promotion, intellectual property and networking.

The MFA program includes “advanced instruction in a variety of authoring skills, such as writing, editing, criticism, typography as a visual language, Film and new media directing, visual journalism and book and magazine publishing,” during the first year. Students will also take courses in marketing, research, advertising, promotion, publicity, intellectual property and networking.

In the second year of the program, students will design and write a proposal for a product that will be presented to a panel of "guest faculty" who will decide whether it has enough merit to progress to the developmental stage. In this stage, “students will produce a prototype for backers, publishers, producers or distributors. Working individually, this final proposal, dummy or prototype will be professionally produced for presentation purposes.”

Graduate students will have access to the SVA MFA studios, open 24 hours a day and “designed to simulate an operational design/media firm with spacious workstations that allow for individual and collaborative work.”

Graduates of the SVA Graphic Design Program have gone on to work for commercial and not-for-profit corporations, institutions and businesses. Many founded their own start-ups, design firms, and studios. Some have become partners in businesses and individual projects. Graduates have started over 50 design studios around the globe.

Yale University houses Yale School Art, which offers an MFA in Graphic Design. Known as the Yale Graphic Design MFA (Yale GDMFA), this 60 credit hour program accepts just 12 students each year and up to six students into the preliminary-year program. MFA applicants for this competitive program are expected to have “substantial and distinguished experience in visual studies and related professional experience,” says the school. Students can expect support for their graphic design collections in several ways including, “studio work led by faculty meeting weekly, small five- or six-person thesis groups meeting biweekly, and individual sessions with writing and editing tutors.”

Lectures, presentations, and workshops are also part of the program as well as access to “extraordinary” resources including Yale University courses, conferences, films, lectures, museums, and the “extensive” research and rare book collections of Sterling and Beinecke libraries.

Students also have a designated workspace in the design studio loft and access to equipment including bookbinding materials, wide format printers, a RISO duplicator, Vandercook press, and workspaces in the School of Art buildings. More resources supporting interdisciplinary projects including motion capture and VR are available at the nearby Center for Collaborative Arts and Media.

The Yale Graphic Design MFA takes two years to complete, full-time.

Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) offers an MFA in Graphic Design (GD MFA). The 60 credit hour program features two years of full-time study that that the school says combines “critical seminars, guided studio courses, and independent work.” Students in the MFA program may “take advantage of electives in many MICA departments, including video, printmaking, and digital media,” to create a focus.

Other program highlights include the GDMA Workshop. Through the workshop, GDMA students will have the opportunity to create and exhibit a self-directed design project and a professional portfolio.

Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) offers MFA degrees in Graphic Design and Design Management. Both programs highlight Entrepreneurship, User Experience and Interface Design (UX/UI), Mobile Technology, and Product Packaging. Students have the opportunity to declare a double major in the areas of Advertising, Branded Entertainment, Illustration, Motion Media Design, Sequential Art and more, and access to Minors such as Advertising and Branding, Advertising Copywriting, Mobile and Interactive Design, and Motion Media Design. Students may complement their degree with a Certificate in Digital Publishing as well.

All graphic design students will “learn how to weave entrepreneurship and modern technology with product and user-centered design,” says the school. They will “learn from titans of the industry at Airbnb, Google, Hasbro, and more” Students will also “gain an all-access pass to leading-edge resources and star-studded signature events like SCADstyle, attended by luminaries from global art, fashion, and modern design.”

SCAD graduates are prepared to join elite agencies, multinational companies, or start their own businesses as they lead branding, visual marketing, interactive media, and immersive campaigns. Graduates work at top companies around the globe including Apple, IBM, Ralph Lauren, Under Armour, Verizon, and many others.

California Institute of the Arts offers an MFA in Graphic Design that has two- and three-year options. During the two-year program, students deepen and refine their work through a set of required and elective courses covering subjects such as type design, web design, typography, motion graphics, design theory and design history. Students will also work with visiting designers on short-term projects within the focused studio environment.

“The three-year program is designed for students who do not have a Graphic Design undergraduate degree, but who typically demonstrate a talent and enthusiasm for design, and a level of expertise in their given field. The heart of the Program is the Visual Literacy course, a critique class comprised of a series of structured projects designed to teach design principles, process, methodology and skills.”

