The Master of Fine Arts Graphic Design program provides a two-year, sequenced studio approach to advanced design thinking and problem solving for visual communication, preparing students to thrive in a dynamic, creative professional environment.

During the first year of study, students are challenged to articulate a design perspective and method through studio projects, emphasizing the key principles of form, communication, authorship, audience, and medium. Students are invited to think creatively and strategically—developing content, defining an audience, and determining an optimum communication platform. This development of a body of work culminates in the second year of study with the Master’s thesis, a personally driven creative research project that presents the individual student’s visual and critical methodology and examines topics relevant to contemporary design practice.

Faculty work closely with students to strengthen both technical skills and conceptual capacity through a mixture of carefully defined and open-ended projects. As professionally practicing designers with broad networks in and beyond Boston, faculty serve as an entry point into the field through active mentorship.

Graduate Graphic Design students are encouraged to actively participate in the Boston-based design community to cultivate their own professional network through special programs including Graduate Open Studios and a visiting designer lecture series.

Program of Study

The Graphic Design studio forms the program’s core. All graduate Graphic Design students are expected to demonstrate a deep commitment to their design practice by maintaining regular studio habits. During the first year of study, students are challenged to develop a design methodology and hone their skills and interests. Through a combination of carefully defined and open-ended projects, first-year graduate students articulate a design perspective and method through studio projects, emphasizing the key principles of form, communication, authorship, audience, and medium.

The second year of graduate study is devoted primarily to research and production of the Master’s thesis. Presented as a group exhibition at the Boston University Art Galleries, the thesis student ensures that each graduate student produces an original contribution to the field of Graphic Design at the conclusion of their two years of study.

Required courses in Graphic Design Theory and various design electives complement the core Graphic Design studios, affording students the opportunity to specialize in areas of interest and providing the broad skillset and knowledge essential to navigating in an ever-changing discipline. Graphic Design elective courses currently include Information Design, Design for the Web, Interactive Design, Experience Design, Motion Graphics, History of Graphic Design, Editorial Design, and Exhibition Design. Students are also encouraged to take electives in studio art within the School of Visual Arts, which include Printmaking, Photography, Drawing, Painting, Sculpture and Installation, and more.

An annual program of visiting designers, artists, and critics brings nationally and internationally distinguished creative professionals to present their work, host workshops, and participate in group critiques of students’ work, providing a multitude of voices and essential contact with the industry. In order to take full advantage of the benefits offered by a large university, graduate students are required to take 4 credits of liberal arts courses from across the University.

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Facilities and Resources

Graduate students have 24-hour access to design studios on the 4th floor of the 808 Building, including private studios spaces and larger communal work spaces.

Facilities also feature cutting-edge equipment to realize design projects, including large-format printers, a Risograph printer, vinyl cutters, and bookbinding equipment. Students have access to BU’s Engineering Product Innovation Center (EPIC), an impressive 15,000-square-foot, multi-million dollar engineering, and manufacturing facility located right near the College of Fine Arts buildings.

Graduate Visiting Artists & Critics

In addition to working closely with core full-time faculty, graduate students benefit from regular visits with working designers and critics, who present lectures and conduct studio visits.

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Important Dates

Program Faculty

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  Kristen Coogan

  Associate Professor of Art, Graphic Design; Chair, Graduate Graphic Design

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  James Grady

  Assistant Professor of Art, Graphic Design; BU Spark! Creative Director; Principal, Design Axl

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  Nicholas Rock

  Assistant Professor of Art, Graphic Design; Director of Graduate Studies

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  Christopher Sleboda

  Associate Professor of Art, Graphic Design; Chair, BFA Graphic Design

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  Mary Yang

  Assistant Professor of Art, Graphic Design