In today's world, we are literally surrounded by graphic design, from billboards to soda cans, from social media posts to political ads. The graphic designer develops engaging material that communicates a pointed message and persuades an audience. The form of the communication can be physical or virtual, and may include images, words, or graphic forms. The work can happen at any scale, from the design of a single postage stamp to a national postal signage system. It can also be for any purpose, whether commercial, educational, cultural, or political. However you define it, graphic design is ubiquitous.

The interdisciplinary minor in Graphic Design asks students to learn, reflect, and act as designers, preparing students for work in the increasingly complex role of design in virtually all facets of business, in both for-profit and not-for-profit fields. The minor complements students’ other fields of study, with the concepts, theories and competencies of design.

Part of being a graphic designer is using Adobe digital graphics software, which is upgraded frequently. Hence, designers also must keep up with the changes in the software. The graphic design courses feature a few software tutorials, but students are expected to train themselves in the digital graphics software. Numerous tutorials for the Adobe software are available through LinkedIn Learning, which is free to all Fairfield students, staff, and faculty members.

Goals and Learning Outcomes

Graphic Design students demonstrate the following knowledge and skills:

• Apply terminology and knowledge relevant to graphic design.
• Demonstrate competency in technical skills applicable to graphic design.
• Demonstrate the ability to use design thinking strategies in an iterative design process.
• Demonstrate the ability to analyze, synthesize, and develop probable solutions.

The Graphic Design minor prepares students for a range of post-graduate opportunities, in the business world, the non-profit sector and graduate school.