Students in both programs are required to pass a Thesis Review to obtain the MFA degree.

Cranbrook Academy of Art houses the 2D Design Department—home of the Graduate Graphic Design Department. Issues pursued in the Department include work situated at the intersection of design and art, exploration of the relationship between writing, criticism, and production, process of critique as generative tool, and objects first: theory, language, and writing all in support of the object. The program takes an interdisciplinary approach to design, with activities “designed to support the act of making,” says the school.

The program focus is “articulated in” the weekly structure, “where the lion’s share” of time “is dedicated to studio practice.” This means students and faculty “make work (together), discuss this work and consider its cultural implications.”

The Graduate Graphic Design Program at Cranbrook Academy of Art leads to an MFA.

The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) offers an MFA in Studio with a Visual Communication Design Pathway. In this program, faculty “guide students in self-initiated work that explores issues of personal interest and cultural/social significance.” This 60 credit hour program offers the opportunity to explore other related departments at SAIC such as Architecture, Interior Architecture, and Designed Objects; Film, Video, New Media, and Animation (FVNMA); Photography; Printmedia; and Writing. The purpose of this opportunity is to “extend students’ design work into new territories.”

Other Visual Communication Design Program highlights include an active AIGA (American Institute of Graphic Arts) student chapter, Exploratory Languages (a lecture series featuring leading designers and design educators from across the country), and CIPB (Chicago International Poster Biennial), which is an international competition representing leading designers from throughout the world. Internship and optional study abroad opportunities are also offered.

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) offers an MFA in Design with a Concentration in Visual Communications. Students in the program “concentrate on the philosophical, communicative, and aesthetic relationships of visual problem solving and the interacting skills leading to the effective articulation of concepts,” says the school.

Graduates will have the skills and knowledge needed to pursue a career in Design Education and/or further their professional practices in conducting visual or theoretical research, and in investigating the intersections of function and expression in design problem solving.

California College of the Arts (CCA) offers an MFA in Design that focuses on Graphic Design, Industrial Design, and Interaction Design. Highlights for the program include the opportunity to immerse in the areas of Brand Identity, Motion Graphics, Print and Screen-Based and Interactive Design. Elective offerings will “strengthen” students “design toolkit,” says the school and CCAs extensive internship program provides real-world experience.

Students have the opportunity to intern for design firms, publishing houses, and nonprofits as they work toward a polished thesis project.

“Situated within a top art college, the Graphic Design program also benefits from an atmosphere of hands-on making and experimentation. Students are constantly giving and getting feedback and testing their ideas with faculty, visiting experts, and peers.”

Students also benefit from CCAs location in the San Francisco Bay Area, home to Apple, Netflix, IDEO, YouTube, Pinterest, NASA, Google, and many other technology companies. Graduates of the Graphic Design Programs have landed positions at innovative design firms, museums, publishing houses, technology companies, nonprofits, and more.

Founded in 1881, the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) offers an MFA in Design that accepts exceptional students with preexisting design skills. The 60 credit hour program prepares students for “thought and organizational leadership in the field of design or in fields where design is being utilized strategically,” says the school. “In addition to advanced studio work in established design disciplines,” students have the “opportunity to study, explore and work in disciplines that intersect with design.”

All students in the program “will enjoy a formal curricular partnership with another discipline on campus and develop a thesis that thoughtfully intersects design with another field such as business, anthropology, engineering, or art.” In addition, the MFA Design program offers preparation for college teaching in the field of design through a series of classes exploring design pedagogy.

Design graduate students share studio space and have access to many other departmental and university resources, including The Computer Lab, The Design Lab, The Digital Fabrication Lab, The Wood Shop, The Visual Arts Center, The Harry Ransom Center, The Materials Lab, The Foundry, and the Fine Arts Library.

Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) offers an MFA in Visual Studies. This 60 credit hour program allow students to pursue creative work in Graphic Design, Illustration, Interactive Media, Paper and Book Arts, Printmaking, and more. Students will participate in opportunities “unique to MCAD’s MFA program” at art galleries, art centers, and nonprofits, designed to position students for success post-graduation. Most credits in the program are earned through one-on-one work with a faculty mentor who is an expert in the students chosen field. Optional internships are part of the program as well as a capstone thesis exhibition and paper in the final year. 

