design
SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN
BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS IN DESIGN
AT KU
VISUAL COMMUNICATION DESIGN
PHOTOGRAPHY
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
ILLUSTRATION & ANIMATION
_ Industrial Design and Visual Communication Design students spent three weeks during winter break prototyping bamboo paddleboards in Greensboro, Alabama.
academic
programs Our programs foster the development of real-world problem-solving skills that can be applied to a variety of creative disciplines. We offer a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Design with areas of study in:
Illustration & Animation Industrial Design Photography Visual Communication Design _ Learn more about academics at design.ku.edu/degrees.
WHY KU
1. Small art school experience at a major research institution. Students are held to high academic standards and the average class size is less than 20 students. These factors allow for the development of a close and intellectual community between students and faculty.
2. Strong portfolio preparation. Students have frequent interactions with professionals through critiques, portfolio reviews, and workshops.
3. Unique opportunities outside of the classroom. Students are encouraged to get involved in designspecific student organizations, studies abroad, research projects, campus lectures, workshops, and blitzes.
Students from each program have received top awards from their professional organizations and competitions.
_ See student work at behance.net/kudesign.
Illustration & Animation Images are powerful tools that can inform, influence, and inspire. The Illustration & Animation program trains students how to develop methods for making images that communicate and engage. Students will acquire an effective use of design fundamentals, problem-solving and communication skills, while refining analog and digital technical skills. Business and legal issues, industry practices, portfolios, and employment preparations are also covered.
Professional opportunities include print media, book publishing, motion graphics, entertainment, gallery installation, fashion, toys and games, surface design, and more.
_ Illustration by Laura Strevell
_ Illustration by Dan Rempel
_ Illustration by Kristin Ramsdale
Students have received local, regional, and national recognition, including awards from the Society of Illustrators of New York, the Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles, American Illustration, Creative Quarterly, and CMYK magazine.
Industrial Design The Industrial Design practice is directed toward the creation and development of manufactured products and systems for the mutual benefit of both users and manufacturers of those products. Coursework focuses on conceptional development, form-making, and critical thinking. Project work involves concurrent thinking and making through sketching, model-making, prototyping, understanding of user needs, knowledge of ergonomics, and the ability to work with other professionals. Students tackle design questions and problems that are inspired by the evolution of human behavior, cultural contexts, environment, and social issues.
Starting in the second year of study, Industrial Design students get their own desk on campus. Students work together in a large, open studio. Working collaboratively in a creative environment like this stimulates new ideas and provides
_ Shoes by Dagne Hammond
a “home base.�
Industrial Design projects at KU include furniture, lighting, transportation, toys, running shoes, and medical products. Our students also design services, interactions, and the larger systems in which products exist. _ Electric Guitar by Ashley Shelton
Photography The Photography program at the University of Kansas is dedicated to evaluating and innovating the practice of photography and related media. We offer in-depth instruction in a range of analog and digital, still and moving, lens-based techniques within a rigorous intellectual, creative and critique environment. Our students develop the distinct technical, conceptual and critical thinking skills and personal vision vital to success as contemporary photographers and professional practitioners. Students also choose a concentration area outside of photography –a self-selected sequence of three courses in a myriad of content areas– to help inform their visions as photographers.
Students enjoy unique access to state-of-the-art facilities, including cutting-edge digital imaging labs with flatbed and virtual drum scanners and large format inkjet printers, a spacious and fully equipped lighting studio, a traditional wet darkroom with twenty enlarging stations, a _ Photo by Michelle Lopez
dedicated alternative processes lab, and an expansive collection of camera, video, and sound equipment available for student check out. Additionally, the student-run Corridor Gallery offers tangible experience in developing, curating,
_ Photo by Hayden Parks
and installing gallery exhibitions.
Visual Communication Design Visual Communication Design students learn to combine communication and technology with design and business to create powerful visual solutions. Students become adept at analyzing communication problems and inventing beautiful and appropriate solutions to respond to human needs and improve the quality of business, government, and everyday life. Course content deals with a variety of visual communication design problems related to the community, society, industry, commerce, and advertising. Attention is given to the development of a well-rounded, representative, and quality portfolio. KU Design has a fully-equipped letterpress studio and offers a certificate in Book Arts.
Professional opportunities for graphic designers include traditional print media, publication design, corporate marketing communications, packaging design, branding, exhibition and environmental design, web design, motion graphics, software _ Packaging design by Chloe Hubler- AIGA A13 Award Adobe Design Achievement Awards Semi-Finalist
interface design, and more.
KU Design has been awarded “Best School” six times by the National Student Show in Dallas, Texas.
_ See student awards at cargocollective.com/kuvisualcommunication. _ Brand design by Jenny O’Grady - AIGA A13 Award
student
life
KU Design Week This student-led week of creativity, collaboration, and community aims to promote interdisciplinary design thinking to KU students and beyond through lectures, activities, and events..
_ More at design.ku.edu/design-week.
