Graphic Design
Learn the art of effective, creative communication.
As a graphic design major at Meredith, you'll develop a clear understanding of the collaborative dialogue between client, audience and designer. You'll learn to solve consumer-centered communication problems, and take works from conception to production.
Students of the graphic design program are exposed to evolving technologies and contemporary developments in photographic and graphic design. And, you can expect to learn by doing - internships are strongly encouraged as a vital component of the graphic design education process.
The Meredith College graphic design program offers individualized instruction and hands-on learning opportunties that allow you to mature artistically as you prepare to become a professional graphic designer. This program combines a background in traditional art concepts with computer design skills, and is structured to enable you to gain the skills and knowledge necessary for practice in the graphic design discipline. Historically, graduates of Meredith's program have been extremely successful in finding employment.
Meredith's art department maintains an extensive exhibition program for instructional purposes and as a link with the larger artistic community. Student involvement in art beyond Meredith is encouraged through experiences in community service, internships, travel, participation in shows and arts organizations.
In addition to majors in studio art, graphic design and art education, Meredith's art department also offers an art history minor, a studio minor, a photography minor with award-winning faculty, and an arts management minor.
The photography minor provides an exciting option both for art majors and for other students seeking focused study in photography. It is an appropriate complement to many majors, including business, communication, criminology, English, graphic design, and studio art. The photography minor is also designed for students who plan to pursue graduate studies and/or careers in fine art photography.
The program makes connections between disciplines and prepares students to navigate a visual culture dominated by photographic images. Students examine important personal, social, cultural and environmental issues through photography. They develop skills in critical thinking and creative problem-solving as well as technical proficiency in both traditional and digital photographic practices.
Meredith's graphic design program offers numerous and varied research and internship opportunities. Recent locations of internships completed by Meredith students include:
- Artspace, Raleigh
- Carolina Ballet, Raleigh
- Carolina Cobras, Raleigh
- Carolina Hurricanes, Raleigh
- Carolina Woman, Durham
- Contemporary Art Museum, Raleigh
- Exhibit Resources, Raleigh
- Exploris, Raleigh
- Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, Durham
- Gallery C, Raleigh
- Guggenheim Museum, NYC
- Lone Wolf Publishing, Raleigh
- Meredith College Department of Marketing
- National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
- North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh
- Raleigh Contemporary Gallery, Raleigh
- The Freer Gallery, Smithsonian, Washington, D.C.
- Visual Art Exchange, Raleigh
Recent undergraduate research topics include "Rembrandt's Depictions of Shame," "Discoveries in Encaustic: A Look Through History" and "The Role of Self Awareness in Visual Artists & Art Therapists."
A graphic design degree prepares students for professional success as well as graduate study. Recent graduates are engaged in a range of professional and academic pursuits, including:
- M.A.in Art History, Rutgers, N.J.
- Graduate School, NC State School of Design
- M.A. in Studio Art, UNC-Greensboro
- Graduate School, New York Academy of Fine Arts
- Graduate Program in Art Therapy, George Washington University
- Freelance Graphic Designer, Raleigh, N.C.
- Freelance Graphic Designer and Illustrator, Raleigh, N.C.
- Interactive Designer, Brooks Bell Interactive, Raleigh, N.C.
- Interactive Production Artist, McKinney, Durham, N.C.
- Archive and Appraisal Assistant, Archive Consultant and Management Services, New York, N.Y.
- Graphic Designer, 5 Star Awards; Meridian Zero Degrees; National Congressional Budget Office
- Sculptor, Ocala, Fla. and Asheville, N.C.
- Art Therapist, Newport News Behavioral Health Center
- Assistant Marketing Manager, North Carolina Museum of Art
- Web Designer, Cafepress.com
- Art Teacher(s), Wake County Public Schools; Franklin Academy
- Art Gallery Staff, Mahler Fine Art Gallery, Raleigh, N.C.; The Circa Gallery, Asheville, N.C.; and, The Colorshow Gallery, Asheville, N.C.
-
3D Art Instructor, Patton High School, Morganton, N.C.
Each year freshman applicants are selected to receive scholarships on the basis of artistic talent. Applicants for art scholarships must send a digital portfolio on CD of 10-12 pieces of art along with the completed Talent Scholarship Application. On the basis of pre-portfolio review, the department selects finalists who will be invited to interview with the art faculty and bring their artwork to campus in February. These scholarships are renewable annually for a total of four years, subject to the recipient's remaining in good standing, being a full-time student pursuing a major in art, and maintaining a minimum quality point ratio of 3.0 (B average) on all art courses taken at Meredith College.
In addition to these discipline-specific scholarship opportunities, Meredith offers a range of merit and need-based financial assistance. Last year, Meredith coordinated $42.8 million in financial assistance.
Meredith’s student/faculty ratio of 11:1 and average class size of 17 ensure that students get to know their professors. In turn, our faculty know students by name and, just as important, are familiar with each student’s unique strengths and interests. This allows faculty to identify interesting research and internship opportunities for students, to write meaningful letters of recommendation, and to support students as they conduct in-depth undergraduate research. In fact, students and faculty frequently work together on such projects—more than 140 were conducted by student/faculty teams last year.
Meredith art faculty include:
- Holly Fischer, ’99, MFA, teaches 3D and professional practices.
- Dana Ezzell Gay, MFA, teaches graphic design and coordinates the graphic design major. Her interests include typography, visual poetry, altered books and interactive media.
- Woody Holliman, MFA, teaches graphic design, facilitates student internships and job placements.
- Cameron Johnson, MFA, teaches 2D, painting, drawing and printmaking; his work is on display in downtown Raleigh, Greenville and Charlotte.
- Shannon Johnstone, MFA, teaches photography. Johnstone has had solo exhibitions in Chicago, Rochester, Durham, and Raleigh.
- Beth Mulvaney, Ph.D., is head of the art department. She teaches all periods of art history.
- Ann Roth, MFA, is gallery director and teaches color theory.
- Jane Terry, MFA, teaches photography, video and digital imaging. Terry has exhibited her work in regional and national venues.
For more detailed information about the graphic design major, please go to the Art Department website.
For information about other majors at Meredith, return to the Admissions majors page.