MFA Students will also have the option to study abroad in places such as England, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, or anywhere in the U.S.

Otis College of Art and Design (OTIS) offers an MFA in Graphic Design. This accelerated LA-based program that takes 14 months to complete. During the program, students learn to work across media and platforms through a series of visiting workshops, courses in design theory and history, studio projects, and round table discussions.

“The coursework engages research, discourse, critical thinking, and iterative process with the goal of discovering many possible design outcomes,” says the school. “In so doing, the program supports students in taking on the challenges and opportunities in contemporary graphic design practice.”

Graduates of the Graphic Design Program at OTIS have landed positions at major companies and studios such as ABC, Inc. and Partners, Apple, Anthropologie, Capitol Records, Conde Nast Publications, Disney Consumer Products, GUESS?, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Ogilvy Worldwide, Sony Music, Twentieth Century Fox, Warner Bros. Records, and Young & Rubicam.

University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign (UIUC) offers an MFA in Graphic Design. This 64 credit hour program prepares students to “contribute to the field of design by entering into practice, academia or both.” Students in the program have the opportunity to “explore responsible futures through research in traditional print media and emergent technologies including, but not limited to, data visualization, digital interaction, information design, systems thinking, and visual narrative.”

Other program highlights include the opportunity to take courses at Siebel Center for Design, collaboration with PhD students in Informatics, who specialize in design, and networking through “world-class” programs across campus. Students will also develop partnerships at the Research Park—a leading technology hub that cultivates start-ups and accelerates corporate innovation at companies such as Abbott Laboratories, ADM, Ameren, Capital One, and State Farm.

University of Southern California (USC) offers an MFA and Dual BFA/MFA in Design.

The Design MFA is a five-term, 56-unit studio-based program administered in collaboration with the Graduate School, It is a professional degree in the practice of design that highlights mentored relationships with design faculty, participation in regular seminars, and discussions and studio visits with leading visiting designers, writers and theorists from around the world. The Roski School's partnership and affiliation with the contemporary design community in Los Angeles, such as American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA), is also critical component of the MFA Design Program.

Students will complete an MFA Design Thesis and the opportunity to gain experience as a teaching assistant is available on a competitive basis. Field internship opportunities, design study tours to Asian or European cities, and the option to take Design Studio Co-Lab are other program highlights.

The Ohio State University (OSU) offers an MFA in Visual Arts through the Department of Art and an MFA in Digital Animation and Interactive Media through the Department of Design. The MFA in Visual Arts offers emphases in seven studio areas: Art and Technology, Ceramics, Glass, Painting and Drawing, Photography, Printmaking, and Sculpture. The 66 credit hour, three-year program allows students to work across disciplines and with faculty from all seven studio areas.

The MFA in Digital Animation and Interactive Media allows students to select courses that cover visual design, technical skills for animation and interactive media, programming and algorithms, audio design, writing and scripting, and professional development.

Students in all graduate art programs have 24/7 access to private and semi-private studio spaces as well as The Wexner Center for the Arts—a world-renowned contemporary art center located on campus; The Fine Arts and Cartoon Libraries; and the Urban Arts Space—an off-campus, OSU-run gallery in downtown Columbus. The Urban Arts Space is the location of the third-year thesis exhibitions.

Boston University (BU) offers an MFA in Graphic Design. The program “provides a sequenced studio approach to advanced design thinking and problem solving for visual communication, preparing students to thrive in a dynamic professional environment,” says the school. Graphic Design Studios form the programs core and electives complement the studios, providing the opportunity to specialize in areas of interest. Elective courses currently include Information Design, Design for the Web, Interactive Design, Experience Design, Motion Graphics, Design Theory, History of Graphic Design, Editorial Design and Exhibition Design.

MFA students also benefit from lectures by nationally and internationally distinguished designers and direct contact with the industry. The program culminates in a master’s thesis, which is presented in an exhibition format at the Boston University Art Galleries.

San Diego State University (SDSU) offers an MFA with a Graphic Design Emphasis. This 60-unit program includes a minimum of 45 units at the 600- and 700- level. With approval of the director and graduate adviser, a student may focus on a program of study combining two studio art fields. In addition to Graphic Design, options include Ceramics, Furniture/Wordworking, Interior Design, Jewelry/Metalwork, Multimedia, Painting, Printmaking, and Sculpture.

