Graphic Design

graphic_designBachelor of Arts

Graphic designers work in advertising agencies, marketing firms, newspapers and magazines, design studios, and marketing departments of large companies. They work with print, web and multimedia materials.

With MNU’s graphic design program, you can choose from three areas of emphasis: art, computers, or marketing.

Art – take courses in drawing, color, printmaking, art history and more.

Computers – take courses in programming, data base systems, web motion design and more.

Marketing – take courses in sales management, consumer behavior, international marketing, marketing research and more.

Whatever specialization you choose, you’ll take foundation courses in digital media, typography, web design and public relations, a strong background for a wide range of jobs in design, marketing and media.

Why MNU?

The department’s Macintosh computer lab offers all the technological resources you’ll need to develop your skills with cutting-edge design software.

Clubs & Organizations

The Trailblazer Times

The official student newspaper of MidAmerica University is published both online and in-print, designed and produced by students.

Conestoga

MNU’s student yearbook offers another opportunity for students to participate in creating a publication from start to finish, including writing, editing, photography and production.

Scholarships & Financial Aid

MNU has collected a list of outside scholarship resources, including a graphic design scholarship [http://www.mnu.edu/services/sfs/scholarships.php ]. Follow the link for more info.

Internships

For graphic design students, an internship in a professional design environment is required. It’s a great way to gain experience and make connections within the field; like many careers, graphic design is much easier to break into with some internship experience on your resume. A few locations where MNU students have interned include:

• Attig Photography

• Harmon Smith Advertising

• Premier Studios

• Impact Design

• The Olathe Daily News

Careers

Drawing on both artistic talent and technological skills, graphic design is a fun and rewarding career. It’s competitive, though, so you’ll want to present an outstanding portfolio when you begin looking for jobs. Within the field of design, you have lots of career options:

• Animator

• Art Director

• Desktop publisher

• Digital graphic designer

• Digital video producer

• Graphic designer

• Illustrator

• Layout artist

• Multimedia designer

• Production artist

• Video game designer

• Web graphic designer

Alumni

MNU alum Cheri Bladhom (‘77) is currently one of the top illustrators in the Christian publishing world, working with publishers such as Bethany, Tyndale and Zondervan. She recently illustrated 16 scenes for a new book by Max Lucado titled Small Gifts in God’s Hands.

Contact

Brian B. Merriman

Assistant Professor of Graphic Design

E-mail: bbmerriman@mnu.edu

Phone: 913-971-3637