Graphic Design Program

We are creative problem solvers who apply a disciplined process, and master tools and technologies, to develop solutions to both social and business problems. Students harness strategic, conceptual, and technical skills to create user-centered experiences that inform, educate, and persuade.

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

Ferris Graphic Design Students Travel to AIGA National Design Conference in Minneapolis

Students from the Graphic Design program at Ferris State University attended the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) National Design Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Each day of the conference began and ended with design education, thinking, and networking. In between, attendees schedules were packed with professional development workshops, round tables with premiere industry professionals, an intense design competition, meaningful speakers, social hours, a design fair, and more. Molly Ford — “The conference made me so excited to continue on in this field and to see where my career takes me. It showed me all the possibilities my future has to offer.”

DSGN at Ferris State @FerrisDSGN·

February 24, 2020

https://www.fastcompany.com/90449305/this-is-the-one-skill-designers-need-to-develop-most-in-2020 Agreed, Mr Norman.

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

"I love that I graduated from the College of Business, and felt very prepared in pre-press and typography. The design program taught me how to think through multiple solutions to a problem and how to work with clients from the start."

Kate Disbro, Haworth, Holland MI

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