A Thesis is required as well as “an oral examination of each candidate by the graduate faculty of the School of Art and Design,” says the school. “The examination will occur at the time of the candidate’s master’s exhibition, and will encompass an in-depth discussion of the candidate’s thesis project.”

Academy of Art University houses the School of Graphic Design where students are mentored by faculty with “years of graphic design experience working with top-flight studios and brand-name companies with strong ties to the industry,” says the school. Areas covered include Branding, Communication Design, Editorial Design, Environmental Design, Experience Design, Innovation, Motion Graphics, Packaging, Print, Typography, and User Experience.

The 63 credit-hour MFA in Graphic Design includes courses such as Making Ideas Visible, Type Experiments, User Experience Design, and Visual Thinking. Three Thesis courses are required, as well as Directed Study, Professional Practices for Designers & Advertisers, and an Internship.

School of Graphic Design graduates hold positions such as Creative/Art Director, Graphic Designer, Product Designer, and User Experience (UX) Designer. Companies that have hired Academy of Art graduates include Apple, Google, global design company IDEO, Nike, R/GA (advertising and marketing), and Square, to name a few.

Iowa State University offers a Graphic Design MFA that consists of 64 credit hours of study. The terminal degree in the field, the MFA produces graduates who are “skilled in communication design and problem solving,” says the school, and “adept in the use of visual language, symbology, and interaction.” Program highlights include Graphic Design Field Study opportunities including study and tours of museums, galleries, artist and/or designer studios, and participation in the International Study Abroad Program in Western Europe, where students visit art museums, design studios, and educational facilities. 

Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) offers an MFA in Visual Communication Design (VCD). This cross-disciplinary 60 credit hour program “focuses on all areas of design, including graphic design, user experience/interaction design, design studies, motion graphics, and 3D digital design.” Students have the option to enhance the degree by choosing an option in Communication Design, Interaction Design, or Motion and 3D Digital Design.

The MFA in VCD, which enrolls around 100 students, also allows all eligible students to participate in an optional co-op program the summer between their first and second years. Some students may have the opportunity to participate during the fall and spring terms.

Graduates of the MFA program are prepared to seek positions in industries such as Advertising, PR, and Marketing, Design, Electronic and Computer Hardware, and Internet and Software, to name a few. Potential job titles include Consulting Art Director and Visual Designer, Designer/Animator, Graphic Designer, Type Designer, UI/UX Designer or Designer and Developer, UX and Visual Designer, and many others.

Kent State University (KSU) offers an MFA in Visual Communication Design. KSU was the first in the state to offer the terminal degree in the field.

The MFA in VCD is an interdisciplinary program that focuses on theory, research, and design process. Classes “have been developed to create an educational experience in design highlighted by field research methods, design thinking, and social innovation, augmented by practical university teaching experience where MFA candidates work hands-on with students at the freshman and sophomore level,” says the school.

“This approach helps graduates gain the necessary tools to succeed in their careers as innovative leaders in visual communication, design management, entrepreneurship and higher education.”

The MFA consists of 60 credit hours of study that takes five semesters to complete. Graduates of the program “typically pursue careers in design education, but also stand out in the industry for their ability to solve problems from a research-based design perspective.”

University of Houston (UH) offers an MFA in Studio Art with a Concentration in Graphic Design. This 60 semester-hour degree includes 18 hours in the concentration 12 hours in art history, 24 hours of related arts, and six hours of graduate seminar. Upon completion of all coursework for the program, all graduate students must present their work in a thesis exhibition at the Blaffer Museum, with accompanying photographic documentation.

Texas State University, San Marcos offers an MFA in Communication Design. The school says the program is “one of the largest public programs in the country.” The MFA curriculum is “designed to provide advanced study in the areas of corporate advertising art direction, graphic design, and digital media design. The graduate program will provide students with the following: advanced problem-solving methodologies, updating technological advancement relating to communication design, examination of historical events within the discipline, and emerging theoretical constructs.”

