Graphic Design
Visually communicate ideas, targeted messaging, and information through the use of typography, imagery, color, and layout.
"I never realized the importance of design until I got here. Now, I look at the world differently, seeing the crucial role design plays in our daily lives. Realizing the impact my own work can have, has made me a more responsible designer."
Denzel Foster
BFA in Art (Graphic Design)
Balance Your Technical Ability and Creative Skills With a Degree in Graphic Design
Graphic design is a creative and inspiring process that combines type and image with technology to visually communicate ideas and information. With a strong foundation in traditional art and design, our graphic design program equips students with the skills to integrate form and information towards effective graphic communication. With a background in Graphic Design history, students will learn about the impacts design has on a global scale, preparing students to solve the increasingly complex problems of contemporary society.
Through innovative problem-solving methodologies and creative research, students will learn to use industry-standard tools, blending traditional and digital artistic skills to communicate ideas visually. Our classes are the foundation of a professional career. Students use their creative and intellectual talents to problem solve in studio courses that prepare them for careers in the creative industry—graduating with a competitive professional portfolio prepared to enter the job market.
Graphic design is offered as an area of emphasis for undergraduate students.
Student Design
Check out some design work produced by our graphic design students.
3D Printed Figure For Packaging Design
Welcome From Our Studio Head
Hello, and welcome to Graphic Design! Our program invites those who embrace creative challenges and are curious to solve them. Guided by an experienced faculty of active professional designers and scholars, we help students learn how to communicate ideas visually in a clear and impactful way. Learning industry-standard tools, you'll explore innovative ways to solve creative problems and dive into both traditional and digital artistic techniques. Our mission is to ensure that by the time you graduate, you will have a strong portfolio that showcases your skills and prepares you for exciting job opportunities in the creative industry.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me. I am excited to see what we can create together!
Tyler Barnes
Associate Professor of Art
Meet The Majors
See what currents students have to say about the department.
Gabbie Hunter
- Greek Life
Which professors inspired you the most?
See Gabbie’s Answer
Randy (R.J.) McDonald
- Service and Community Engagement
Do you have any plans after graduation?
See Randy (R.J.)’s Answer
Aubrey Best
What has been your favorite class during your years here?
See Aubrey’s AnswerFeatured Courses
Art 361: Graphic Design I, Typography
Considering the relationship between type and visuals, this course covers the historical overview of type and letterforms with an introduction to professional typography for print and digital environments with a primary focus on application to contemporary communications.
Art 364: Web Design I
Emphasizing the visual interface and user experience, students explore concepts and techniques in web design front-end development. By applying the principles of design to an interactive digital context, students will learn how to build for the web and mobile platforms.
Art 460: Graphic Design III, Package Design
This course covers the theory and design techniques for package production with instruction on preparing prototypes. Develop creative strategies for problem-solving in a client-based environment focusing on three-dimensional packaging. Students will learn how design applies to various surfaces, products, and audiences.
Meet The Faculty
Tyler Barnes
- Associate Professor of Art
Hudd Byard
- Instructional Assistant Professor of Graphic Design
Virginia Rougon
- Associate Provost and Professor of Art
Our Graphic Design Facilities
Our Graphic Design Lab is a creative hub where students can bring their visions to life. Equipped with the latest software and hardware, including Adobe Creative Suite, digital tablets, and high-resolution printers and scanners. The lab provides everything you need to explore various aspects of graphic design, from typography and branding to web and interactive design.
Professor Tyler Barnes with a Student in Lab
Room 117 Lab
Room 117 Lab Desks and Computers
Students Working in Room 119 Lab
Professor Hudd Byard with a Student in Lab
Room 119 Lab Printers
Room 119 Lab Computers and Speakers
Room 119 Lab Musical Keyboard and Speakers, Sound Setup
Room 119 Lab Sound Booth
Labs and Equipment
The graphic design facilities are housed in Meek Hall, and classes are taught across three labs and our letterpress studio. The two main graphic design labs are on the first and second floor; GD LAB A, Meek 117, and GD LAB B, Meek 214, with some Art 201, Digital Imaging courses taught in the Imaging Arts Lab, Meek 119. Letterpress classes are taught in our letterpress studio, located in Meek 124.
The graphic design computer labs each have 15 M1/M3 iMac computer stations, a teacher’s station, and laptop docking stations—accommodating students who bring their own machines to class. The labs contain power outlets, Ethernet ports and wireless networking capabilities. Graphic design labs house courses in graphic design, typography, packaging design, web design, digital imaging, and illustration.
- 3 Samsung TV Display (85")
- 1, 2-sided free-standing dry erase board (72" x 48")
- 1 Canon Large format printer Pro 4100
- 45, 24" M1/M3 iMac student computers with 16GB of ram
- 3, 24" M1 iMac teaching station computer (2021) with 16GB of ram
- 2 Epson flatbed scanners (Perfection V600, 4490)
- The Computer Labs’ Workroom is housed on the first floor of Meek Hall between rooms 117 & 119. This 199 square foot room contains a print station, storage, and production equipment shared between the computer labs. Climate control is provided by wall-mounted air conditioners/heaters.
