Graphic Design
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media
Programs of Interest
0The BFA in Graphic Design prepares students to communicate with diverse audiences through a wide range of interdisciplinary design practices. The program integrates digital design technologies with contemporary media practices, including artificial intelligence, branding, illustration, interaction design, motion graphics, package design, product design, and typography. Students learn about contemporary trends, histories, theories, and ethics, while acquiring skills to research design problems, translate concepts into prototypes, and develop professional portfolios. CDM encourages community collaboration by providing access to studio and nonprofit internships within Chicago, research opportunities with faculty, and experiential learning through study abroad and client-and-community coursework.
Graduates from our BFA in Graphic Design program pursue careers in visual, product, and experience design; art direction; book, publication, and web design; motion graphics; photography; and title design for film, television, and games.
DePaul Career Communities
Through Career Communities, students cultivate professional skills with guidance from career advisors, industry experts, alumni, faculty and employers. Graphic Design students may be interested in both the Media, Arts and Entertainment community as well as the Technology and Data community.
Study Abroad
Our faculty co-direct short-term, design-focused, study abroad programs including in Scandinavia and Japan. Students travel for 2-3 weeks and experience local history, arts, and culture while fulfilling experiential learning requirements. They visit several design studios and meet with a variety of industry practitioners.
Faculty Creative Activity
CDM treats research and creative activity as integral to its delivery of first-class instruction to students. Our design faculty engage in innovative scholarly and creative work and offer collaborative research opportunities with students and partners.
School of Design Talks
The School of Design invites diverse speakers from across the globe who have created innovative responses to the personal, local, and global challenges of the 21st century to lead workshops and discussions.
The Print Lab
The Print Lab can print student design work on HP m712 and Epson P5000, Pro7900, P9000, and XP15000 printers. It also contains an assortment of paper craft and cutting supplies, binding machines, and scanners.
Capstone Showcase
Our annual public School of Design Capstone Showcase features student work integrating emerging media and contemporary technologies, including typography, digital/interaction design, branding, illustration, package design, and digital fabrication. Last year’s showcase poster, OPUS (above) was created by student designers and received a 2025 Communication Arts Award of Excellence.
Faculty
School of Design faculty lead with heart and are experts in core and emerging design disciplines. Here, you’ll engage diverse perspectives, connect with mentors dedicated to your success and gain insights from industry professionals.
Heather Quinn
Associate Professor, School of Design
In her research and creative work, Heather is usually where she “isn’t supposed to be.” You will find her playing in unexpected places, physical or virtual, and collaborating with people from various backgrounds. Her work uses design fiction to empower communities to imagine possible futures and understand technology’s impact on human freedoms. Her contributions have been acknowledged by the World Economic Forum, MIT Press, Yale Law School, The Washington Post, Letterform Archive, and Hyperallergic.
Shiro Akiyoshi
Associate Professor, School of Design
Shiro has worked on various design projects for international corporations, non-profit organizations, academic institutions, art galleries, and artists. His current research projects involve digital imaging, illustration, and montage, combining digital and traditional Japanese image making processes.
Sajad Amini
Assistant Professor, School of Design
Sajad is an Iranian artist/graphic designer, whose work is focused text and language. His artworks depict his deep personal life experience back in his home country and living in the US. Sajad’s artworks have been exhibited in several national and international art shows and residencies.
Lee Zelenak
Professional Lecturer, School of Design
Lee’s interests and background include typography and branding. Before coming to DePaul, he was an Associate Creative Director at VSA Partners in Chicago, working on the branding team for IBM. In 2012, he was a Senior Designer for President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign.
Nathan Matteson
Associate Professor, School of Design
Nathan has been teaching and working in Chicago since 1999. His practice is fiercely anti-disciplinary and ruthlessly collaborative. It operates on the principle that the best outcomes are the result of the worst arguments amongst the most people. As a general rule he maintains a state of displeasure, but less so when his work engages with the gaps, moments, mistakes, and fictive spaces between things.
Featured Graphic Design Alumni
Claire Rosas ('20)
Brand Designer, Grammarly
Claire researches and writes about design ethics, fluid interfaces, and technology. While a student at DePaul, Claire was named a GDUSA Student to Watch, received a Communication Arts Typography Award of Excellence and a DePaul Women’s Network Woman of Spirit and Action Award, and exhibited at Typeforce 11. She is the Co-Lead for Friends of Figma, which connects advanced practitioners, aspiring designers and developers, and creatives of all types.
Will Wright ('19)
Senior Designer, Origami Risk
Will is a Chicago-based graphic designer and illustrator. While at DePaul, he received AIGA Chicago’s M.A.D. Award and, one of his class projects was selected as one of the best examples of typographic design by the STA 100. Will also exhibited a project for his collaborative design fiction class at Typeforce 11. Prior to joining Origami Risk he was a Senior Art Director at 88 Brand Partners.
Gabriele Fitzpatrick ('19)
Designer and Brand Strategist, ElleVolution
Gabrielle is a professional graphic designer who specializes in both digital and print design. While at DePaul, she was selected a GDUSA Student to Watch. As a business owner and designer, she provides creative and innovative solutions for sports agencies, professional athletes, motivational speakers, non-profit organizations, and the film/music/food industries.