Graphic Design at Moore prepares you to think critically, design fearlessly and communicate effectively through diverse media.

You’ll build a strong foundation in typography, branding, motion graphics, UI/UX, digital illustration and visual storytelling while adapting your skills for print, web, interactive platforms and experiential design. You’ll join a team of award-winning peers—our graphic design students win competitions year after year! Each project will challenge you to merge your concepts with craft and exceed professional standards. As the first independent art and design college in the United States to become an Adobe Creative Campus, Moore connects you to dedicated faculty and real clients. You’ll take on challenges that build your confidence in your portfolio. Plus, you’ll learn from international leaders in graphic design through the department’s Visiting Artist Workshop, attend exclusive conferences like the Adobe Creative Retreat and contribute design options to promote our annual Senior Show

Internships That Launch Careers

Every Graphic Design student pursues a guaranteed paid $1,000 internship between their junior and senior years. Moore puts you in the field early, allowing you to grow your toolkit and make connections that lead to career opportunities.

Graphic Design students and alumni have landed internships and jobs at places like..

Anthropologie

Anthropologie

Campbell's

Campbell's

Philadelphia Eagles

Philadelphia Eagles

Network with Industry Leaders

Through special events, you’ll meet guest speakers and critics who’ve walked the path you’re on. Ask questions, gain valuable feedback and build relationships that open doors in graphic design. Here’s a glimpse of some of our recent visitors:

Anna Crider

Anna Crider

Crider is the principal of Entro, a world leader in the field of branding and environmental design, with a legacy dating back 50 years and offices around the world in New York, Toronto, Calgary, Sydney and Zürich.

Gail Anderson

Gail Anderson

Anderson is a New York-based designer, educator and writer, and the first woman of color to be honored with the American National Design Awards’ Lifetime Achievement award from the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, in 2018. 

E Bond ’96

E Bond ’96

A San Francisco-based artist and Moore alum, bond makes web work by day at Athleta and handmade, one-of-a-kind books and other printed pieces at night, under the studio name roughdrAftbooks.

Visiting Artist Workshop

You’ll also participate in the annual three-day Visiting Artist Workshop, an exclusive opportunity for students in the Graphic Design major, and learn directly from design experts like these:

Google Creative Lab

Topic: Design for Social Causes

Paula Scher

Paula Scher of Pentagram

Topic: Designing for Nonprofits

Example of Gustavo Piqueira's work.

Gustavo Piqueira of Casa Rex, São Paulo, Brazil

Topic: Publication Design

“The professional development opportunities in the Graphic Design major are amazing. I put together a polished portfolio, website and demo reel, and the faculty really brought home how important our professional networks are. They want us to be active in our communities and reach out to our connections." KAYLA-ROSE DRISCOLL ’25, GRAPHIC DESIGN

Technology and Creative Spaces

Explore advanced tools and workspaces for Graphic Design students, including the Cricut machine, board shear and wire-bending machine in our Graphic Design workshop.

Graphic Design students working on computers. Photograph by Erin Blewett

Computer Labs

Graphic Design majors have access to everything you need for digital work: 27” iMacs, Epson P800 17”x22” inkjet printers, Xerox black and white and color printers, and scanners for documents up to 18”x24” in size 

A printer with a black and white portrait printing.

Print Center

For wide-format work, including multiple 44”-wide photo-quality inkjet printers

A laser cutter cutting out a design in wood in the FabLab

FabLab

Your future favorite place on campus, featuring a laser cutter/engraver, 3D scanners/printers, CNC Router, ceramics decal printer and a digital embroidery machine

Cameras on a shelf in the Equipment Cage

Equipment Cage

Rent the same equipment the pros use, such as professional Canon SLRs and mirrorless cameras up to 45 megapixels, Prosumer DSLR and point-and-shoot cameras, film SLR cameras, 4 x 5 film cameras, HD video cameras, tripods, and audio accessories like digital audio recorders, boom mics, gimbal stabilizers, and more

Two students photographing another student sitting on a stool in front of a white backdrop.

