BA in Graphic and Interactive Design

Graphic and Interactive Design

On Campus

Graphic and interactive design merges creativity with technology. From designing innovative mobile apps to crafting eye-catching websites, this field offers you the opportunity to express your unique creative vision.

Graphic design students sit in front of the laptops with printed pieces laid out on their desks

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Program Overview

Video poster image showing a smiling student and the Graphic and Interactive Design title

Communication through design

Interactive and graphic designers have more ways than ever to communicate visually with their audiences. We teach you theories of design as well as a broad range of practical skills — from design thinking to mastering industry standard software — that are needed to pursue a successful career in web design, UX/UI, motion graphics, and print and online publishing.

You’ll build a strong foundation in design, including understanding your audience, ideation methods, prototyping and implementation. With small classes, you’ll receive individual attention from your professors, all of whom maintain ties with the professional world that complement their teaching.

And you’ll hone your verbal and visual communication skills through group work and presentations. Our curriculum reflects current, real-world practices, and you’ll have the most up-to-date technology and software in several labs for both coursework and independent projects. Upon graduation, you’ll have a diverse portfolio of work to show potential employers.

Program Statistics

100% Success Rate

Percentage of our 2023 program graduates with a BA in Graphic and Interactive Design who are either employed or pursuing graduate study six months after graduation.

+22K Job Openings

About 22,800 openings are projected each year, on average, in graphic design occupations due to employment growth and replacing workers who leave the occupations permanently. (U.S. of Bureau Labor Statistics, 2023)

$59K Starting Salary

Average reported starting salary for 2022 graphic and interactive design program graduates.

Web Design

As a student, you’ll design your own website as an extension of your personal brand. Your site is a place to store all of your work and will serve as a final display for your capstone project.

View our 2020 senior portfolios

Motion Graphics

You’ll learn about the aesthetics and technical aspects of motion graphics and animation, and apply those skills to developing your own vision.

Motion graphic video — Advanced Motion Graphics by Lisa Ferrara

TV show "Friends" title sequence video — “Friends Title Sequence” by Lisa Ferrara

Game design development motion graphic video — "A Game Developer's Guide to Designing a Game" by Shawn Urban

NASA infographic video — “NASA Infographic” by Leon Kim

Stop motion video — Stopmotion by Raven Rychlec

Print

Great designers know there is more to print than just ads in a magazine. In our curriculum, you’ll explore and design projects covering all aspects of print, including sales materials and collateral, posters and direct mail, while also learning how to understand your audience and how to speak to them.

An example of graphic design student work, a Kings of Leon band poster using the group's lyrics

An example of graphic design student work, a printed promo ad for an upcoming foot race

An example of graphic design student work, a museum exhibit promo poster for Pablo Picasso

An example of graphic design student work, a printed program showcasing blues and greens

Typography

Technically speaking, typography is a way to make type readable and appealing, but it is also much more. We believe typography is an integral component of the art of communication and you’ll learn how to use it to effectively deliver your message.

Partner with real clients at The Agency

Interested in pursuing a career in advertising, marketing, public relations or graphic and interactive design? Build your portfolio and sharpen your skills as you work with real clients at The Agency — our award-winning and student-run interdisciplinary firm.

Within The Agency, students assume roles that prepare them to step in and succeed in professional environments. Some students will serve as dedicated account executives, mastering the art of professional communication as they manage client relationships, set project deadlines, identify key deliverables and share external feedback with their colleagues. Others will work as functional subject matter experts, taking the lead as vice presidents in copy, design, social media or video to deliver the materials and strategies that address the holistic communications needs of their client portfolio.

Offered as a 400-level elective, The Agency epitomizes learning by doing. Under the guidance of our esteemed faculty — many of whom are experienced communications professionals outside of academia — The Agency has successfully funneled student creativity and passion into projects spanning website and app design, social media, print collateral and promotional materials, market research and data analysis, media relations and community engagement and strategic planning and branding.

Student-run Agency earns industry awards

Students collaborating during a meeting for The Agency in the School of Communications. — Students at The Agency work to finalize a new internal logo.

Governor Ned Lamont with student members of The Agency at CT Innovation. — The Agency meets with a new client, Ellis Brooklyn, at the CT Innovations office in New Haven. Agency members had the chance to meet briefly with Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, who is working to bring more innovative, growing companies to the state.

Career-Building Resources

Students speaking to recruiters at the University-Wide Career Fair held in the Athletic and Recreation Center.

Design your career path

With an abundance of career-focused information and resources, the career advisers within the School of Communications support students as they expand their professional networks and attract the attention of prestigious employers.

Learn more about career development

In Their Words

Tyler Blinderman, ’17

Visual Designer, Globoforce

“My time at Quinnipiac could not have prepared me more for finding a job post-grad. From classes dedicated to a variety of subjects from freelancing to negotiating salary, the incredible professors I had made sure that I had all of the resources I needed for my transition out into the working world. Even after I graduated, my professors are still just a text or an email away if I have any questions.”

Lauren Melillo ’12

Manager, Creative Studio

“One of my favorite things to tackle is learning new software. I will never forget leaving my Introduction to Design course and being overwhelmed by the number of tools we had to learn. Fast forward many years later, and the programs are completely different. But, I am so fortunate my professors encouraged us to learn the principles first, to exercise our design thinking, and always put pencil to paper. They taught me the important skill of learning how to teach yourself and to utilize training resources.”