MASD Digital Viewbook

MASTER OF ARTS

DESIGN BRANDING ENTREPRENEURSHIP LEADERSHIP

#3 BEST CITY on the Rise – Southern Living

GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA

Greenville’s unique blend of urban living, southern hospitality and natural beauty draws people from across the globe. This is why Greenville is home to countless design, marketing and branding agencies that work with global corporations.

WE ARE THE GO-GETTERS.

Achievers of feats, solvers of problems and makers of wonder. We seek a place that nurtures our curiosity and drives us to chase our dreams. Where deep connections drive innovative thinking and experiences inspire creativity and collaboration. A place that feels right for us and for our future.

FURMAN IS THAT PLACE.

7 Graduate programs

15:1 Graduate student to teacher ratio

98% Placement rate within six months of graduation

#4 Most innovative schools (six years in a row) – U.S. News & World Report

#25 University for students who want to change the world – Business Insider

#15 Best schools for making an impact – U.S. News & World Report

MAKE BOLD CAREER MOVES

LEARN FROM BOLD PROFESSIONALS

NOT JUST A DEGREE. A NETWORK.

We look for diverse student experiences to create a unique atmosphere within our design program. Students learn from each other and lean on each other’s strengths. Every student can network with professionals from across the industry of design, branding, marketing and communication through speaking events, small workshops and mentorships. Our network sets us apart.

Furman’s Master of Arts in Strategic Design program provides students with an advanced understanding of design, business and communication theory. The fully-immersive approach replicates the rhythms and expectations of a professional firm. Think of it as a platform where you can hone your design, marketing, art direction and copy writing skills, and shine among the best in the industry. You’ll enter the job market ready to begin your creative career with a portfolio of professional experience and a network of industry contacts.

SAMPLE COURSES

Type As Message

Design Aesthetics and Strategy

Writing for Brand Engagement

Creating Cultural Impact

Entrepreneurship through Innovation and Design

SAMPLE TRAINING

Portfolio Management, Leadership, Entrepreneurship

2-YEAR PROGRAM

7 core courses

7 elective courses

42 total credits

1-ON-1 portfolio building support

HUNDREDS of career opportunities available

WHERE DO OUR STUDENTS COME FROM?

UNDERGRADUATE MAJORS

Business Administration

Communication Studies

Criminal Justice

English

History

Languages

Marketing

Politics and International Affairs

Psychology

Religion

Sociology

Studio Art

Sustainability Science

Theatre Arts

Theology

Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies

COUNTRIES

United States, India, Nigeria, Germany

QUALITIES WE LOOK FOR IN A STUDENT: •

BE CREATIVE BE ADAPTABLE BE AMBITIOUS

JUDITH RIOS

ATLANTA, GEORGIA CURRENT MASD STUDENT

In December 2020, Judith Rios graduated from Clemson University with a bachelor’s degree in marketing and a minor in brand communications. From her time in a summer internship at an agency in Greenville, South Carolina, where she worked on the social media strategy team, she had a pretty good idea what she wanted to do next.

“Everyone knows the point of an internship is to gain experience, but it’s also to find what you like and don’t like,” she says. “While I loved the team I was working with and enjoyed the projects I was assigned, I found myself gravitating toward where the creatives sat.”

The next step, she decided, would be a program in which she could develop a portfolio. She eventually narrowed her search down to two programs that offered master’s degrees – one of which was Furman’s Master of Arts in strategic design. A desire to broaden her perspective helped Rios make her final selection.

“The MASD program seemed more focused on liberal arts,” she says. “Given that I already had a business background, I thought it would be best to attend Furman. I definitely made the right choice.”

Once she completes her master’s degree, the job hunt begins for Rios. But she’s happy to be entering the job market with some strong advantages.

“The MASD program gave me a portfolio that I am proud of to land a job in the creative field,” she says. “I also learned how to use design principles and to utilize different elements of design to tell a full story. People buy things that align with how they see themselves. I knew this going into the program. But now I know how to create things that actually speak to people.”

VIEW JUDITH’S PORTFOLIO

OLU OGUNBI

BRAND STRATEGIST AND ENTREPRENEUR BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA 2020 MASD GRADUATE

As an undergrad at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Olu Ogunbi began combining his interest in business with his creative verve and his entrepreneurial zest. Applying knowledge from his classes in marketing and experience from his two summer internships, he launched Artfelt Appeal, a media company creating original content and products influenced by anime, pop culture and video games.

After earning his bachelor’s degree in 2012, working for a few years in various professional roles and dissolving his startup, Ogunbi sought a pivot. He found Furman’s Master of Arts in Strategic Design.

“I believed the MASD program would position me as a marketer who has depth in design work,” he said.

“It allowed me to have a better understanding of design thinking and the design process, which ultimately gives me more empathy when working with creatives in the industry.”

Most of all, Ogunbi said, the program clarified his career trajectory: “I wanted to use my background in advertising to start my own business in the creative industry,” he said.

Since graduating from MASD in 2020, that’s what he has done. He continues to work in advertising while establishing his name in the craft beverage industry with Chapman Beverages LLC, bringing the Chapman – a popular non-alcoholic drink in Nigeria – to the U.S. market.

“Our vision is to create a platform at the intersection of commerce and the creative culture,” he said. “Where Red Bull is to extreme sports, we are working to establish a brand centered around the emerging art community. We want to bring people together by encouraging creativity, positivity and a passion for the flavor of life.”

VIEW OLU’S PORTFOLIO

ABBY McELMURRAY DESIGNER, ENDEAVOR

NEW YORK CITY

2021 MASD GRADUATE

As Abby McElmurray ’20 got closer to finishing her Bachelor of Arts in studio art at Furman in Spring 2020, she was on the fence about what to do next.

On the one hand, “I was attracted to the MASD program by the amazing breadth of work the students were able to complete, their growth and knowledge of design in such a short amount of time, and how attractive they were to potential employers,” she said.

On the other hand, she was anxious to enter the industry. So, she started sending out applications in April 2020 – but quickly realized the job market during a pandemic wasn’t ideal. She entered the Master of Arts in Strategic Design program that summer, and now she’s glad she did.

“I’ve realized how much of a blessing it was,” she said. “It allowed me to dive into furthering my education during the pandemic, and when I graduated in December of 2021, I got a job at a sports and entertainment company just when in-person events were kicking off again.”

Entering the MASD program with a broad understanding of design principles, branding and typography, she graduated with a lot more.

“I came out of this program having found my own creative style, fostered rather than sculpted,” she said. “This program is intense and demanding, but what makes it worth it is getting to the summit and looking back, seeing the classmates that carried you at points in the journey, the roadblocks you faced and overcame, as well as the times you flourished and surprised even yourself with your capabilities.”

VIEW

ABBY’S PORTFOLIO

CONNECT + APPLY BREAKING

IT DOWN

42 total credits

$950 per credit hour

$39,900 total