BFA in Visual Communication Design

Department of Visual Arts

Visual communication design (VCD) engages with topics recognizing diverse messages and audiences. Students interested in pursuing a career in design, including visual communication design, graphic design, motion graphics, animation, digital media, etc. are invited to apply to the BFA in Visual communication design program.

Both historical context and contemporary practices are stressed through analog and digital methods, with an appreciation for many modes of Design. Design plays a central role in shaping identity and representation in the lives of individuals and institutions. Students develop the skill-sets and vocabulary of design through studio projects exploring the visual and material culture of design with special attention paid to critical content.

Photo Credit: BFA student exhibition, spring 2023

 

Tours of the UW Visual Arts facilities are available to prospective or current UW students who are interested in art and curious about how to become involved in the department.

Book Tour

Art Gallery Exhibition with two different interactive computer stations.

Program Highlights

Facility Resources: Students earning a BFA in VCD at UW benefit from a robust curriculum covering traditional fine arts, conventional design, and new and experimental design approaches. The VCD discipline offers a Mac computer classroom, state-of-the-art Makerspace, and access to cutting-edge creative tools.

Design Opportunities: VCD students are encouraged to apply for study abroad and internship opportunities. Students gain hands-on experience in physical and digital prototyping, packaging design, UX/UI, video and sound design, 3D modeling and VFX, VR/AR/XR design, creative coding, branding, and learn to develop work for galleries and clients.

Human Centered Design: Students learn to think independently and critically, and focus on developing art and design with empathy - understanding a designers role as problem solvers.

Find your passion by learning more about the diversity of creative and scholarly disciplines available to UW Visual Art students.

Discover Your Passion

Career Outcomes

Students graduating with a BFA in VCD can pursue many jobs and often go on to work in museums, galleries, illustration and design roles. Other grads start design businesses, attend graduate school, and many join local creative communities.

The hybrid nature of design, combining the verbal and the visual, is used to emphasize the graphic designer's particular role as author and entrepreneur. Design for sustainability's vital role in defining an optimal future is expressed through a collaborative and process-based method that emphasizes human-centered approach to crafting solutions and tackling problems as designers.

When you earn your BFA in Visual Communication Design (VCD) at UW you are gaining the tools to achieve a successful career in design, digital media, multimedia arts, and visual arts.

Photo credit: VCD BFA Student work, Sping 2023.

 

Interested in becoming a design professional? Begin your adventure today by connecting with UW admissions and apply today!

 

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An art exhibition of digiallly deisgned zines with computer monitor in background.

Degree Requirements

Want to learn more about the BFA in VCD curriculum? Preview the University Catalog to become informed about the degree requirements and student expectations for earning a BA in Art Education.

Degree Requirements