Why Design Matters
Across print, digital, and interactive platforms, design grabs attention — and holds it — to convey key messages. When design works, it informs, entertains, and drives meaningful action in the world.
Further Your Education
Tyler offers a master’s degree in Graphic and Interactive Design. Learn more about furthering your education here.
How Tyler Is Different
Successful design helps you to inspire and communicate in ways that resonate and connect people to each other and to important information, ideas and stories.
Work Like a Pro from Day 1
Such a dynamic field requires broader knowledge and skills. That’s why all 3 majors in the Design and Illustration Department at Tyler share many of the same required and elective classes.
This collaborative, cross-disciplinary approach sets our students apart. We believe it’s critical for your education to mirror what you’ll experience in your career. At Tyler, you don’t just earn a degree — you start working like a creative professional from day one.
Top employers and potential clients notice.
Your graphic and interactive design degree gives you tons of flexibility to build your skills and find new ones. There’s no need to choose one strict degree path. You really can explore different avenues and combinations based on your interests and curiosity.
We want you to feel empowered to shape your own creative experience.
Get Answers and Help
The Tyler School of Art and Architecture features its own admissions team, who can provide you with the information you need to make the best decision for your educational and career goals.
Explore Degree Options
BFA in Graphic and Interactive Design
Tyler’s BFA in graphic and interactive design is STEM designated and teaches you both core design principles and the latest tools and strategies — no matter the focus of your chosen design career.
Typography
Color theory
Composition and layout
Illustration
3D design
User experience / User interface (UX/UI) design
Motion design
Augmented reality (AR)
Artificial intelligence (AI), including uses and ethics
Multimedia storytelling
In addition to gaining graphic and interactive design skills using all the latest software and tools, you graduate with broader, transferable skills that help you succeed professionally. Students don’t just “learn software” but build fluency in tools and thinking. You will learn:
How to be flexible and adapt to changing needs and the latest tech
How to think conceptually and critically
How to make research-based decisions
How to receive and give effective feedback
How to apply your creativity for a wide range of media,
How to be a professional and collaborative creative
Tyler teaches you all this to prepare you for your career in graphic and interactive design or to be accepted into a top-tier graduate degree program.
Minor in Graphic and Interactive Design
Adding attention-getting bonus skills for a wide range of majors, Tyler’s minor in graphic and interactive design bolsters your visual communication skills for any career. It’s especially popular with students majoring in business, communications, art history or the fine arts.
In addition to thinking like a designer, you learn visual storytelling, digital literacy and design principles. All things you need — and employers expect — in our hyper-visual, tech-focused world.
Digital Tool Requirements
Tyler requires user experience and user interface design students to buy and use specific laptops that best run the latest software and better adapt to the ever-changing professional environment.
Design Careers
Careers in graphic design or interactive design exist in nearly any industry, not only seemingly creative ones.
Healthcare organizations need effective design for patient education. Start-ups need everything from logos and branding to official pitches to potential funders. Retailers of all kinds need store signage and continuous sales promos, along with omnichannel marketing across existing and new social media platforms. Nonprofits and advocacy organizations need to raise money and awareness. Even political campaigns need logos, signs, digital and print materials.
Design is everywhere, so our grads hold a variety of job titles.
Brand Identity Designer
Develop logos, typography and brand systems that define a company’s visual identity.
Packaging Designer
Create eye-catching and functional product packaging that enhances brand recognition.
Motion Designer
Design animated graphics for video, advertising and digital platforms.
Environmental Graphic Designer
Design large-scale graphics, signage and wayfinding systems for physical spaces.
Exhibition Designer
Develop immersive visual experiences for museums, trade shows and retail spaces.
Social Media Designer
Create visually compelling content and motion assets for brands on social platforms.
Interactive Designer
Build dynamic and engaging digital experiences, from websites to installations.
Editorial + Print Designer
Design books, magazines and digital publications with strong visual storytelling.
Type Designer
Create custom typefaces, lettering and font systems for branding and digital platforms.
Infographic + Data Visualization Designer
Transform complex information into clear, engaging visual stories.
Design Strategist
Combine design thinking with business strategy to drive brand and user experience solutions.
Career Support
Career preparation is embedded into your experience as a Design and Illustration student.
Annual Design Events
Each year, Tyler hosts two events in the spring semester.
Create is the Design and Illustration Department’s student portfolio review. This event highlights the graduating class of students’ work and connects them with creative professionals to help them become more comfortable presenting their work.
