Graphic Design & Visual Communication Major
Be a design thinker. Harness your creativity through print and digital graphics. Start building your portfolio right away.
Design the future you want to see.
Graphic design is the basic language of communication in the modern age. Bridging tradition and innovation, you’ll gain a unique blend of fundamental art and design principles, comprehensive liberal arts studies, and active practice in emerging technologies. And you’ll graduate with a professional-level design portfolio that’s been rigorously critiqued by a panel of guest designers from top design firms.
What Is Graphic Design & Visual Communication?
Graphic design and visual communication studies provide a deep dive into the art and practice of communicating specific messages in a visual way. The work of today’s designers spans an exciting array of media, from conventional printing to emerging digital platforms. That dynamic landscape, combined with the timeless art of graphic design—mixing words and images to communicate visually—assures a rewarding career of disseminating ideas, knowledge, and possibilities to a global audience. If you’re excited by creatively conveying messaging to audiences using graphic design, we invite you to explore with us at Champlain.
Why Study it at Champlain
Like all of Champlain’s academic programs, Graphic Design & Visual Communication is grounded in hands-on learning that puts you at the center of your studies. You’ll have the support of faculty and career counselors to explore the field and uncover your calling. You’ll engage with your work in new ways and consider the impact of graphic design from different perspectives while building your portfolio of work. You’ll graduate prepared to impress clients and employers.
As you develop your personal sense of style and professional toolkit, you’ll prepare for career success. Before you graduate, a panel of guest designers from top design firms and in-house corporate design centers will critique your portfolio to help you accurately present your design principles and best works.
Champlain’s Graphic Design & Visual Communication program is accredited by National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), the national accrediting agency for institutions teaching art, design, and related disciplines.
Different by Design
Hands-On, Right Away
You’ll have the opportunity to jump right in and intern for companies at the start of your first semester, while starting classes in your major right away through the Upside Down Curriculum.
Nationally Accredited
The program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). And it’s designed to prepare students for creative strategy and campaign development, animation and entertainment, or traditional design work.
The Creative Studio Experience
The Creative Studio Experience provides opportunities for curious Graphic Design students to work on real projects and capstones with other students across disciplines. They might design marketing materials for a Film student or packaging for a Business Administration student.
Industry Expert Review
Before you graduate, a panel of guest designers from top design firms and in-house corporate design centers will critique your portfolio to help you accurately present your design principles and best works.
Facts & Stats
of Graphic Design & Visual Communication majors in the Class of 2023 achieved career success within six months after graduation. That’s success you can see.
The median annual salary of graphic design professionals according to Glassdoor.com.
Champlain was named a “Most Innovative School” by U.S. News & World Report in its “America’s Best Colleges” 2024 ranking of universities in the North.
All the design professors I’ve had are amazing! They love talking after class, they’ll help you make connections, and they’ll give you valuable critique to make you better at what you do.”
Sample Courses in the Graphic Design & Visual Communication Major
At Champlain, there’s no waiting to jump into your design courses. You’ll take classes such as Form & Color and The Digital Image in your first year, and you’ll continue to develop your design skills as you progress through the curriculum.
Fourth Year
Concentrations
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Graphic Design Concentration
Tailor your Graphic Design and Visual Communication major with a Graphic Design concentration and master artistic training and technique and explore the production of studio work.
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Motion Graphics Concentration (Graphic Design)
Tailor your Graphic Design and Visual Communication degree with a Motion Graphics concentration and dive deep into bringing visual concepts to life in innovative ways at Champlain College.
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Visual Communication Concentration
Tailor your Graphic Design and Visual Communication major with a concentration in Visual Communication and specializing in using visual design to execute messaging, branding, and information sharing.
Graphic Design & Visual Communication Admission
The Graphic Design & Visual Communication major at Champlain College is a visual art program focused on the creation of array of media, from conventional printing to emerging digital platforms. To be successful, students must enter the program with a strong aesthetic ability and a passion for creating visual art using both traditional and digital media.
As an applicant to the Graphic Design & Visual Communication major, you have the option to submit a portfolio that includes 5 or more artistic pieces or images, and an art narrative.
You might also be interested in these…
Based on your interest in the Graphic Design & Visual Communication major, we thought you also might like to check out these other academic programs and opportunities.
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Majors
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Marketing Communication Major
Businesses run on stories and data. Tune in to emerging marketing strategies and graduate ready for your career, with impressive industry-standard certifications.
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Interaction Design Major
Tomorrow’s technology requires good design to be usable. Specialize in user experience (UX) or user interface (UI) design at Champlain, and create new intersections between human minds and digital spaces.
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Animation Major
Imagine manifesting your colorful childhood imagination on screens large and small. Now imagine getting paid to do it all day.
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Digital Humanities Major
Be a digital pioneer. Bring the fullness of your human self to the study of emerging technology, including Artificial Intelligence, and make sure the digital future is humane as well as human.
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Creative Media Major
Develop your self-expression in our Creative Media major, and learn the business side of interdisciplinary production, digital creation, and entrepreneurship.
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Minors
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Interactive Narrative Minor
Discover different types of narratives that are immersive, non-linear, and engage our audience in a wholly new and unique way. Learn to design these narratives and create all new experiences.
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Writing Minor
Develop strong writing skills in technical writing like journalism and grant writing and more creative writing like poetry and fiction. Increase your media literacy and written communication skills.
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Areas of Study
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Creative Arts & Communication
With many majors to choose from, you decide how to bring your ideas to life and communicate them to the world.
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Education, Humanities & the Sciences
The born educator, the team player, the change maker, the advocate. Which of these human-centered majors fits you career goals?
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Individualized Studies & Undeclared
Learn what you love, and love what you learn with one of these professional pathways.
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Sign Up To Get Stickers + Helpful Info
Ready to be inspired? Fill out the form and sign up to receive helpful information about Champlain College—plus, we’ll send you a full sheet of high quality stickers designed by one of our Graphic Design & Visual Communication graduates.
Career Success
You’ll have a portfolio of work to showcase your talents, versatile designs, and tech skills. 96% of Graphic Design majors in the Class of 2023 achieved career success within six months of graduation.
Your Career Outlook
By the time you graduate, you will…
- have matured as a graphic designer.
- have mastered the basics of form, color, composition, typography, photography, layout, and motion graphics.
- be able to evaluate the aesthetic content of artistic works within a specific historical, cultural, and/or commercial context.
- be able to and apply aesthetic principles within non-original and original works, respectively.
- have an understanding of ethics in practice.
You’ll Find a Career In…
- Identity (brand) design
- Book and publication design
- Environmental graphics
- Exhibition design
- Motion graphics design
- Packaging design
- Website design
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Pre-College ProgramsChamplain’s pre-college summer programs offer motivated high school students the opportunity to immerse themselves in a subject area they’re passionate about, gain new skills, get a taste of college-level coursework, and add strength to their college applications – all while having fun with like-minded peers.
Explore our Programs:
More Inside Graphic Design & Visual Communication Major
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Overview
Be a design thinker. Harness your creativity through print and digital graphics. Start building your portfolio right away.
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Curriculum
Your career in graphic design and visual communication begins now with Champlain’s Upside-Down Curriculum. Discover the difference that doing on day one has on your success.
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Faculty
Learn more about the experienced professionals leading Champlain College's graphic design and visual communication program who are dedicated to teaching and mentoring you.