Graphic and Digital Design
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Overview
From ads and creative logos to websites and your favorite brand of coffee, graphic and digital design is an often overlooked yet essential part of daily life. Whether you’re passionate about creating work that connects with people visually and emotionally, or enjoy producing ideas from concept to reality, graphic and digital design might be for you.
At BJU, you’ll sharpen your artistic skills, solve communication problems and develop your personal perspective on design. As a Christian designer, you’ll learn to imitate the Creator through beautiful, compelling pieces that are personally rewarding and helpful for others.
Program
You’ll begin your studies by building a solid foundation on the basics of art in drawing, spacing and color. By developing your computer skills and understanding which software is best for various projects, you’ll learn how technology aids visual communication. And with topics such as consistent branding and consultation, you’ll understand what clients need and how to best deliver their designs.
BJU’s graphic and digital design program focuses on rich visual solutions that resonate with target audiences in an aesthetic, orderly manner. As you create work that people love, you’ll experience the emotional impact of design on fellow image bearers while reflecting God’s goodness and beauty.
Through classroom instruction and hands-on projects in the studio, you’ll develop quality pieces and a strong work ethic that will help you be successful in your career. You’ll also work closely with expert faculty to create a strong, professional portfolio for job interviews. Their feedback and guidance will not only stretch your creativity, but also help you shape your personal worldview as a Christian designer.
BJU Core
In communication, English and history courses, you’ll learn how to effectively connect, interact and empathize with people from different backgrounds. This wide range of knowledge will enable you to draw inspiration from many sources. Bible courses will also help you pursue God in your life and career, informing your business ethics and practices for His glory.
Electives
You can choose your electives from various specialties within the graphic design field such as print, web, branding or experiential design based on your desired career or interests.
Success
Jenny Shahinian Persson, ’98
Perseverance, focus and a good understanding of the fundamentals required to produce the end product were, for me, the tools I took with me after my years at BJU, and it’s these qualities that I try to instill in my students as well.
I had the privilege of studying under some of the most influential people in my life. My mentor at the time was the wise and patient Emery Bopp. He pushed me to the limits artistically and he expected excellence. I can’t begin to count the late nights trying to push myself creatively.
I cannot even begin to count the ways that [a liberal arts education] has opened doors in my life! The fact that I had a liberal arts education further allowed me to work in several areas later on in my life, both as a teacher and a designer. If there’s one thing that I can say about BJU’s liberal arts education it’s that, at least for me, each course contained essential material that was somehow so concentrated that it made some of my colleagues think that I had majored in them!
The faculty, as well as the numerous dear friends that I made at BJU, taught me to think critically and develop self-confidence. The speech classes were the reason behind my being able to speak in front of large audiences at work later on in my life. We were bombarded with culture, and it’s the reason behind how I observe beauty in the details around me. However, it’s the humility in the faculty members that impacted my life the most—gifted individuals that poured their time and knowledge into me without ever drawing attention to themselves as being any more than servants for Christ. It’s what inspired me to teach.
Your Future
Jobs
The graphic and digital design program at BJU unlocks many career possibilities.
- Graphic designer/artist
- Art/creative director
- Brand/ad manager
- UX/web designer
- Marketing specialist
Graduate Schools
Our graphic and digital design grads have been admitted into notable grad schools.
- Academy of Art University
- Boston University
- Indiana University
- Marywood University
- Savannah College of Art and Design
- Seton Hall University
- Texas Tech University
Graduate Experience
Our grads excel in a wide range of organizations and careers.
- EP+Co
- PragerU
- Smash Ink
- Answers in Genesis
- Oobe Apparel Design Group
- Pennsylvania State University
Career Support
BJU offers students several ways to network with employers and organizations. Many jobs are posted each year on Career Central, our online job board. And over 60 businesses and 150 Christian schools/organizations/mission boards recruit students through on-campus interviews and job/ministry fairs.
Our Center for Career & Calling also holds seminars on resume prep and interview techniques for students.
Learning Experience
Internships
Through internships in advertising, marketing and design firms, in-house design departments or ministry design studios in Greenville and around the country, you’ll receive focused, hands-on training in your field. You’ll collaborate with creative directors or art directors to consistently produce professional-quality work that often strengthens your entry-level portfolio.
American Advertising Awards
With a variety of category options, you can compete in the yearly American Advertising Federation-sponsored American Advertising Awards, the nation’s largest advertising competition. Winners in the local competition advance to district, then national competitions.
BJU graphic and digital design students have won over 40 awards—including two national awards. You can use this competition to network in the Greenville market and beyond, even landing jobs because of work you’ll submit.
Midpoint Review
You’ll go through a midpoint review, usually during sophomore year, to check the development of your professional design skills. Your professors will assess your portfolio (class projects, other art and design work) for ability, creativity, problem-solving and project management. This review can help you overcome obstacles and prepare to finish the program while offering encouragement and direction.
Freelance Projects
You’ll use your problem-solving, client interaction, creativity and production skills through various freelance projects for the BJU and Greenville communities. This valuable experience provides early practice in professional designing.
Portfolio Days
Throughout the year, juniors and seniors can receive feedback on their professional portfolios through portfolio review events hosted by schools and organizations such as the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) and the University and College Designers Association (UCDA).
Faculty
Jay Bopp
Division of Art and Design
Our excellent faculty members have completed extensive design education, achieved high levels of skill in professional practice and spent years working in the industry. They’re passionate about art and design and currently practice in their fields.
They’ve won numerous art and graphic design awards, served as competition jurors and workshop presenters, and published essays and articles in art and design journals.
Courses & Objectives
Sample Course Outline
1st Year
2nd Year
- The Making of the Modern World
- Hermeneutics: Interpreting the Bible for Life
- Photography I
- Foundations: Design Theory
- English or Writing Elective
(3 credits)
3rd Year
- Bible Doctrines
- Web Design
- Branding & Visual Identity
- History of Graphic Design
- Program Elective
(3 credits)
4th Year
- Digital Literacy
- Foundations of Economics
- Advanced Design Studies
- Oral Communication for the Professions
- Program Elective
(3 credits)
- Worldview & Apologetics
- Professional Practices
- Graphic Design Internship
- Program Elective
(3 credits) - Electives
(2 credits)
- Program
- BJU Core
- Elective
Program Objectives
Each student will:
- Evaluate and analyze major achievements and individuals of graphic design history and the contemporary design community.
- Create original solutions to design problems of varying complexity in a variety of media utilizing the theories of communication design.
- Design a professional portfolio that meets or exceeds industry standards with utilization of design technology and implementation of typographic skill.