Art - Graphic Design | Mount St. Joseph University

Our Graphic Design Major Empowers Creatives to Build a Professional Visual Design Skillset.

Graphic design students discover a wealth of opportunities to explore and develop their creative spirit. New technologies are emphasized without compromising foundations. Students develop skills and competencies in problem-solving, multi-page design, information graphics, and brand strategies along with a proficiency in the latest industry software. They also progress through rigorous studio fundamentals such as design concepts, typography, and drawing.

Students who successfully complete the graphic design major will be able to:

Engage in the creative problem solving process that is so vital in our industry, using typography, design principles, color theory, brand identity, symbol systems and information graphics.
Identify the formal, technical and expressive aspects in visual communication.
Understand design principles for web, print and motion.

Learn more about Art and Design in our School of Arts & Sciences video!

Interested in a hands-on art making experience?

Check out the Art Guild!

Program Type:

Undergraduate

Program Format:

On Campus

School & Department:

School of Arts & Sciences
Department of Creative Arts

Leadership:

Michaelann Kelley
Ed.D.
Chair and Associate Professor

michaelann.kelley@msj.edu

Kurt Grannan
M.F.A.
Associate Professor of Graphic Design

kurt.grannan@msj.edu

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The Mount has been Preparing Leaders Since 1920

Top 100

USA Best Colleges for Design

Best Small College in
Southwest Ohio

96.8%

1-Year Career Outcomes Rate

Graphic Design Major at a Glance

70-73
Credit Hours

$665
Per Credit Hour

On Campus
Learning Format

Art Scholarships and Renaissance Awards Available

Graphic Design at the Mount

Betty Brothers Travel Abroad Scholarship

Featured Courses

Brand Identity Design
Discover how to build a brand from the ground up. This course explores the visual and conceptual development of brand identities—from logos and color systems to tone of voice and strategic messaging. Students learn to define brand positioning, create identity systems, and design for consistency across platforms.

Infographics and Experiential Design
This course explores how complex data can be transformed into clear, engaging visuals. Students learn to connect data visualization with experiential design, using typography, space, movement, and form to communicate information effectively across mediums. Collaboration and research are key components throughout the process.

Web Design: UI/UX
Design intuitive, engaging digital experiences. This course introduces students to user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design, emphasizing usability, accessibility, and user-centered design. Students research user needs, create wireframes, and design interactive layouts and prototypes using industry-standard tools.

Hand to Pixel
Bridge the gap between traditional media and digital design. In this experimental course, students blend analog techniques—such as illustration, collage, and hand lettering—with digital tools to explore expressive, mixed-media approaches to visual communication.

Hands-On Learning

Our program emphasizes research, typography, design elements, and visual placement to create an overall impact for a wide array of fundamental and specialized visual communication methods. Students learn and practice a variety of formats for visual communication methods, such as brochures, posters, exhibits, information graphics, and brand identity. The Graphic Design Program encompasses communication concepts for identity, print, and web, while incorporating projects that include presentations, web-based information, collateral material, and other communication media relevant to human relations, marketing, business, and the betterment of society.

One of our hallmarks is working with charitable clients within the classroom, most notably non-profit organizations in Greater Cincinnati and beyond, whose missions align with the Mount’s mission. Through research and visual translation in these projects, we gain an appreciation for diversity of cultures and beliefs as well as respect and concern for all persons.

Program Outcomes and Careers

Students who successfully complete the requirements for our major will:

Be ready for a professional career in the creative field
Have the conceptual and technological skills needed in the industry
Gain professional knowledge of industry standard software like Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign
Be an articulate problem solver
Have a hand in community engagement to cultivate lifelong learning
Engage in the creative problem solving process that is so vital in the industry
Have mastery of typography, design principles, color theory, brand identity, symbol systems, and information graphics
Identify the formal, technical, and expressive aspects in visual communication
Understand design principles for web, print and motion.

Launch Experience

Creativity thrives at the Mount in every form—and there's a space and a community for you. Connect with fellow artists in Art Guild and create public works on and off campus, in Peak Productions to bring stories to life on screen, or express your voice and get published in Writer's Block! At the heart of it all is Studio San Giuseppe, the Mount's professional gallery—which celebrates student, faculty, and visiting artist exhibitions year-round. At the Mount, the arts aren't just extracurricular—they're a vital part of how our students connect, create, and share their vision with the world.