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Instructions for Applying

• How do I apply?
  Apply online at  before the posted deadline. Students will self enroll in a Canvas course through the previous link. Answers to the review questions and portfolios will be posted here before the posted deadlines.
• Candidates must have the following status

  To be considered for admission into the limited access program in Graphic Design, applicants must:

  1. Be accepted to the ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ.
  2. Have passed all prerequisites leading up to and including ART1600C Digital Imaging Methods with a minimum of a C or approved state equivalent, AND be enrolled in, or have completed:
     1. GRA2190C Graphic Design: Principles
     2. GRA2160C Graphic Design: Process and Methods
     3. GRA2110C Graphic Design: Creativity and Critique
     4. GRA2208C Type Visualization
  3. Have a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or better.

  Transfer Students, please note:

  Transfers MUST be accepted to the university and have an N-number in order to apply to the program. Do not apply as a Graphic Design major.Transfer students applying to the University as GD will be placed on hold (students cannot apply directly to a limited access major). Please apply as a non-limited major. The department recommends applying as another Fine Arts major. If/when you are accepted into the program, your major will be changed to Graphic Design.

  Faculty recommends transfer students enroll in Graphic Design prerequisite and core classes at ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ. Transfer students who have completed GRA2190C Graphic Design: Principles or other state equivalents to the above core classes must pass with a minimum of a C. Please work with admissions or an academic advisor to check on all transfer credits. 

• Review Day
  Faculty will review the submitted written component and portfolio from the Canvas course on the designated review date per term (week 9 of each semester). Students' design work and writing will be evaluated and used to determine acceptance into the GD. There are limited spaces available for entry into this limited access program. Students will be ranked in order by scores from the evaluation form. Students will receive notification via email and in the mail within approximately one week. The committee's decisions are final.
• If Approved

  Students will be notified of their status by mail or email prior to registration for the following semester. Students should follow the recommended course of study made available through the department. Accepted students will be allowed to register for Limited Access classes for the following term. Students reviewing in Fall will be available to take Spring classes, students reviewing in Spring will be available to take Fall classes.

  Your advisor will be notified of the committee's decision and your major will be changed in the system for you. Therefore you should not have any holds for registration. Admission into the Limited Access program does not guarantee enrollment in any given class during a specific term.

• If Denied
  Students will have 1 additional chance to submit a revised portfolio in an upcoming semester. Faculty decisions are considered final, portfolios may not be re-evaluated after the completion of the review. Please review the department letter for suggestions of what needs to be improved before the next review. You may discuss your portfolio with a design professor for suggestions and improvements to your work.

The Portfolio

• What do I include in my portfolio?

  Please create a portfolio of 8 visual arts pieces for the committee to consider. The portfolio should include a minimum of 6 graphic design works.

  Graphic Design Works (6 minimum)

  At least 6 works MUST be graphic design-based (typically typography + image) and MUST come from projects (not smaller skill-building exercises) completed in the following GD core pre-req classes:

  • GRA2190C Graphic Design: Principles
  • GRA2160C Graphic Design: Process and Methods
  • GRA2208C Type Visualization
  • ART1600C Digital Imaging Methods (or ART2605C Basic Computer Images)

  Other Works (2 maximum)

  No more than 2 examples of fine art from the following categories: photography, illustration, painting, drawing, or printmaking. You may also submit graphic design work done outside of the GD core pre-req classes for these examples. (A cohesive series of any of the preceding may count as a single work.)

  Do not submit examples or photographs of 3-D work, such as sculpture, ceramics, 3-D computer rendering.

  Process

  Process slides are required for your design pieces. Multiple slides can be placed after each of the design projects. Include stages of process that show progression to the final result. Be sure process shows all phases of your work, from conceptualization to execution.

  You may include process for your 2 other works if you have it, but it is not required.

  Slide List

  Make a slide list of thumbnails for the 8 works in the portfolio submission on the last page of the PDF. Include the following information: project name, term and date, materials or programs used, and class name.

  Submission PDF

  Portfolios will be submitted in Canvas as a multi-page PDF document.

  • Final files should not exceed 50 MB.
  • Create in Landscape/Horizontal orientation
  • Saving as screen quality will help keep file size down.
  • Test your file to make sure it opens and has all the required information, designed as you intended.

  Present your work in a well-designed portfolio

  • Don’t over design it — your projects should be the main focus
  • Clean up your digital documentation of your work
    • Image quality should be clear and not pixelated
    • Scans and other documentation of your work (including process) should have good lighting, be in focus, be cropped to remove any cluttered backgrounds, be adjusted as necessary to show the work in good contrast
  • Organize, align
  • Proofread — careless typos and spelling issues indicate a lack of attention to detail
  • It helps to give a little context for each piece (labels, very brief descriptions — don't crowd your slides with a lot of text, as the work should speak for itself)
• Reviewers will be considering the following criteria for evaluation

  Creativity: Approach to design problems/assignments, concepts and ideas.

  Exploration/Process: Level of experimentation with solutions at all stages of the design process. Visual proof of testing is evident.

  Overall Design and Composition: Arrangement of visual elements on the page, which shows consideration of form, composition, principles, details and typography.

  Technical Proficiency: Ability to use the computer and an understanding of software, digital camera, scanners and other relevant technology as effective tools in the execution of design work.

  Communication in written form: Ability to organize and express ideas clearly, use design terminology, correct use of spelling & grammar and fully answer the questions by supporting the main ideas. Meets minimum length on writing requirements.

Portfolio Review Questions

• Please answer the following questions

  Answer the question below.
  

  1. Discuss a professional work of graphic design (designed by someone other than you) that you consider effective visual communication based on message, concept, format, and design principles. Include a visual reference and examine the designer, client, and audience to help expand your reasoning.
      
  2. Discuss areas in the graphic design field that you find motivating and offer insight into your decision to apply to the program.
• Portfolio review question requirements
  • Insert reference imagery at the top of the page to accompany your essay (required for first, as relevant for second).
  • Express your thoughts fully and clearly, using a formal writing style.
  • You will be evaluated on clear communication, use of design terminology and spelling/grammar.
  • Proofread for typos, spelling errors, grammatical errors, etc. Good visual communicators must also be good verbal communicators.
  • Your answers should be approximately 250–500 words per essay.
  • Respond to each prompt on a separate page.
  • Save both responses in one file as a PDF. Name your file: your last name, first initial, and "essays," followed by term and year (ex: smithb-essays-F23.pdf)
• Transfer Students

  Transfers MUST be accepted to the university and have an N-number in order to apply to the program.

  Apply to the University first. Use a Fine Arts major when you apply.

  Your application to the University will be held up if you apply directly as Graphic Design (students cannot apply directly to a limited access major).

  Faculty recommends transfer students enroll in Graphic Design prerequisite and core classes at ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ. Transfer students should have completed GRA2190C Graphic Design: Principles and other state equivalents with a minimum of a C. Please work with admissions or an academic advisor to check on all transfer credits. 

• Additional Information

  Students in the Limited Access program in Graphic Design will need to go through the Limited Access Review process again if;

  1. A student leaves the program for more than 3 consecutive terms.
  2. A student receives a failing grade in a Graphic Design core required course in the term they review.

  If breaking continuous enrollment for 2 semesters or more, the student must discuss re-enrollment options with the faculty and advisors.

  Students that changes majors or declines admission after being accepted into GD, are no longer permitted to enroll in Limited Access classes.