Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design/Department of Design
/CoAD
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design
Join LTU's NASAD-accredited Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design program, and you'll be equipped with the essential skills and knowledge to excel in the dynamic field. Our program encompasses the latest advancements in interactive and digital design, all while ensuring a solid grounding in graphic design fundamentals.
You'll learn user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design, digital product design, branding, motion graphics and more. You'll also gain hands-on experience through real-world projects and professional scenarios, putting your learning into practice. We don't just teach technical skills; we're dedicated to nurturing your creative thinking and problem-solving abilities, essential qualities for your success in a career in graphic design and related fields.
Our program prepares students to work in a range of areas, including art direction, mobile media development, design strategy, user experience/user interface design (UX/UI), interaction design, brand design, advertising, marketing, web design, animation and motion graphics.
Current students and graduates work for local and national companies, including Barton Malow Company, Campbell Ewald, Clearwater Analytics, Detroit Pistons, Doner, Fieldstone Architecture and Engineering, Ford Motor Company, Harley Ellis Devereaux, Hobbes, Icon incar, Jabil, Helloworld Inc, Mammoth Digital, MCCI Integrated Marketing, Microsoft, MOCAD (Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit), Rocket Companies.
Featured Alumni
Leah Strayhorn
BFA in Graphic Design, 2020
Leah Strayhorn is a metro-Detroit area based art director, graphic designer, and printmaker. She is currently a part of the Studio Cadenza team based in Birmingham, MI, creating anything ranging from UI design, brand identities, social media graphics, podcast covers, you name it.
Q: Tell us a little about your background.
A: Studio Cadenza was one of two internships I gained during my time at LTU, and is where I currently work–now as an Art Director. We are a small studio working on various app, website, and branding projects. Our current projects include FanLabel, ShopLoyal, StartupNation, and NeedAnything, to name a few. On a normal day, I love exploring printmaking, painting, sewing, and any other creative outlet I can get my hands on.
Q: What made you choose to attend Lawrence Tech?
A: I really appreciate smaller, more personal environments like LTU has to offer. It was great to see passionate professionals doing exactly what I was trying to do.
Q: For those who might be interested in Graphic Design, do you have any advice?
A: The best lessons learned are outside of your classrooms and studios. I always learned a lot from experiences such as lectures, AIGA events, internships, and design books.
Marilyn
Cannell
BFA in Graphic Design, 2016
During Marilyn’s professional experience, she realized her passion for UI/UX design which has led her to work on various projects in the mobile, automotive and experiential space. Marilyn is passionate about the relationship between research and design. Uncovering problems and finding a solution through design-thinking is part of her daily life as a visual/product designer.
Q: Tell us a little about your background.
A: I was born and raised in Farmington Hills, Michigan. Growing up I kept very busy playing sports, an instrument and spending time with friends. My interest in design first appeared when I started obsessively watching DIY and home decoration shows as a child. My early interest in these shows developed a curiosity for architecture. In college I quickly realized architecture wasn't my passion, but I thoroughly enjoyed the basic design skills involved within the practice. I switched to graphic design and realized that was my "home" and where I was able to express myself creatively.
Q: What made you choose to attend Lawrence Tech?
A: Lawrence Tech was practically in my backyard and I didn't even know it! I learned about LTU at a high school college fair. What initially caught my attention was the small class sizes and knowing that I would immediately start specialized classes within my program on day one. My time at LTU was special, I was able to make genuine connections with professor and peers that I have kept to this day.
Q: For those who might be interested in Graphic Design, do you have any advice?
A: Learning and growing as a designer never stops. LTU set a strong foundation for my professional career, but I can easily say that I learn new things everyday as a professional. If you are considering a degree in design you can get ahead, start creating now! There is no right or wrong way to start exploring art and design. Start looking for inspiration in your daily life, collect images that excite you, find your voice as an artist and start making. If these things bring you joy, then the design field might be right for you.
Brendan
Seyka
BFA in Graphic Design, 2019
Brendan (he/him) is an Oak Park, MI-based graphic designer, maker, and musician making creative things for creative people. He uses design to create opportunities for clients to engage audiences, build relationships and impact communities with thoughtfully crafted branding, print, packaging and immersive experiences.
Q: Tell us a little about your background.
A: I recently started a new position as a Graphic Designer with Floyd, a Detroit-based design-forward furniture company committed to sustainability. Before that, I started doing freelance work while at LTU, working with a wide range of clients in culture and the arts, e-commerce, and more. Those projects encompassed print and packaging to digital marketing and UI design.
Q: What made you choose to attend Lawrence Tech?
A: I went to high school in a relatively small town close to Lansing, and toured LTU after attending a college fair. I appreciated the connection and proximity to Detroit, small class sizes, and the instructors who ended up being the most important and impactful part of my LTU experience.
Q: For those who might be interested in Graphic Design, do you have any advice?
A: The world of design is very diverse — don’t be afraid to learn and try as much as you can. Find the kind of work you’re most excited about, and seek out more of it. Find inspiration and make things for yourself that you want to see exist in the world!
Admissions + Curriculum
Admission into the Graphic Design program follows the University’s admission criteria. Portfolios are not required for admission.
For specific Graphic Design program questions, contact the Chair of Design, Philip Plowright, at pplowrigh@ltu.edu , or Associate Dean and Graphic Design Director, Lilian Crum, at lcrum@ltu.edu .
For general questions about admissions, our programs or the college, please contact Associate Dean and Graphic Design Director, Lilian Crum, at lcrum@ltu.edu or click on the links below.
Total Semester Credit Hours: 120
Advisory Board
Amy Schwartz
Owner and Head of Design, Radialinear Studio; former Design Director, Cards Against Humanity
Marilyn Cannell
Visual Design Lead, General Motors
Jon Yablonski
Senior Product Designer, Mixpanel
Christie Ennis-Kloute
Director of Experience Design, Augusto Digital
Alissa Kline
Head of Brand and Marketing, Troobado
Blake Almstead
Principal UI/UX Designer Mobility, Huemen, HARMAN International
Scholarships
Lectures
Student Work