Graphic Design concentration

NASAD accredited

Why study graphic design at Radford University?

Because we unlock your creativity and give you the support, tools and interactive education you need to be workplace ready and launch your career the way YOU want to.

Our graduates find work in exciting places and have the skills and confidence to work for themselves if that's what they choose. Our students have taken what they have learned here and won awards, gotten their dream jobs and founded successful businesses. Our graduates can work from home or in glass skyscrapers, from New York to Hollywood, or right down the road. We make sure your education is about meeting your individual goals and needs so you can do what you want with your life. And it gets better! In fall 2024, we will move into the Artis Center for Adaptive Innovation and Creativity. It is a $100 million, 178,000 square foot investment in your future with state of the art creative spaces and tools. We can't wait to meet you and help you start your journey.

 

 

What can you do with your degree in Art with a concentration in graphic design?

Related fields where our grads land jobs: graphic design - Ui/Ux design - packaging - advertising - motion graphics - gaming industry - production artist - publishing - branding - product design - social media - multimedia - photography - web design - exhibit design - emerging fields of virtual & augmented reality

Where do our graduates work?

A sampling of where our alumni have worked as designers: Apple - Microsoft - Electronic Arts - Sony Playstation - Nike - Volvo- Carmax - Shopify - Amazon - Weebly - Reddit - Virginia Tech - Carilion - United Healthcare - Booz Allen Hamilton - Spectrum Brands - Savannah College of Art & Design - Roc Nation Sports - Minor League Baseball - StudioNorth - Blue Ridge Outdoors - Virginia International Raceway - Carter Machinery - Coursera - The National Desk - Under Armour - Rising Tide Interactive - Axios - Advance Auto - Kimley-Horn - Square - Align Technology - Blizzard Entertainment

Notable Alumni

• Pum Lefebure- CCO & Co-Founder, Design Army
• Walter Street- Senior Designer, Sony Playstation
• Zach Bush- Creative Director, Bond Entertainment Marketing Agency
• John Jones- Creative Director, Electronic Arts
• Kristen Bacon- Senior Product Designer, Nike
• Haley Hammond- Motion Graphic Designer, Microsoft
• Mike Nugent- Lead Designer, Apple
• Erica Tickle- Lead Graphic Designer, Volvo Trucks
• Ben Rush- Director, Product Design, Underdog Fantasy
• David Hodge- CCO, Anstey Hodge Advertising Group
• Evan Walters- Director of Operations & ESPN Commentator, World Axe Throwing League and World Knife Throwing League

At Radford University's NASAD-accredited Graphic Design concentration, you'll benefit from learning from industry professionals with extensive real-world experience. Our program is designed to provide you with a solid foundation in the essential tools of the trade while honing your design skills to their fullest potential. We aim to equip you with a sterling portfolio and career-ready skills upon graduation. Over the last decade, our grads have landed jobs in their career field at a better than 80% rate. Many alumni start their own successful design businesses, and some opt for continuing their education at prestigious institutions such as VCU's Brand Center and Savannah's College of Art & Design.

Although Graphic Design is housed within the Department of Art, our curriculum differs from other programs in that it only requires a few basic art classes. Instead, we offer a wide range of elective options, allowing students to pursue related minors such as marketing, information technology, and public relations, to broaden their appeal to employers. However for those passionate about art, electives can be used for art classes or focused on illustration. The curriculum is diverse, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of various aspects of graphic design. Emphasis is placed on projects that not only develop individual skills but also contribute to a strong, job-ready portfolio. Smaller class sizes foster a supportive learning environment and encourage a tight-knit community among students.

Our students participate annually in the American Advertising Federation Awards, competing against regional universities and colleges. Over the past decade, Radford University has garnered numerous awards at the regional, district, and national levels.

Radford University's campus offers a beautiful environment with ample opportunities for recreation, including hiking the Appalachian Trail, canoeing the New River, miles of mountain biking trails, and proximity to West Virginia ski resorts, as well as being less than 20 minutes away from Blacksburg and Virginia Tech. In the fall of 2024, we will move to our new, state-of-the-art building, the Artis Center for Adaptive Innovation and Creativity.