Communication Design (BFA)
Communication Design BFA
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Contact Us
thinkparsons@newschool.edu
212.229.5150
Program Contacts
Kelly Walters, Director
Juliette Cezzar, Associate Director
The Communication Design BFA is the oldest undergraduate program of its kind in the United States. In this major, you learn the theory and craft needed to combine words, images, and ideas to visually transmit information and project human experiences in print, on screen, or in space. You begin with an intensive study of typography and interaction and expand your expertise in brand and editorial design, digital products, type design, motion graphics, and spatial graphics.
Program Highlights
Foundations in Typography
Investigate the visual shape of language and the way words appear in relation to one another and to their meaning.Interaction Design and Coding
Explore the relationships between people and digital experiences, and learn the coding fundamentals you need to create projects that live online and influence our digital life.Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Study and work with students in the liberal arts, social sciences, and technology to explore the relationship between design and broader social, technological, and cultural issues.Real-World Insights
Attend design events and conferences hosted by AIGA NY and the Type Directors Club, and interact with design professionals through our program lecture series.
- DegreeBachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)
- FormatFull-time, on campus
- Credits120
- Duration4 years
- Other program statusSTEM-designated
Curriculum
Your BFA begins with Parsons’ first-year curriculum, which serves as the academic foundation for all undergraduate programs at Parsons. From your second year on, you dive into courses in your major field of study. Art and design history and theory courses develop your research, writing, and critical reasoning skills, and university electives broaden your perspectives.
Career Paths
Graduates of the BFA Communication Design pursue careers in brand and editorial design, digital product design, environmental and spatial graphics, exhibition design, data visualization, motion graphics, type design, and UX/UI design. They take on roles at creative agencies, tech giants, start-ups, and cultural institutions.
Explore Our Community
Discover what our students, alumni, and faculty are doing in NYC and worldwide.
Communication Design faculty are drawn from the highest echelons of the design industry. From large companies to independent studios, they represent the diverse ways of working within this field.
Student Work
Communication Design (BFA)
Communication Design (BFA)
Communication Design (BFA)
Communication Design (BFA)
Communication Design (BFA)
Beyond the Classroom
Internships
New York City’s thriving creative industry and cultural institutions are part of your Parsons education. Our Career Services Office is deeply connected to the art and design industries and can help you advance your career with industry-oriented internships.
Making & Academic Resources
Enjoy access to extensive resources including New School libraries, computer labs, archives, and studios, along with Parsons’ state-of-the-art Making Center, facilities offering a broad array of tools to support your creative and academic growth.
Industry Engagement
Connect to the organizations, businesses, and entrepreneurs driving global creativity and commerce. In classes, internships, and extracurricular projects, you gain marketable problem-solving skills in sectors ranging from government and nonprofits to tech and creative industries.
Study Abroad
Enrich your learning and prepare for work in global contexts with study abroad that exposes you to new perspectives and settings in which to apply your creativity. Our study abroad destinations include, Paris, London, Florence, and more.
Related Programs
Undergraduate
Explore sample opportunities to create an interdisciplinary path of study around this major:
Graduate
Communication Design (AAS)
Full-time or part-time program (two years, 60 credits); best suited to students who have college experience in an unrelated field and want to change careers.
