| Ranking | School | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona State University | Tempe |
| 2 | University of Arizona | Tucson |
| 3 | Northern Arizona University | Flagstaff |
Our 2024 ranking of the top graphic design school programs in Arizona. For an explanation of the ranking criteria, click here.
The Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts at Arizona State University (ASU) houses six schools, more than 8,000 students, 125+ degree programs led by 750 faculty and associates, and one of the region’s leading contemporary museums—ASU Art Museum. Within the Herberger Institute is The Design School, which houses the Graphic Design program.
Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), the program consists of a Bachelor of Science in Design (BSD); a Master of Science in Design (MSD) with a concentration in Visual Communication Design (VCD MSD); and a Master of Visual Communication Design (MVCD).
Delivered at ASU’s Tempe campus and through ASU Online, the Graphic Design BSD is a studio and lecture-based program that emphasizes collaborative teams and professional projects in areas such as branding, publication design, interface design, animation, information design, motion graphics, web design, interaction design, and sensorial design.
Course examples for this 120 credit hour program include Regenerative Graphic Design; Sustainability; Communication/Interaction Design Theory; Advanced Interaction Design; Visual Communication Design I-VI; Motion Graphics and Interaction Design Advanced Media; Technology for Design I-II; Letterform; Typography; Exhibit Design; Graphic Design History I-II; American Institutions; and Design Drawing.
The Graphic Design BSD at Arizona State University culminates with a final project and a professional portfolio of the students best work. Graduates are prepared to pursue positions in areas such as advertising and marketing design; publication design; information design; brand and corporate identity design; broadcast design (TV graphics); web design; interaction and interface design; VCD; and museum or exhibition design.
Delivered in-person at the ASU Tempe campus, the VCD MSD consists of 36 credit hours of study completed over four semesters (two years). In addition to interactions with visiting designers and an internship in teaching design, VCD MSD students will take courses and seminars such as Methods in Visual Communication I-II; VCD Seminar: Contemporary Issues; Qualitative Research in Design; and Research Methods.
To graduate, students will have the option to complete a thesis or the applied project course. Graduates are prepared to pursue leadership roles advanced design and other industries, as well as graphic design education or research.
The MVCD program at the ASU Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts explores areas such as interaction design, visualization, user experience design, prototyping, design for social innovation, visual research, service design, ideation, and participatory design.
Consisting of 42-43 credit hours, the MVCD program has two options. The two-year, studio-based degree is designed for professionals with design experience or a degree in VCD, graphic design or other related area. The three-year studio-based degree is designed for students without an undergraduate design degree or experience in VCD/graphic design.
Students in the two-year ASU MVCD program are encouraged to complete an internship, while three-year students are required to complete an internship. Internships take place during the summer after the first year, and they may be completed anywhere in the U.S. and around the world. Both options require successful completion of the culminating experience for the program—Advanced Visual Communication Design Studio IV. Students will earn five credits upon completion.
Graduates of the graduate Design programs at Arizona State University are prepared to pursue titles such as Senior Graphic Designer, Art Director, Visual Design Consultant, Creative Lead, Senior Visual Communication Designer, Media Collection Specialist, Managing Graphic Designer, Creative Director, UI/UX Designer, Instructional Designer, Package Designer, Brand Manager, Commercial and Industrial Designer, Senior Technologist, and Design Professor.
ASU Design alumni have been hired at major companies and organizations such as American Airlines, Google, Banner Health, UNICEF, and GoDaddy.
Arizona State University serves 145,655 students, making it one of the largest universities in the U.S. Founded in 1885 as the Arizona Territorial Normal School, ASU has four campuses that provide 800 fully accredited degree programs across 16 colleges and schools. Arizona State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
University of Arizona (U of A or Arizona) is home to the College of Fine Arts, which houses the School of Art. Within the school are several paths to study graphic design. Options include the Design Arts and Practices (DAP) BA program, and the Studio Art program with BFA and MFA options.
The DAP BA program has four emphasis areas including Print Design; Spatial Design; Object Design; and Screen Design. Across areas, DAP students will develop skills in visual communication, design thinking, data analysis, project management, computational thinking, problem solving, and teamwork. DAP course examples include Information Graphics; Typography; Design Thinking; Gaze Digital Photography; Design for Web and Devices; Amalgam Mixed-Media; Design Studio; Experience, Sound, Video, and Performance; Dealing with Data; and Propaganda Design.
All DAP students have access to DAP labs and studios such as the Book Art and Letterpress Lab; the Digital Print Studio; 2D and 3D and extended media labs; design and illustration classrooms, the Animation Lab; digital print studios; darkrooms; lighting studios; video/imaging editing suites; and the Digital Negative and Digital Print Instruction Space.