_ Design Week 2017
Blitzes & Workshops Each semester, KU Design students have the opportunity to participate in workshops or blitzes. These projects are led by outside professionals or organizations in collaboration with KU Design faculty. Recent projects have included re-packaging of products such as batteries, cereal and juice boxes, and redefining the movie theater experience.
_ More at behance.net/KU_BlitzWorkshops.
Study Abroad KU Design offers study abroad programs during winter break, summer session, or for a full semester. In recent years our students have studied in Australia, Cuba, England, Finland, Germany, Italy, and Sweden. _ More at design.ku.edu/study-abroad.
Center for Design Research The CDR offers courses and opportunities for collaboration with industry-sponsored projects. Recent companies include AT&T, Bayer Healthcare, Cessna, Ford, Garmin, and Sprint.
_ More at cdr.ku.edu.
KIOSK is an awardwinning studentproduced literary and art magazine.
creative careers You can find our alumni across the country working as artists and entrepreneurs, photographers, cinematographers, editors, industrial designers, archivists, UX specialists, account executives, graphic designers, and curators in a wide range of creative fields, including arts organizations, galleries, and museums, advertising, communications, media, editorial, and publishing.
The Hallmark Symposium Lecture Series Through the generosity of the Hallmark Corporate Foundation, KU Design hosts 14 lectures a year given by nationally recognized, creative professionals from the United States and abroad. The lecture series is a great opportunity for students to learn how professional designers solve problems, create, and work with clients. Recent speakers have worked at DreamWorks, Hallmark Cards, Nike, Pixar, SFMOMA, and Timberland. Speakers often engage with KU Design students through portfolio reviews, workshops, and other networking events.
_ More at design.ku.edu/Hallmark.
Portfolio Reviews and Career Fair Each spring, area professionals come to KU for the day and meet one-on-one with students. All Design areas have a required portfolio and professional practice course in which they build professional portfolios.
Professional and Student Organizations Student organizations provide networking opportunities with peers and professionals. KU Design has several design-specific student organizations: Prototype (AIGA Student Group for Illustration & Animation and Visual Communication Design), Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) Student Chapter, Women in Industrial Design, and Jayhawk Photo Group (.jpg).
Recent graduates are working at Airbnb, Buzzfeed, DropBox, FitBit, Fossil, Hallmark Cards, IBM, Michael Kors, and Refinery 21.
studios & labs Chalmers, Marvin, and Snow Halls Students have access to computer labs, print labs, letterpress studios, lighting studios, traditional darkroom and finishing studios, 3-D printers, laser cutters, CNC routers, and industrial-scale robots for cutting, assembling, printing, and building.
_ Marvin Studios - Laser Cutter Lab
_ Snow Hall - Model Shop
Renovated in 2017 by students in the Architecture program, the Chalmers Gallery + CafĂŠ includes the Art & Design Gallery and Supply Shop. _ See this student project in action at goo.gl/aVMMPn. _ Chalmers Hall - Gallery + CafĂŠ
East Hills Design-Build Center Our 65,000-square-foot East Hills Design-Build Center is 1.5 times the size of a football field and is unmatched by facilities in any other design school. This is where our students bring their designs to life. _ East Hills - Assembly Area
_ East Hills - Studio Area
visit KU Design Camp KU Design Camp is a pre-college summer program offered for high school students interested in Design. Campers have the option to stay on KU’s Lawrence campus, learn in hands-on studios taught by KU Design faculty, hear keynotes from leaders in the design industry, and work alongside current KU Design students.
KU Architecture & Design Day Each fall, Department of Design faculty and students share their passion for design in academic information sessions and tours. The day includes portfolio reviews with our faculty.
_ Learn more at design.ku.edu/visit.
Contact Email: design@ku.edu Web: design.ku.edu
admissions For admission to KU, admission to the Department of Design, and eligibility for University scholarships, apply at admissions.ku.edu.
Incoming Freshmen Must be admissible to KU by assured admission or individual review: 21+ ACT (1060+ SAT) and 3.25+ GPA or 24+ ACT (1160+SAT) and 3.0+ GPA Preferred academic qualifications: 24+ ACT (1160+ SAT) and 3.2+ GPA
Important Dates November 1
Priority application deadline for fall semester University scholarship deadline for fall semester
February 1
Final application deadline for fall semester
Transfer Students 3.0+ cumulative college GPA
Important Dates February 1 October 1
Final application deadline for fall semester Application deadline for spring semester
Portfolio Submit portfolio online at kudesign.slideroom.com Required from all applicants: • 10-15 images of creative work • Brief response to essay questions _ Scholarship & tuition information at affordability.ku.edu. Course transfer information at credittransfer.ku.edu.
The University of Kansas Department of Design is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.
The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race,
Department of Design
color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability,
Marvin Hall 200
status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status,
1465 Jayhawk Blvd.
gender identity, gender expression and genetic information in the University’s programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Director of the Office of Institutional Opportunity and Access, IOA@ku.edu, 1246 W. Campus Road, Room 153A, Lawrence, KS, 66045, (785) 864-6414, 711 TTY.
Lawrence, KS 66045 Email: design@ku.edu Web: design.ku.edu