- 1 Printing Station:
- 1, 24" M1 iMac, 2021 with 16GB of ram with USB connection to printer, scanner, and Cricut Maker
- 1 HP M750 Color LaserJet printer, 12" x 18"
- 1 Canon C39302 Color laser printer/copier, 12" x 18"
- 1 Epson Expression® 12000XL flatbed large-format scanner, 12.2" x 17.2"
- 1 Cricut Maker 040B vinyl plotter and cutter
- 3 Work/Storage Cabinets with cutting mat tops + adjustable shelves,
31"L x 94.5"W x 39.5"H
- 1 Photo Studio LED light box, 33"L x 33"W x 33"H
- 1 RotaTrim paper trimmer, 12" x 18"
- 1 RotaTrim paper trimmer, 12" x 15"
- 1 Book binding machine
- 1 Guillo Max paper cutter (cuts up to 50 sheets of paper up to 17" wide)
- 1 Porta-Trace Tracing light box, 10" x 12.5"
• Glowforge Pro, 20.75"L x 38"W x 8.25"H (Purchased in collaboration with Printmaking)
3D laser printer/engraver that uses a beam of light to cut, engrave, and shape materials, including wood, acrylic, leather, paper, rubber, and can engrave glass, stone, metal, marble, and ceramic tile. The machine is currently located in Printmaking.
• Inventables XCarve CNC Router, 39.4"x39.4" (Purchased in collaboration with Sculpture)
The XCarve is a CNC (computer-controlled) routing machine that can carve designs out of materials like wood, plastic, and metal. The machine is currently located in Sculpture.
• Fusion3 Edge 3D Printer, 14.5″x14.5″x13.5″ (Purchased in collaboration with Sculpture)
The EDGE is capable of printing high-temperature carbon fiber, glass fiber, and kevlar-filled variants of all materials. The engineering grade bed is capable of printing large projects with more ease compared to hobby 3D printers by printing large parts in one (or fewer) pieces or printing multiple smaller parts at once.
Letterpress printing is also part of our curriculum. Letterpress is currently housed in Meek 214. Printmaking shares maintenance and usage of the letterpress studio with graphic design. Students also use the computer lab to research/refine digital aspects of letterpress printing.
• Large collection of wood and metal type.
Beyond the Classroom
Learning design is more than what’s learned in the traditional studio courses. Students can also join in activities with the graphic design student organization, interact with visiting artists, volunteer with the UM Museum, and intern with local and national approved sites.
GRID’s goal is to promote interest in the field of graphic design outside of the classroom by encouraging active involvement in on-campus programming and events as well as being active participants in the local design community in Oxford. Through sponsored activities and events, GRID students gain valuable industry experience and knowledge that serves to bridge the gap between student life and professional practice, cultivating future leaders in the design industry.
In addition to the many artists who visit campus through GRID, the department also has an established visiting artist program called Art Talks. This program creates access to artists in person and via webcam, and helps students and faculty to keep pace with critical thought, contemporary artistic practice, and emerging technology used in cultural production today.
The list of visiting graphic designers includes:
- Austin Dunbar, Principal at Durham Brand & Coin KY
- Hershell George, Founder of HgDesign, a complete communications firm in NYC
- Erin Rasberry Napier, Designer, author, entrepreneur, and HGTV’s Home Town co-host
- Ellen Lupton, Typographer, graphic designer, author, Design Chair at Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), and Curator Emerita at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum.
Our museum has recently in the past years have been named to EDsmart’s list of “51 Most Astounding University Museums”, with a recent ranking of 17—one spot ahead of Princeton University. Many art students intern or volunteer with the UM Museum where they might work with art education programs or curate an exhibit.
In the museum, you can study the David M. Robinson Collection of Greek and Roman Antiquities, one of the finest collections in the United States. Covering the 1000-year period from 800 B.C. to around A.D. 300, the collection contains Greek and Roman sculpture, Greek decorated pottery, inscriptions, architectural fragments, inscribed Sumerian clay tablets, small artifacts in terracotta and bronze, and Roman copies of Greek art works.
Meet Our Alumni
See some examples of where an graphic design degree can take you.
Heidi Bain
What are some significant/favorite memories from your time at UM?
See Heidi’s Answer
Robert Grenfell
Why did you select art as your major?
See Robert’s Answer
Oscar Pope
Elle Oser
What is the value of studying art?
See Elle’s Answer
Erin Napier
Mississippi Storytellers.
See Erin’s Answer
Nick Girod
Please describe your career trajectory since graduation from UM.
See Nick’s Answer