Program Overview
It offers a competitive BFA degree, focusing on both traditional graphic design and interaction design. Graduates are highly sought after in various industries, with strong employment outcomes and career opportunities in fields such as graphic design, web design, and UX/UI. The program provides internships, campus-based design projects, and field trips to enhance students' professional development and industry exposure.
Program Outline
The program offers a BFA in Design, a competitive degree limited to 36 students per year.
Courses in the senior year focus on integrating graphic, production, and digital media design for solving visual communication problems.
Teaching:
Western's Design program
boasts a unique size and depth of curriculum. Students are provided significant opportunities for working with faculty outside of class. Faculty members are actively engaged in the design profession, while prioritizing teaching in their roles.
Careers:
Western's Design program
boasts strong graduate outcomes. According to the 2018-19 Office of Institutional Effectiveness Graduate Outcomes Report, 93% of Design, BFA graduates secured field-related employment within six months of graduation. Career opportunities for graduates span various industries, including private and public sectors. Graduates can find employment in advertising agencies, design firms, in-house departments, and numerous other design-related fields. They can also pursue private consulting in areas like corporate identity, packaging, and web design. Some popular career paths for graduates include:
- Graphic Designer
- Web Designer
- Project Manager
- Art Director
- Digital Image Maker
- Creative Director
- Interactive Designer
- UX/UI
Other:
Western's Design program
offers various benefits for its students:
- Internship opportunities: Students can gain professional development experience through internships with design firms, earning support and professional connections. Studying abroad over the summer also offers another avenue for gaining professional development credit.
- Field trips: The Design BFA senior class embarks on an annual field trip to Seattle, Portland, or San Francisco, visiting renowned design firms and gaining industry exposure. The program fosters a supportive environment where students are encouraged to build their skills and portfolios through coursework and various opportunities.
