Graphic Design Program

Are you interested in design school, friends and family of  a student, already a working designer, or one of our own bulldog alumni? Come to this years Senior Portfolio Showcase on April 6, 2018 @ the Ferris University Center: 805 Campus Dr, Big Rapids,  MI 49307 RM. 202.

DESIGN SCHOOL SOUNDS COOL, I'M READY TO SEE WHAT IT'S ABOUT.: Stop by between 1 and 3pm, see Senior work and meet with Juniors to get a feel for what it's all about and tour where we create.
I'M ALREADY IN THE INDUSTRY, SHOW ME WHAT YOU GOT.: Meet with the newest members of the design industry, their young, fresh and eager to show you their work between 4 and 6pm.
BEEN THERE DONE THAT, THOSE  ARE MY OLD STOMPING GROUNDS.: Hey design bulldogs, stop by between 4 and 6pm. After the review come to the first design alumni event in over 10 years. Email dsgn@ferris.edu for more information.

event info

Real Advice from Real Professionals

Every year, the graphic design program hosts an annual portfolio review to showcase their hard work and skills as a young professional. To prepare for this, students meet with premier designers from the West Michigan area to receive feedback on work at the Critique event. Start Garden, a Grand Rapids based company that works to make accessible platforms that turn ideas into actions, opened their doors this year, allowing students to utilize their space. Students met with designers from Herman Miller, Mighty in the Midwest, and many others, collecting feedback on their work and prepping to enter the industry. Allie Crippen — “This was a really great way for students to network with elite design professionals from all over West Michigan and a great way to prepare for interviewing.”

dsgn_ferris

Talking Business with our Friends at Conduit

Design is one part creativity and two parts business. So to understand more about what it takes to thrive in the industry, we talked to our friend and Creative Director John O’Neill at Conduit Studio. He and his team are the masterminds behind some of the most amazing work, from the branding of Artprize to their work with Helen DeVos. To understand more about balancing expenses with profit, we talked specifically on budgeting, and remembering to save money for taxes. Kyle Rice — “I’ve met John several times before, and it amazes me every time the amount of knowledge he has to offer. Taxes as a freelance designer is something that can be very detrimental to your personal expenses, so it great to hear his advice based off of his personal experiences."

DSGN at Ferris State @dsgn_ferris·

October 12, 2018

Alumni @ conferences = fun — at 1871 Chicago https://t.co/zGObABeT1D

See some of our work

Take a look at projects from all class levels ranging from packaging projects to user experience website interactions.

let's see the work

Johnson & Johnson

"Beyond giving me the foundational knowledge, history, art, and craft of design (and demanding a high-bar at that!), the graphic design program at Ferris granted me opportunity to push myself to explore the future of where graphic design was heading. That drive to learn and experiment has played a large part in enabling me to achieve my career goals."

Ryan VanDyke, Amazon Web Services, Seattle, WA

how our program works

Throughout our program students are taught to use a 5 phase process. This guides the students to explore multiple ideas to find the best solution. The process includes multiple steps within each phase, however on a project to project basis, things can adjust, because we know in life not every project is the same.

see why we're different