Emphasis Graphic Design Graphic design is the manipulation of type and image for personal and public communication. This activity is performed in both print and electronic media, within commercial, artistic, and academic contexts.
Design acts as a medium for cultural investigation and visual expression.
The UMD Department of Art strongly believes that, even though many graphic design MFAs choose to practice rather than teach, the MFA is a primary prerequisite to teach at the university level and therefore it is a responsibility of MFA programs to prepare students for academic as well as aesthetic rigor. Although the MFA is largely a studio degree, the program includes a strong analytical and intellectual component. A program with such rigor is also, we believe, ultimately the best approach for the training of practitioners of graphic design. The field is rapidly changing and only by being versed in the traditional capacities in the area, the skills and knowledge of related fields, and the skills of critical thought can future designers hope to lead rather than merely react to changes.