Interested in Graphic Design?

While Elon does not offer a standalone Graphic Design major, many of our Studio Art graduates have launched successful careers in design—including roles at Vogue, Belk, and the North Carolina Museum of Art. Visit our Alumni page to learn more about recent graduates working in design and related creative fields.

Through thoughtful course planning and Elon’s flexible curriculum, students can customize their experience to gain the skills needed for a design career—all while benefiting from a well-rounded liberal arts education.

Charting Your Path in Design

Pairing a major in Art with a second major or minor in Communication Design is an excellent way to prepare for a job in graphic design or for graduate study in the field.

Design education at Elon focuses on both digital and analog foundations, including:

  • Drawing and Art History
  • Hands-on design and intermedia work
  • Courses in the Intermedia and Photography concentration, where students explore digital media, visual culture, and the impact of technology on contemporary life

In their senior year, Art majors complete a self-directed thesis project, culminating in a public exhibition of their work.

At Elon I spent countless hours in Arts West where I had access to more resources than I could ever have imagined. After graduating from Elon and moving to a MA program in Advertising, I found myself confused as to how a nationally-ranked art and design school could hardly offer me any resources without extreme cost or difficulty in obtaining printing, vinyl cutting, or basic supplies. This realization has made me even more grateful for Elon’s Art program than I already was when I was there. My love for Art At Elon goes far beyond access to necessary supplies – the faculty in the Art program are incredibly talented and caring individuals who share a common goal of fostering artistic and academic growth in all of their students.

Adrianne Hanson, ‘14

Studio Spaces & Equipment

All Intermedia and Photography courses are held in large, well-equipped Mac studios featuring:

  • Industry-standard software
  • Epson printers (large and small format)
  • Scanners, vinyl cutter, and 3D printer
  • Nikon and Canon DSLRs
  • Audio recording equipment

These resources support students as they build a robust, competitive design portfolio.

Becoming a Designer and a Thinker

Great graphic design programs go beyond software skills—they teach students to be artists, critical thinkers, and creative problem-solvers. That’s a hallmark of Elon’s Studio Art program.

To gain client-based and applied creative experience, students should:

  • Take courses in Communication Design
  • Consider electives in Business, Marketing, or Computer Science, depending on their goals
  • Join student-run organizations like Creative Resolution and Live Oak Communications, where they’ll work on real-world projects and build their portfolios
  • Pursue off-campus internships with support from faculty and the Student Professional Development Center
Photoshop Expressive mobile app campaign by alumni Kelsey Reifler.

Photoshop Express Campaign by Kelsey Reifler, BFA 2012. Kelsey is the founder of Reifer Studio, a boutique creative studio offering strategic design solutions across branding, packaging, and campaign creative.

Learn More

We encourage you to explore the rest of our website to learn more about the Studio Art program and how it can be tailored to fit your interest in design.

For questions about customizing your course of study, please contact Associate Professor of Art and Intermedia Coordinator Ryan Rasmussen.