“Web-based delivery is heavily featured in course curriculum, as well as online video conferences, live chat, and blogging interfaces. In addition, the program offers courses via extended weekend seminars, evening courses, and independent directed study. This non-traditional structure allows active professionals to participate.” The MFA program also offers “limited graduate assistant positions for qualified students who wish to immerse themselves full time in their graduate studies.”

For students seeking a future career in higher education, the program provides the appropriate academic credential and the terminal degree in the discipline of visual communication design: the MFA.

“The exchange of ideas on an international basis is an important component of the MFA Communication Design program.” Guest professors from around the world visit the Texas State campus to” lecture and share their unique perspective on communication design with graduate students. In addition, selected students are encouraged to participate in international field trips to expand their knowledge in the field of communication design.”

Texas State University Communication Design students have been published in “prestigious design journals” such as CMYK, Communication Arts, Graphis New Talent Annual, Logo Lounge, PRINT, and Step Inside Design. Students have also received recognition in local, regional, and national competitions such as AIGA Flux, American Advertising Federation Awards, Art Director's Club of Houston, Austin Addy Awards, Creative Summit, The National Show, The One Show, and the San Antonio Addy Awards.

• Take a Tour
• Open Search
• Bachelor of Fine Arts
• Combined Degree (BFA + BA/BS)
• Areas of Study
• Undergraduate Courses
• Creative Futures: Career Stories
• Undergraduate Student Work
• Master of Fine Arts
• Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Studio Art
• Master of Arts in Teaching
• Graduate Courses
• Graduate Student Work
• Individual Courses and Workshops
• Certificate in Graphic Design
• Certificate in Illustration
• Certificate in Virtual Reality
• Pre-College Graphic Design Bootcamp
• Pre-College Intensive in Studio Art
• First-year Students
• Graduate Students
• Transfer Students
• International Students
• Portfolio Reviews & Submission Requirements
• Aid & Tuition
• Visit & Connect
• Studio Resources
• Mentorship & Advising
• Career Center
• Exhibition Opportunities
• Artist Talks and Visits
• Residencies, Fellowships, Awards & Grants
• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice
• Sustainability
• Housing & Dining
• Health & Wellness
• Getting Around
• Activities & Organizations
• Tufts University Art Galleries
• Commencement
• Mission, Vision, and Values
• Our History
• Our Location
• Dean & Leadership Team
• Student Announcements
• News & Stories
• Community Programming

MFA Thesis & Exhibition

The MFA graduate program culminates with an MFA thesis exhibition from each student. This is an opportunity to apply theory and method in a project, formulating a question and developing a potential answer. You'll explore the broader implications of your practice through aesthetic, social, political, economic, and scientific considerations. At SMFA, a thesis is never a definite conclusion, but a moment within the student's artistic development that demonstrates the ability to continue work outside the confines of the institution.

In addition to the exhibition itself, the thesis contains a written component and a final defense with a three-member thesis committee, which includes faculty and a visiting juror. The student's 1000-word thesis statement serves as a clear and coherent textual narrative of their process, research, and intention within their artistic practice. The thesis statement is intended to be developed and revised throughout the course of the thesis year.

The Thesis Committee is comprised of two graduate faculty advisors (the student's primary graduate studio advisor and a second graduate studio advisor) and is established in the fall semester of the student's second year. Of critical importance is the third member of the committee, who must be an arts or field-specific professional from outside SMFA at Tufts.

Past committee external reviewers: Makeda Best, Harvard Art Museums, 2019 Ellen Tani, Institute of Contemporary Art, 2019 Daisy Nam, Carpenter Center for Visual Arts, Harvard University, 2019 Sam Toabe, University of Massachusetts, Boston Art Galleries, 2019

The final thesis review with the student's committee takes place during the final Thesis Exhibition. Graduate Advisors serving on the student's Thesis Committee have the responsibility of extending or withholding credit for the exhibition. They award a grade of Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory, and each committee member provides a written evaluation.

The final exhibition propels graduates into the contemporary art community and launches their professional career as artists. Credit for the exhibition is awarded by the SMFA at Tufts Thesis Committee, which is comprised of the student's academic advisor, a member of the graduate studio faculty, and an external advisor. Please note that participation in the final MFA exhibition can only take place once an MFA candidate has met all graduation requirements.

Past MFA Thesis Exhibitions

2022 mfa thesis exhibition: forever in ten days.