DAP students also benefit from participation in the Visiting Artists and Scholars Endowment (VASE) series, which features lectures, workshops, exhibitions, seminars, and individual studio critiques led by national and international artists. All students will have opportunities to study abroad and/or complete an internship at places such as the Sonoran Institute, Tucson Museum of Art, and the Center for Creative Photography. Study abroad locations include London, Tokyo, France, Athens, Madrid, Bangkok, Rome, Barcelona, Seoul, Costa Rica, Florence, Jakarta, and Sydney.
The DAP BA program at University of Arizona culminates with a capstone project and presentation. Graduates are prepared to pursue design roles in fields graphic design, art/illustration, user interface/user experience (UI/UX), product design, exhibit design, multimedia design and animation, environmental design, art direction, and web design.
Program alumni are Graphic Designers, Creative Directors, Visual Designers, Illustrators, UI/UX Designers, Brand Managers, Packaging Designers, Advertising Artists, Motion Designers, Exhibit Designers, and Multimedia Designers. Some program alumni go on to pursue graduate studies, while others have launcher their own design studios and freelance businesses.
The Studio Art program at University of Arizona has fiver emphasis areas: 2D Studies; 3D and Extended Media; Illustration, Design and Animation; Photography, Design and Animation; and Interdisciplinary Practice (MFA only). Studio Art students have opportunities to specialize further in areas such as printmaking, drawing, or interactive technologies.
All studio art majors will begin their studies with the First Year Experience, which focuses workshop-structured courses that introduce students to artist practice, the studio work environment, and creative methodology. All students will also have opportunities to engage in team projects with local clients; take field trips to design studios; participate in the Annual Spring Portfolio Review; complete an internship; and study abroad.
The U of A Studio Art BFA requires 125 units, including 42 in upper division coursework, and 24 in the emphasis area. Course examples for the program include 2D Studio Art; Survey of Printmaking Techniques; Illustration and Design; Typography; Design Studio; Contemporary Art; Mapping; Process and Play; Contemporary Art and History; Animation; and Photography.
The Studio Art BFA at University of Arizona culminates with the Senior Capstone. Graduates are prepared to pursue design roles across fields such as advertising, publishing, exhibit design, web design, animation and film, marketing, social media, public relations, packaging, and brand design.
The Arizona Studio Art MFA consists of 60 units, with 30 units in studio art courses. Course examples for the program include Mixed Media Book; Letterpress and the Multiple; Graduate Relief Printmaking; Comics and Sequential Art; Topics in Illustration; Libretto Concetti: Visual Narratives; Clients and the Community Design; Picture Book Art and Design; Combining Media; Foundation Digital 3D Modeling, Rendering and Rapid Prototyping; Advanced Imaging; Digital Fabrication; and Topics in Studio Art.
In addition, the Graduate Thesis Studio course for the Studio Art MFA culminates with a Thesis Exhibition. Graduates are prepared to pursue leadership roles across the art, design, publishing, and entertainment industries; in corporate branding and package design; and in consulting, research, and education.
Established in 1885, University of Arizona opened in 1891 with 32 students and six faculty members. Today, UA serves approximately 51,135 students, making it one of top five largest post-secondary institutions in Arizona. Students at UA have access to more than 300 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in more than 150 areas of study. Programs are offered across 20 colleges and nearly two dozen specialized schools. University of Arizona is accredited by the by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
The College of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Northern Arizona University (NAU) houses the School of Communication. Within the school is a Visual Communication program with an emphasis in Graphic Design. Leading to a BFA, the program features studio classes; a collaborative learning environment; multidisciplinary study; the opportunity to work on real-world projects in the campus-based VisualDESIGNlab and the Advanced Media Lab; off-campus internships at an agency or organization; and study abroad experiences in places such as Bolivia, Italy, and Prague.
The Visual Communication BFA at NAU requires 120 credit hours with 70 units in the major. This includes 30 units of emphasis requirements. The program explores motion graphics, branding, interactivity, color, multimedia, photography, type and symbols, digital imagery, animation, and project management. Course examples include Graphic Design I-V; Introduction to Relief Printmaking; Color Theory; Advanced Graphic Design Topics; New Media Foundations; Lithography Printmaking; Typography I-II; Visual Communication Studios; Visual Design Lab; and Drawing Fundamentals.
The final course for the program is Graphic Design Senior Portfolio. During this culminating experience, students will analyze, develop, and prepare a professional portfolio and written capstone statement. Self-promotion, resume, visual documentation, and an oral presentation are also required.
Graduates of the Visual Communication Design BFA program at Northern Arizona University are prepared to pursue careers in areas such as advertising, game design, technology, publishing, marketing, animation, retail, web design, film and television, social media, research, and education. Program alumni have been hired at places such as L’Oréal, Google, Abercrombie & Fitch, Nike, Amazon Games, IBM, GAP, IBM, Citigroup, GoDaddy, Teva, Motorola, and Yahoo.
Founded in 1899 as Northern Arizona Normal School (NANS), Northern Arizona University is a public, doctoral university that serves approximately 28,195 enrolled in more than 400 programs across 17 colleges and schools. Northern Arizona University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