In addition, Connect is our networking event where we celebrate our graduating seniors and network with students, alumni, faculty and friends of the program.
Form and Function
When you choose Tyler, you learn to apply your creativity in functional ways. Basically, designs, illustrations and interactive elements give visual structure to information and stories to achieve specific goals.
“Pursuing a degree in design is not just about learning to create; it’s about mastering the art of creative problem-solving, a valuable skill in many careers. It sharpens your ability to communicate complex concepts visually, making your ideas more impactful.”
Abby Guido
Associate Professor
"One of the unique components of the Graphic and Interactive Design program is being a part of an exceptional program that is always changing. As we have evolved, our students and faculty members continue to showcase their extraordinary talents both on the national and international stage. It has been a great honor and joy to work with this vibrant group of dedicated creatives for the past 38 years."
Photo by Joseph V. Labolito
Paul Sheriff
Professor
"Tyler kids are cool. It's obvious they're comfortable looking with their eyes open and listening with open hearts, and they show up ready to think and work hard. And that kind of wild tenacity and dedication to the process pays off."
Juliana Lynch
Creative Director, 160over90
Meet the Faculty
Tyler attracts creative leaders and change-makers to support your generation, including those who want one-of-a-kind careers that combine skills from different disciplines within the Design and Illustration Department.
Design Internships
Tyler’s faculty members strongly encourage you to build professional skills and gain work experience through internships.
Through workshops and our vast network of alumni and professional connections, your faculty-mentors help you find and prep for internships too. Your future classmates have completed internships at places like these.
- Bluecadet
- Pixar
- Chronicle Books
- 160over90
- Power Home Remodeling
- Smithsonian Institution
- Temple University
- American Foundation for the Blind
- LUV Superfoods
- Iris Creative
Pixar Internship
Yes, really. Naomi Urey, who graduated in 2024, did an internship with Pixar in San Francisco.
“My internship at Pixar gave me the opportunity to hone my skills in graphic design and visual development for animation. Being able to network and gain real world experience in the animation industry was invaluable, and Pixar has helped shape me into the creative I am today.”
Naomi Urey
Graphic Designer
Chronicle Books Fellow
Nghi To earned a fellowship with Chronicle Books!
"My fellowship at Chronicle Books helped me gain invaluable insight into designing for the publishing industry. Working on a variety of products, from books to card games, allowed me to hone my technical design skills and my visual storytelling ability, as well as pushed me to experiment with fresh and exciting techniques. Also, the ability to create real, meaningful publishing products that live out in the world — in bookstores and on people’s shelves — has been an incredibly rewarding experience.”
Nghi To
Design Fellow, Chronicle Books
Alumni + Student Voices
Hear from our alumni and current students what they love about Tyler, what they learned, how they grew professionally, and why they remain thankful for the opportunity to study here.
“Tyler’s design program shaped my career by sharpening my teamwork, process and confidence. I learned how to thrive in a fast-paced creative environment, tackle projects strategically and provide valuable feedback to my team. The confidence I gained in standing by my work has made pitching ideas and presenting second nature. Most importantly, the faculty, student and alumni connections I made continue to support me, creating a network that always has each other’s backs.”
Liv Schroeder
Associate Graphic Designer at Stateside Brands
"For me, Tyler School of Art developed a grit and work ethic that has formed the backbone of my professional success. Having practiced fine arts early in my college career helped drive an appreciation of craft and dedication that's proven extremely valuable in the work force."
Garrett Hillegas
Alum
Sr. Graphic Designer at Professional Fighters League
“UX/UI has been a big passion of mine and being at Tyler only has strengthened that. It has given me so much experience and I can’t wait to see the future opportunities for this field of designing for the user experience!”
Amy Vo
Student
Student Work
Get a glimpse at the creative minds of your future classmates. This gallery of their work shows the breadth of what’s possible.
Eclipse
Andrew Rosso Student
Student
Synth Fest
Talia Valenti Student
Student
Recess
Sasha Pogosian Student
Sensational Cocktail Co.
Xia Osorio Student
Metamorphasis
Cameron Specht Student
Student
Wormhole
Andrew Rosso Student
Rixus
Shana Blinkoff Student
Explore Student Work
Dive deeper into the innovative projects and diverse talents of our students. Discover a wider range of creative work, from cutting-edge designs to thought-provoking concepts, and see how our Tyler creative's are shaping the world around them.
Program Contacts
In addition to Tyler’s specialized admissions team, you’re welcome to contact these graphic and interactive design program leaders.
Kelly Holohan
Program Head of Design + Illustration and Professor