Design (Major)

Design plays an important role at every level of today’s world, communicating information, inciting emotions, and even structuring a space.

In current and future iterations of the industry (because many of the jobs you may have in design haven’t even been created yet), designers must function as the “fusion” between art, business, engineering, research, and science. At Taylor, the Design major includes courses that deliver high-demand skills and expertise for all graphic design and related communications fields.

Taylor’s unique liberal arts approach to academics means that you’ll graduate with the ability to think critically and the flexibility to adapt to a changing, unpredictable world where methods of communication will continuously evolve and expand.

You’ll have opportunities to work with real projects for real clients, learning to operate in the ministry or industry. Most importantly, starting from your first day of class as a freshman to your final senior show, you’ll see God’s heart for beauty and truth, as tenets of our faith are integrated into every class.

Design Degrees

BFA in Design

View Curriculum

Build Skills In:

Digital tools
Visual communication
Typography
Layout
Product identity
Faith and the arts

Career Opportunities:

Print design
Web design
Product design
Clothing companies
Furniture design
Marketing and branding
Galleries and museums

View Art, Film & Media Department

View Faculty

Why a Design BFA?

A standard at art and design colleges, this Bachelor of Fine Arts in Design focuses on the practical, rather than on lecture or discussion classes. With no language requirement (unlike a BA), you’ll take about 14 additional hours of design art classes instead.

Design Degrees

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Design

Students interested in course descriptions and academic policies can check out our Undergraduate Catalog.

A Taylor liberal arts education will prepare you to live and work in a fast-changing world. It also goes a step further: laying a strong spiritual foundation that cultivates wisdom. You’ll become a well-versed individual, equipped with critical thinking skills, a lifelong love of learning, and an appreciation for God’s creation.

View Foundational Core Curriculum.

Modelle Metcalf Visual Arts Center
Taylor’s Art Program is housed in the 38,000-square-foot Modelle Metcalf Visual Arts Center, with specialized classrooms and workspaces for drawing, painting, printmaking, graphic design, photography, sculpture, ceramics, and jewelry making. It also contains a state-of-the-art Mac lab and audio-visual classrooms, two gallery spaces for both professional and student art shows, a photography studio, a lecture hall, and ample space for critiquing works displayed in the hallways. Naturally lit classrooms have storage spaces for student artwork with the option of directed spot lighting.
Metcalf Gallery
Practicums, Internships, and Residencies

Taylor’s Design degree program will prepare you for a successful, fulfilling career, but practical work experience shouldn’t wait until after graduation. Here’s a partial list of places where our students have completed practicums, internships, or residencies:
- Wired Magazine
- Samaritan’s Purse
- The Salvation Army
- Fort Wayne Museum of Art
- South Bend Art Museum
- Animal Planet
- Zondervan Publishing House
- Esquire Magazine
Careers in Design

One of the biggest questions you may be asked when you tell people you’re looking into majoring in any art field like Design is: "What are you going to do with that?" We’re here to tell you: the possibilities are endless!

A BFA offers a competitive edge in the job market, and it’s seen as a gateway degree to a Master of Fine Arts. According to the Wall Street Journal, students who earn a BFA degree have relatively high-income levels, job prospects, and levels of job satisfaction.