Department Head

Paul Soulellis

Graduate Program Director

Bethany Johns

• Learn more about Graphic Design at RISD

• Department Location and Contacts

Curriculum

• Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)

• Master of Fine Arts (MFA): 3-year

• Master of Fine Arts (MFA): 2-year

Learning outcomes

The program educates undergraduate students to become resourceful designers engaged in reflexive, responsible and sustainable practices. Graduates of the BFA program are prepared to:

• evaluate and critique the effectiveness of visual communication work.

• respond to a communication need by determining an appropriate perspective and following through by form-making using various means: editing, aesthetics and/or appropriation.

• develop and refine personal methods that culminate in a cohesive body of work targeting professional practice, an independent studio practice and/or entrepreneurship.

• work with contemporary and historical tools and software.

Graduates of the MFA programs are prepared to:

• interrogate the use of contemporary and historical tools, software and theory while contributing innovative and critical formal responses to the field of graphic design.

• produce visual form as proof of concept and demonstration of theory.

• contribute, evaluate and critique visual communication work at an advanced strategic level.

• participate effectively in a professional graphic design studio environment.

• initiate an individual or collaborative studio practice.

• convey their expertise through teaching and/or mentoring.

• curate exhibitions of their work and that of others.

• conduct original research and convey it through appropriate modes of writing, publishing, curating and/or exhibiting.