Communications Design, BFA (Emphasis in Illustration)
The Communications Design curriculum embraces the multifaceted and interdisciplinary nature of communication design practice. Our courses and projects promote the rich exchange embodied in a studio culture that values the development of individual perspectives, critique, visual literacy, media fluency, experiential learning, and innovative formal outcomes.
Second-year coursework introduces fundamental theories, methodologies, and skills central to communication design. Courses prompt students to define and explore a design process that engages research, historical and contemporary contexts, experimentation, audience, technology, and play in the construction of meaningful visual forms.
Upper-level studio courses prompt students to engage in increasingly complex projects that introduce time-based media, visual systems, branding, and installations. Beginning in the third year, students develop an individual focus or set of interests inside the larger discipline through courses in their chosen area of emphasis: graphic design or illustration. Electives both inside the department and throughout the Institute expand the core curriculum, allowing students to explore ways of thinking and making throughout the visual arts.
Emphasis in Illustration
Students who select the Illustration Emphasis take a series of upper-level studio courses that explore topics particularly relevant to image-based communication, such as advanced storytelling, socio-political commentary, and authorship. Upper-level courses related to the illustration emphasis encourage experimentation with multiple technologies, platforms, and techniques. Electives provide opportunities to explore a wide spectrum of contemporary illustration practice, including graphic novels, animation and 3D modeling, independent publishing, production design and character design
| Semester 1 | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| FDC-140 | Visualization/Representation | 3 |
| FDC-150 | Space, Form, Process | 3 |
| FDC-160 | Light Color Design Lab | 3 |
| HAD-111 | Themes in Art and Culture I | 3 |
| HMS-101A | Literary and Critical Studies I | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| FDC-141 | Visualization/Representation/Concept | 3 |
| FDC-161 | Light Color Design Studio | 3 |
| FDC-180 | Time and Movement | 3 |
| HAD-112 | Themes in Art and Culture II | 3 |
| Social Science “Global” Core Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Semester 3 | ||
| COMD-240 | Research, Analysis and Process | 3 |
| COMD-241 | Image as Communication | 3 |
| COMD-242 | Process and Production | 3 |
| HAD-365 | History of Graphic Design & Illustration | 3 |
| Social Science “Thinking” Core Elective | 3 | |
| Math/Science Core Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 18 | |
| Semester 4 | ||
| COMD-250 | Typography and Information Design | 3 |
| COMD-251 | Dynamic Imagery | 3 |
| COMD-252 | Digital Prototyping | 3 |
| HMS-201A | Literary and Critical Studies II | 3 |
| History of Art and Design Elective | 3 | |
| All Institute Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 18 | |
| Semester 5 | ||
| COMD-370 | Branding and Messaging | 3 |
| COMD-371 | Integrated Viscom I:cross Platform Dsgn | 3 |
| CDILL-377 | Illustration Intensive | 3 |
| Liberal Arts Post-Core Elective | 3 | |
| All Institute Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Semester 6 | ||
| COMD-380 | Product,Environment,Material | 3 |
| CDILL-387 | Illustration Intensive 2 | 3 |
| Pratt Integrative Course | 3 | |
| Liberal Arts Post-Core Elective | 3 | |
| Department Elective/All Institute Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Semester 7 | ||
| COMD-381 | Integrated Viscom 2:NEW Forms | 3 |
| CDILL-402 | Illustration Intensive 3 | 3 |
| Liberal Arts Post-Core Elective (300-400 level) | 6 | |
| Department Elective/All Institute Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Semester 8 | ||
| CDILL-403 | Illustration Senior Thesis | 3 |
| COMD-405 | Professional Practice | 3 |
| Liberal Arts Post-Core Elective (300-400 level) | 3 | |
| All Institute Elective | 6 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 126 | |