The graphic design major teaches you how to be a responsible design steward while developing your visual communication skills. The graphic design major is focused on teaching you how to visually communicate rather than teaching software. You’ll learn visual literacy, critical thinking and storytelling skills that can be used in many design-related industries.
Lower-division courses focus on teaching design principles such as typography, layout and color. In these courses, you’ll complete theory-based projects using drawing and other hand-done techniques to create handbound booklets, small-bound books and presentation boards. In advanced courses, you’ll apply your knowledge of design principles to professional computer-based projects in publication design, motion graphics, web design, animation, interface design and more.
Our graphic design bachelor’s degree online is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.
What is a graphic design major?
Graphic designers are responsible for visually designing how information is communicated. Design theories, principles and layout techniques are used to create visual designs that clearly communicate messages and enhance user experience.
In this online graphic design bachelor’s degree, you’ll learn these design theories and master how to apply them in your own professional design projects. As an ASU Online student, you’ll learn the same curriculum and earn the same degree as on-campus students.
Major in graphic design to explore ways you can solve problems and tell stories through visual communication. In this degree, you’ll learn essential design principles and master applying these skills to professional print and web design projects.
Courses in the graphic design major focus on the visual language of graphic design and visual communication. You’ll learn how to use these principles and the design thinking process to create creative and informative visual communications. The graphic design major requires a capstone course in your final year of study. For this project, you’ll conduct research and design a campaign around a social issue of your choice. You’ll present your work at a final exhibition near the end of your last semester.
ASU’s Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts is home to world-class scholars, artists and designers who inspire students to shape the future. Our faculty’s research is grounded in the transformative power of art and its ability to change the world. Faculty research areas include:
- Arts and design for social justice.
- Arts, education and arts-integrated education.
- Arts, entrepreneurship and cultural policy.
- Community engagement and public policy.
- Creative health collaborations.
- Design, arts, science and engineering.
- The study of creative work.
ASU’s Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts has a tradition of top-ranked undergraduate and graduate programs from a combination of disciplines. These range from the arts, media and engineering to film, dance and theatre. The institute trains artists and designers to leverage their creativity and problem solving to advance culture, build community and transform society.
students.
internationally recognized faculty members.
programs in arts, media and engineering, design, film, dance and theatre, and music.
among fine arts schools in the nation, ahead of Cornell University, Parsons School of Design and the University of California.