Forever in Ten Days features the work of 13 graduating master of fine arts students from the School of The Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts.

Learn More about the 2022 exhibition

2022 MFA Thesis Exhibition: You're on Mute

You're on Mute features the work of 12 graduating master of fine arts students from the School of The Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts.

2021 MFA Thesis Exhibition:  Waiting Room

Waiting Room features the work of eight MFA students.

Learn more about the 2021 exhibition

2020 MFA Thesis Exhibition: As Above, So Below

As Above So Below presents the work of 17 MFA candidates who completed their thesis work in the midst of the COVID-19 2020 global pandemic.

Learn More about the 2020 exhibition

2019 MFA Thesis Exhibition:  no time for laundry

The phrase “no time for laundry” humorously sums up the singular focus of an MFA Thesis student’s life. School, art and political engagement swallow up daily life leaving little time for much else.

Learn more about the 2019 exhibition

2018 MFA Thesis Exhibition:  (T)HERE

(T)HERE  represents the collapse of “here” and “there” into one unified paradigm. The artists see our globalized world as both “here” and “there”; that problems of the past are the problems of today. It acknowledges that the contemporary moment synthesizes the mainstream and the periphery, theory and experience, history and future.

Learn more about the 2018 exhibition

Ask Yale Library

My Library Accounts

Find, Request, and Use

Help and Research Support

Visit and Study

Explore Collections

Arts Library Special Collections: Graphic Design Theses

• Order Reproductions
• Graphic Design Theses
• Photo MFA Portfolios
• ALSC Book Collections
• Art + Architecture
• People & Institutions
• Architecture
• Winterhouse Collection
• Drama - Yale History
• Drama - People
• Drama - Format
• Drama - Other collections
• Arts of the Book
• Graphic Designers
• Institutions and Presses
• Woodcuts and Wood Engraving
• Yale Related
• Non-Western
• Student Printing Examples
• FORMAT Art Work
• FORMAT Prints & Broadsides
• FORMAT Process
• FORMAT Printed Ephemera
• Miscellaneous

Today's Hours

Quick results.

To see all thesis books all thesis books sorted by date , go to:

https://bit.ly/gdthesisbooks

This searches Orbis and sorts the results by "Publication Date Descending"

Search Tips

Do you want to sort your results by year? Use the drop down menu on the upper right side of the results page.

• Publication Date = Oldest first
• Publications Date Descending = Newest first

Accessing Graphic Design Thesis Books

To search for Yale graphic design thesis books, we recommend using Orbis , instead of Quicksearch.

From the Library home page navigate to Orbis .

For all available Yale graphic design thesis books, use these key words: yale graphic design thesis

For graphic design thesis books for a specific year , add the year-- for instance: yale graphic design thesis 2 017

For a thesis book by a specific designer , add their name-- for instance: yale graphic design thesis ana pinto

Once you find a thesis you want to see, use the link to Request for use in the Arts Library Special Collections and fill out the form to finish your request.

• << Previous: Order Reproductions
• Next: Photo MFA Portfolios >>
• Last Updated: Mar 28, 2024 11:27 AM
• URL: https://guides.library.yale.edu/alsc

Site Navigation

P.O. BOX 208240 New Haven, CT 06250-8240 (203) 432-1775

Yale's Libraries

Bass Library

Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Classics Library

Cushing/Whitney Medical Library

Divinity Library

East Asia Library

Gilmore Music Library

Haas Family Arts Library

Lewis Walpole Library

Lillian Goldman Law Library

Marx Science and Social Science Library

Sterling Memorial Library

Yale Center for British Art

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER

@YALELIBRARY

Yale Library Instagram

Accessibility       Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion      Giving       Privacy and Data Use      Contact Our Web Team    

© 2022 Yale University Library • All Rights Reserved

School of Visual Arts Annual BFA Thesis Exhibitions Celebrate Works by 33 BFA Seniors

Mason Burns (CFA’24), a soon-to-be graduate of the College of Fine Arts School of Visual Arts BFA painting program, touching up one of his pieces ahead of the 2024 BFA thesis exhibitions.

Shows featuring painting, graphic design, sculpture, and printmaking are on view through May 11

This article was originally published in BU Today on May 2, 2024. By Sophie Yarin. Photo by Jackie Ricciardi.

