BA in Graphic Design

Why choose the graphic design program at North Central College?

Graphic design majors plan and execute the design of visual communication according to the needs of audiences and contexts, to reinforce brand identity. Students complete the graphic design course curriculum to master a broad range of conceptual, formal, and technological skills to create effective communication solutions to design problems. Students can enhance their studies with an additional major or minor, a study abroad or Chicago term, and participate in a graphic design internship program. As graphic design interns, students will be able to stand out in the job market. Internships allow students to gain a deeper insight into the digital media & design field through learning under a senior design team, working on multiple projects, and having more networking opportunities. Internships are a valuable experience you can use to strengthen your portfolio. Graduates are employed in digital marketing, design services, publishing, advertising, public relations, or related services industries.

You can also:

• Utilize a full-scale lab equipped with the cutting-edge, industry-standard hardware and software required for high-intensity graphic creation.
• Access Mac and PC graphics labs dedicated exclusively to declared Graphic Design program majors and minors.
• Enroll in community-engaged, cross-disciplinary, and team-taught courses.
• Compete for Art and Design scholarships.
• Gain hands-on experience by working at our student-run Design Agency creating designs for on and off-campus organizations, while getting valuable client experience.
• North Central College is part of the University Partner Program offered by the Art Institute of Chicago. As part of this arrangement, all North Central students can gain admittance to the AIC free of charge with their North Central students identification cards and have access to lectures, educational programs, and other special events within the Chicago area.

Since 1861, North Central has been a place where new ideas lead to unlimited possibilities. We’re an independent college dedicated to the power of the liberal arts and sciences to transform students into leaders both in their careers and communities. Our nearly 3,000 students study across more than 65 undergraduate and graduate programs, with their education, made richer by supportive faculty and staff, world-class facilities, and countless opportunities to learn beyond the classroom.

A College on the move

Building on the foundation of more than 150 years of excellence, North Central continues to grow with numerous new facilities, programs, and initiatives in the works.

The College opened with 40 students in a single two-story building in Plainfield, Illinois. Since then we’ve changed names twice (to North-Western, then North Central), moved once (from Plainfield to Naperville), and grown steadily (to about 3,000 students).

Over the years, thousands of dedicated students, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends have helped us thrive through the toughest challenges – wars, economic crises, social upheavals, and more – and build a future brilliant with hope and promise.

We’ve met the changing needs of students from Civil War veterans to millennial entrepreneurs. And we’ve always stayed true to our heritage of moral courage and forward-thinking.

Today we’re a top-ranked private comprehensive college of the liberal arts and sciences. U.S. News & World Report counts us among “America’s Best Colleges,” one of the top six schools in the Midwest for a “strong commitment to undergraduate teaching.” Students choose from more than 55 undergraduate majors and five graduate program areas.

Although the College originally discouraged organized athletics as a distraction from weightier matters, our 26 intercollegiate sports in NCAA Division III make our athletic department the largest in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW). North Central is proud of its 32 team national championships and 123 individual national champions.

Though affiliated with the United Methodist Church, we welcome and encourage students and staff of all faiths. We are thoughtfully expanding our academic programs to respond to the needs of our ever-changing world, recently adding Middle Eastern and North African Studies, along with Arabic. And we’re transforming our facilities – most dramatically with a new interdisciplinary Science Center located at the corner of Brainard Street and Van Buren Avenue.

It’s been an amazing 150+ years. But it’s clear that the best is yet to come!