Graphic Design

Emerging Media BFA – Graphic Design

The Emerging Media BFA – Graphic Design program at UCF trains students to understand how design functions — how it communicates, organizes information, and shapes experience.

Grounded in conceptual development, design research, and applied design practice, the program reflects UCF’s mission to connect discovery and innovation to prepare students for their future careers.

Students learn to analyze and design across systems: social, digital, and cultural, developing adaptable skills for a changing industry. The curriculum integrates visual communication, critical thinking, digital tools, and collaboration, helping students produce clear, purposeful work that connects ideas to audiences.

We teach both craft and concept, focusing on how form and meaning intersect in design. Through projects in typography, publication design, branding, motion, and interaction design, students gain the fluency to work across print, screen, and emerging media — developing the critical and creative skills to shape visual communication in a rapidly evolving world.

The program emphasizes collaboration, experimentation, and professional accountability — preparing students to think like designers and work like professionals.

Graphic Design Track

The Graphic Design track is a two-year, cohort-based program focused on design theory, research, and professional practice. Students learn to think critically, communicate clearly, and design responsibly.

The curriculum blends design literacy, strategic thinking, and digital fluency, preparing graduates to enter a range of creative industries or pursue advanced study.

Students build a professional portfolio through instruction, critique, reflection, and real-world projects, connecting their work to current practice in the design and communication fields.

Other Tracks in Emerging Media

The Emerging Media BFA also includes Animation & Visualization and Character Animation tracks, offering students alternative paths in digital storytelling, visual effects, and 3D production.

Note: Some courses in the Emerging Media BFA involve the study of the human figure. Nude models may be used for reference purposes.

Laptop + Software Requirements

Students must have a laptop capable of running industry-standard design software. While both Windows and macOS are supported, the program recommends Apple laptops for consistency with instruction and industry workflows.

Recommended Specifications (2025)

• Apple MacBook (M2 or newer)
  
• Processor: Apple M2 (or higher)
  
• Memory: 16 GB RAM (minimum)
  
• Storage: 512 GB SSD (minimum)
  

Required Software

• Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects, Premiere)
  • https://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/system-requirements.html
    
• Figma
  
• Microsoft Office or Google Workspace
  

Admission Requirements

Students must first apply and be accepted to UCF before applying to the Graphic Design track.

Admission to the Graphic Design BFA requires completion of foundation courses in Art and Digital Media and successful completion of the Graphic Design Portfolio Review.

Admission is competitive and based on both the quality of submitted work and completion of prerequisites.
To remain in the program, students must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA

Additional Information

• Students may also apply to the Studio Art program through their portfolio review.
• Students entering Graphic Design, Character Animation, or Animation & Visualization will begin in the Emerging Media Pending BFA until completing the portfolio review.
• Contact an academic advisor at cahsa@ucf.edu early to stay on track with prerequisites and program requirements.