Last month, BU School of Visual Arts graduate students were celebrated in a series of MFA thesis exhibitions. Now, the 33 graduating seniors in the College of Fine Arts Class of 2024 have a chance to showcase their work. This year’s two BFA thesis exhibitions comprise student work from four undergrad programs: painting, sculpture, printmaking, and graphic design. On view at the Faye G., Jo, and James Stone Gallery are works by painting, sculpture, and printmaking students, while graphic design theses are across the street at the 808 Gallery. 

It’s a big year for CFA: the college is celebrating its 70th birthday— founded as the School of Fine and Applied Arts in 1954 —and last month, the School of Visual Arts celebrated its first graduating classes in the new visual narrative and print media and photography master’s programs. This year, there’s also an all-new undergrad program that will see its first cohort of students walk at this year’s Commencement: the  BA program in art .

The BFA thesis exhibitions are free and open to the public. As with the  2024 MFA thesis shows , we’ve compiled a sneak peek of works from each program for a preview of what’s in store for visitors. The captivating artworks, revealing both the depth and diversity of the talent at work in the undergraduate programs, are on view through May 11.

BA Program in Art

Launched in fall 2021, this program combines traditional studio arts curricula with a special focus on liberal arts research—with an eye to galleries, libraries, archives, and museums as rich repositories of information. Four students graduate this year.

The BA Program in Art capstone projects are at Gallery 5, 855 Commonwealth Ave., through Saturday, May 11. Hours: weekdays from 7 am to 8:30 pm and weekends from 9 am to 8:30 pm.

Grounded in rigorous studio practice, the School of Visual Arts undergrad painting program sets high expectations for its BFA students. After completing the school’s interdisciplinary  Foundation Program , where students from all majors concentrate on the fundamentals of drawing, painting, sculpture, and art history, student-painters are encouraged to explore their individual passions in media from oils to woodwork to bookmaking.

This year’s nine BFA painting seniors represent a mélange of artistic styles and scope—works range from traditional portraiture to fish-eyed trompe l’oeil to stylized cartoonism and beyond.

Ryan Dempsey,  Road to Nowhere VII . Oil on panel.

Hannah Roderick,  A Little Blush Will Fix This!  Acrylic and colored pencil on masonite and matte board.

Mason Burns,  Things from Her Collection #1; Things from Her Collection #2 . Diptych, acrylic on panel.

Consider the highly composed works by Mason Burns (CFA’24) : perfectly arranged still lifes featuring objects—shells, feathers, pine cones, dried sea urchins—gifted to the artist by his photographer grandmother. His practice is inspired by hers—centering on the natural world, freezing it in time, his paintings serving as a visual diary.

Ryan Dempsey (CFA’24) also trains his focus on the natural world, but chooses to use natural landscapes—and, more specifically, natural light—as a juxtaposition to the harsh “blue light” of digital devices we’ve all become accustomed to. The result, a combination of printmaking and painting, evokes the lingering afterimages caused by flashes of violent light.

For her acrylic and colored pencil works, Hannan Roderick (CFA’25) uses an intuitive approach. Inspired by her own emotions and the workings of her subconsciousness, her paintings read like snatches of awareness (a glance, a reflection in a spoon, fish in a fish tank) that return, distorted and uncanny, in dreams. 

The BFA Painting Thesis Exhibition is at the Faye G., Jo, and James Stone Gallery, 855 Commonwealth Ave., through Saturday, May 11. Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 11 am to 5 pm. 

Undergrads in the sculpture program meet in intimate groups, allowing them to work more closely with faculty and one another, as well as with visiting artists. The curriculum focuses equally on technique, experimentation, and developing a unique visual language and point of view for each artist. 

This year, Bader Baroudy (CAS’24, CFA’24) is the sole graduating sculpture major. His method is directly influenced by a musician’s process of creation, derived from “a variety of musical artists’ lyrical world-buildings and sound palettes, dressed in a plethora of symbolic references emerging from mythological, theological, and biological sources,” he writes in his thesis statement.

Bader Baroudy,  RiiiDE!. Plastic rocking horse, plaster, acrylic paint, liquid glass (resin), steel, brass wire, string.

