Graphic design is the art of creating visual content to communicate messages using images and typography. We see it all around us in the form of printed materials, but designers also make digital content, design user experience (known as UX), as well as wayfinding or environmental design.
Our bachelor of fine arts degree in graphic design is a dynamic program that prepares you to conquer design challenges with an array of technical and creative skills. Through exploratory, experimental, and collaborative approaches, we prepare designers to thrive in today’s professional world. We nurture your independent development and offer endless opportunities to engage with design professionals both inside and outside the classroom.
We are proud to be consistently ranked among the top public graphic design programs in the country:
- #1 in Oregon
- #9 Nationally among Public Schools and Colleges
- #27 Nationally
GDUSA Magazine, a source of news and information for graphic designers for 60+ years, named PSU's Graphic Design program in their 2022 and 2023 lists of top design schools.
We offer:
- Opportunities for professional internships
- Summer study abroad experiences
- Professional portfolio development
- An active peer mentorship program
- A strong sense of community through student groups
Our graphic design program draws strength from its location within the wider School of Art + Design and within Portland’s vibrant creative community.
We offer a studio experience with lots of one-on-one instruction and an emphasis on craft, concept, research, and design thinking. You’ll gain real-world experience through A+D Projects, our in-house design studio, working on projects for clients.
Our students are active participants, creating a supportive environment through student groups like Friends of Graphic Design and Comma, an initiative organized by design students &and faculty seeking to amplify representation and connection for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) in the Portland creative community. They also provide peer-to-peer mentorship during our Sophomore Portfolio Review process.
Our faculty are design professionals as well as educators who are engaged and ready to guide you. Through their deep connections to the larger design industry, you’ll be introduced to our community partners through field trips, demos, and our weekly graphic design lecture series.
Every spring, sophomores, juniors, and seniors come together for Be Honest: our annual student showcase. It’s a great community event, a fun celebration, and an opportunity to gain experience presenting your work to design professionals. It’s also an opportunity for professionals to check out all the great things coming out of our program.
Graduating seniors also participate in Fresh, our graphic design senior showcase. Organized by the graduating students, Fresh is an invitation-only review held at the end of every Senior Portfolio class. It not only showcases your work but gives you an opportunity to receive valuable feedback from design professionals and make connections within the design community.
Graduates of our graphic design program go on to professional careers in design and creative industries.
Our graduates are working as design professionals at top agencies and corporations such as Nike, Wieden+Kennedy, Nordstrom, IDEO, Dropbox, Apple, Snapchat, Buzzfeed, R/GA, Adidas, Spotify, and IBM. Others have found success at design studios such as Instrument, OMFCO, Jolby & Friends, and Sandstrom. Many graduates have established successful freelance careers, some forming their own businesses and making their own products.
With a bachelor of fine arts degree in graphic design, you can work independently or collaboratively in creative industries in a number of artistic and managerial roles, including:
- Graphic Designer
- Art Director
- Interactive Design
- Product Design
- Web and Mobile Design
- Illustration
- Design Management
- Motion Graphics and Filmmaking
- Environmental Design and Wayfinding
- App Design
- Publication Design
- Branding and Identity Design
- User Interface Design