Professional Shooting Studio

Fully equipped with a Hasselblad H5D-50 50MP camera, colored backdrops, green screen, strobes, hot lights and other accessories

Graphic Design Core Curriculum

Graphic Design Core Curriculum

Year 1

  • 2D Design
  • 3D Design
  • Intro to Graphic Design
  • Foundation Drawing I
  • Drawing Visual Communications OR Creative Design
  • Color Theory
  • Art History I & II
  • Writing Workshop I & II

Year 2

  • Design Thinking and Application
  • Typography I
  • Digital Image Making
  • The Printed Word
  • Type and Image
  • Web Design I
  • Modern Art History Course
  • Non-Western Art History
  • Gender, Race, Class & Power
  • Studio Electives

Year 3

  • UX Design I
  • Strategies and Applications
  • Expressive Typography
  • 3D Applications in Graphic Design
  • Professional Development I
  • UX Design II
  • Web Design II
  • Humanities and Studio Electives

Choose from electives like...

  • Book, Box, Portfolio
  • Poster Design
  • Crafting Type in FabLab
  • Mobile App Design
  • Experiments in Image Making

LAND YOUR DREAM GRAPHIC DESIGN JOB

Graphic Design major alumni have landed jobs at companies and organizations like…

Brownstein Group

Brownstein Group

The Franklin Institute

Franklin Institute

Pittsburgh Pirates

Pittsburgh Pirates

Urban Outfitters

Urban Outfitters

Vanity Fair Magazine

Vanity Fair Magazine

IN OUR OWN WORDS

Emme Selby ’23, Graphic Design

“I was a finalist for internships with La Colombe, HelloFresh and Urban Outfitters. I chose one that is well paid and that will set me up for a job once I graduate. The world needs design and art. Moore understands that and helps to make your passion a profession."

MEET YOUR GRAPHIC DESIGN MAJOR

Watch our Meet Your Major: Graphic Design video to take a deeper dive into everything this program has to offer!

WHY CHOOSE GRAPHIC DESIGN AT MOORE?

  • FUTURE-FOCUSED: Graphic Design is a richly varied field and you’ll be able to pursue any future path, thanks to a strong core curriculum that includes UX, web design and typography courses, as well as specialized focuses on areas like packaging design, hand lettering or brand identity development.
  • ACCESS: You’ll meet and learn from emerging talents in the field as well as industry legends, thanks to our exciting annual Visiting Artist Workshop, field trips, and other opportunities.
  • CAREER: Intern at a groundbreaking agency or find your niche designing for an industry you love—everything from book publishing to clothing retail to major league sports! It’ll be the first step toward landing a job you love.

Header artwork in video, in order: Abby Obfenda ’23, Kal Bracey ’21, Abby Obfenda ’23, Christa Faas ’22, Abby Obfenda ’23, Madison Phillips ’22, Bella Piagentini ’23, Bella Piagentini ’23, Julia Parrick ’22, Julia Parrick ’22, Dan Callahan ’24, Ari Lopez ’23 and Annais Delgado ’22

What You'll Learn

Click the plus buttons below to get an overview Graphic Design's courses and core curriculum, and also choose from a variety of exciting electives like:

  • Mobile App Design: develop an effective mobile app based on principles of design, interactivity and usability
  • Crafting Type in FabLab: design original typefaces with tools like a 3D printer and laser cutter
  • Photo Studio: develop digital camera, image editing, and printing skills
  • Symbol Families: explore cartography, diagrams, wayfinding and environmental graphics
  • Book, Box, Portfolio: learn historical and handcrafted bookbinding methods 

A graphic design student presenting work

Take the next steps!

We're looking forward to meeting you and telling you more about the undergraduate Graphic Design BFA program at Moore – the only independent art & design college in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.