Baroudy’s installations are perhaps more directly reminiscent of films, given his use of evocative, cinematic set elements like pink LEDs, a repurposed hobbyhorse, and stark, weatherbeaten wood. And in fact, many of his sculptures incorporate short films. 

The BFA Sculpture Thesis Exhibition is at the Faye G., Jo, and James Stone Gallery, 855 Commonwealth Ave., through Saturday, May 11. Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 11 am to 5 pm.

Printmaking

From etching to woodcut to silkscreen to cyanotype, there are endless ways for contemporary printmakers to express themselves, and the BFA printmaking program offers a variety of media for undergraduate students to explore. Conscious of opportunities to engage in interdisciplinary practice, the curriculum offers young artists the freedom to incorporate digital art, painting, sculpture, and more into their work. 

The two students in this year’s graduating BFA printmaking program capture the breadth of technical disciplines that the art form is known for, all while also showcasing their foundational talents in painting and drawing. 

Do Won Suh,  Leaf Inside Pt. 2: What you don’t SEE . Monotype and hand drawing.

Angela Pistilli,  Job Well Done . Airbrush aquatint etching on Rives BFK. 

Dowon Suh (CFA’24) views her art as something of an alchemical process that allows her to transform internal turmoil and self-criticism into moments of hope. The fantastical creatures she creates and manipulates through etching and monotype are manifestations of these strong emotions.

Angela Pistilli (CFA’24) , a double major in printmaking and painting, is also fascinated with characterization, but her focus is tightly trained on the female form. Much of her work is a reflection of her passion for weightlifting. Pistilli’s women are gender-defying, muscle-bound nudes engaged in traditionally masculine pastimes like chopping wood and hunting, each confronting the viewer with a confident swagger. “In this carefully constructed world,” she writes in her thesis statement, “women always win.”

The BFA Printmaking Thesis Exhibition is at the Faye G., Jo, and James Stone Gallery, 855 Commonwealth Ave., through Saturday, May 11. Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 11 am to 5 pm.

Graphic Design

Graphic design undergraduates concentrate their work in four key areas: design for social impact, community-focused design, the portrayal and exploration of social phenomena, and the intersection of technology and graphic design.

“Our shared passion for the transformative potential of graphic design binds our individual explorations together,” writes  Mary Yang , a CFA assistant professor of art, graphic design, and thesis advisor for the 21 graduating students in the BFA graphic design program. “While our design approaches differ, we find convergence in our shared experience of design as a lens for critique, culture, and connection.”

Drew Demeterio,  Kabilin: The Filipino Arts Collective, 2024. Digital media.

Artist Drew Demeterio (CFA’24) uses her graphic design practice to probe the inconsistency between her Filipino background and American upbringing. Perceiving a dearth of Asian, and particularly Filipino, practices in contemporary design, Demeterio founded Kabilin, a Filipino arts collective, as part of her thesis. As with many of her designs, the logo melds Filipino visual influences with her own aesthetic ideals.

Vincent Liu,  Longevity . Hoodie.

Sophie Jurion, spread from  Visions and Perceptions . Risograph zine.

Sophie Jurion (CFA’24, COM’24) was inspired by the book  Mismatch: How Inclusion Shapes Design , by former Microsoft graphic designer Kat Holmes, to create a thesis that explores life with one of the world’s most common disabilities: vision impairment. Incorporating elements like Braille, alternative text, and screen readers into her work, Jurion alters the interactive relationship between the work and the viewer, and prods the experience of seeing in playful and unexpected ways.

Vincent Liu (CFA’24) moved from China to New Jersey as a child, but writes in his thesis statement that he didn’t feel comfortable with his cultural identity until college. His thesis, incorporating typography and graphic prints, is a candid look at his motivations for “caring about my culture after a long period of neglect,” he writes. “My projects utilize a methodology…[derived from] the traditional Chinese mind-set of building something new rooted in the past.” 

The BFA Graphic Design Thesis Exhibition is at the 808 Gallery, 808 Commonwealth Ave., through Saturday, May 11. Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 11 am to 5 pm. 

Opening receptions will be held at the 808 Gallery and the Faye G., Jo, and James Stone Gallery on Friday, May 3, from 6 to 8 pm.

• Share this story

Share this:

• Share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)