Graphic Design
About the Major
The Graphic Design major prepares students for creating print and electronic designs in a wide variety of organizations. The curriculum educates students in design methods, design theory, and creative problem solving, as well as visual and verbal literacy. An emphasis is placed on visual components: how humans communicate, perceive, interpret, and understand visual information.
Career Outcomes
Where do students work after graduation?
Where do students work after graduation?
| Job Title | Employer |
|---|---|
| Assistant Digital Media Coordinator | I'm Changing The Narrative |
| Associate Creative Director | Goodshop Badshop |
| Communications Specialist - Graphics | OATI |
| Creative Tech | Space150 |
| Design and Content Associate | Consequence Media |
| Design Assistant | Lucky Bee Creative Studio |
| Developer Trainee | Genesis 10 |
| Digital Designer | Super Studio |
| Digital Marketing and Designer | Sanford |
| Enterprise Marketing Design Intern | Sezzle |
| Freelance Graphic Designer | Self-Employed |
| Graphic Design Intern | Minnesota Twins |
| Graphic Designer | Sezzle |
| Graphic Designer | 3M |
| Graphic Designer and Photographer | Minneapolis Ragstock Co. |
| Homepage Digital Content Designer | Target |
| Interaction Designer | Sezzle |
| Lead Digital Designer & Product Listing Coordinator | Hat Shark |
| Marketing Designer | Bright Cellars |
| Marketing Specialist | Valley Community Credit Union |
| Multimedia and Web Associate | University of Minnesota |
| Photographer | Ali Buchstaber Photography |
| Project Management Associate | Boom Lab |
| Quality Assurance Tester | Activision Blizzard |
| UX Designer | Spark Labs |
| Web Press Crewmember | Schumann Printing Inc |
Where do students continue education after graduation?
Where do students continue education after graduation?
| Program | School |
|---|---|
| Information Technology | Microsoft Military Spouse Technology Academy |
| Marketing | Liberty University |
| Nursing | University of Minnesota |
| Sports Product Design | University of Oregon |
Where students interned and gained experience during school
Where are alumni 5 years after graduation?
Where are alumni 5 years after graduation?
| Job Title | Employer |
|---|---|
| Adjunct Faculty | Concordia University - St. Paul |
| Art Designer | KNOCK |
| Art Designer | Sam Hebel Creative |
| Artist | Trader Joe's |
| Assembler | Creform Corporation |
| Backroom Coordinator | Sierra |
| Camera Technician | Brooklyn Film Camera |
| Creative Lead | Bain & Company |
| Design & Marketing Coordinator | Deneen Pottery |
| Designer | 10 Thousand Design |
| Designer | Emma Designs |
| Designer | Home Chef |
| Designer | Ren Corpe Portfolio |
| Digital Designer | Flint Group of Agencies |
| Digital Designer | United Airlines |
| Field Service Animatronic Technician | Spirit Halloween |
| Graphic Designer | Agency Squid |
| Graphic Designer | Allegra Marketing |
| Graphic Designer | American University of Phnom Penh |
| Graphic Designer | Consequences Media |
| Graphic Designer | First Avenue & the 7th St. |
| Graphic Designer | HH Global |
| Graphic Designer | Humdinger |
| Graphic Designer | KNOCK |
| Graphic Designer | Lube-Tech |
| Graphic Designer | Mary Radford Design |
| Graphic Designer | Medtronic |
| Graphic Designer | San Jose Sharks |
| Graphic Designer | The Ingleside Hotel |
| Graphic Designer | Twelve Consulting Group |
| Graphic Designer | University of Minnesota |
| Graphic Designer | Versatile |
| Interactive Graphic Designer | Sportsdigita |
| Lead Designer | JPMorgan Chase |
| Lead Quality Assurance Engineer | RBC Wealth Management |
| Marketing and Design Director | Goldminers Daughter Lodge |
| Marketing Coordinator | Keenspace |
| Marketing Coordinator | KPFF Consulting Engineers |
| Marketing Coordinator and Office Coordinator | JT Engineering |
| Marketing Manager | Waterloo Turf |
| Marketing Specialist | ADK |
| Marketing Specialist | Pace Labs |
| Motion Designer | Shah Studios |
| MSHO Support Associate | Genevive |
| Multimedia Designer | University of Minnesota |
| Owner | Alice Design and Photo |
| Owner | BongPop |
| Photographer | Hall of Fame Cance Challenge |
| Photographer & Designer | ZKCaptures Photography and Design |
| Press Operator | Frankin Press |
| Print & Pattern Designer | Populus |
| Producer | KIMT-TV |
| Product Designer | LunitCARE |
| Production Artist | AtriCure |
| Project Communications Specialist | Bolton & Menk |
| Radiologic Technologist | M Health Fairview |
| Senior Designer | Breakout Studio |
| Senior Full Stack Engineer | Zapier |
| Senior Graphic designer | 3M |
| Senior Graphic Designer | Jump |
| Senior Product Manager | U.S. Bank |
| Social Media and Marketing Coordinator | Paramark Corp |
| Social Media Marketing Manager | Northmarq |
| Systems Developer | Pilotstar Enterprise |
| Visitor Experience | Minneapolis Institute of Art |
| Visual Storyteller | KARE 11 |
| Web Designer | Perrill |
| Wine Sales Representative | VIP Wine and Spirits |
Where are alumni 10 years after graduation?
Where are alumni 10 years after graduation?
| Job Title | Employer |
|---|---|
| 3D Artist | Lucky Deck Studio |
| Art Director | Allianz |
| Art Director | Greenspring Media |
| Brand and Marketing Manager | Caerus |
| Chief Marketing Officer | DME Delivers |
| Color and Materials Designer | Adidas |
| Contracted Graphic Designer | Pendleton Wollen Mills |
| Creative Director | Capsule |
| Design Lead and Marketing Specialist | Getwork |
| Designer | Colorwheel Creations |
| Designer | LEVER Architecture |
| Designer | The Marketing Store |
| Director of Communications | Bluebird Guided Tours |
| Director of Marketing | Grand Rapids State Bank |
| Experience Design Lead | U.S. Bank |
| Garage Producer | Risk Placement Services |
| Graphic Designer | Industrial Fabrics Association International |
| Graphic Designer | USPTO |
| Graphic Designer | Volvo |
| Graphic Production Supervisor | SS&C Technologies |
| Labeling Specialist I | Abbott |
| Lead Product Designer | Clockwork |
| Lead User Experience Designer | Wisconsin Historical Society |
| Lynx Graphic Design Manager | Minnesota Lynx |
| Marketing Director | Outpost Campers |
| Multicultural Creative Lead | Target |
| Operations Manager | Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy |
| Owner | Yaniir |
| Presentation Designer and Storyteller | Boston Scientific |
| Product Manager | PropertySmiles |
| Production Artist | Robert Half |
| Senior Designer | June Company |
| Senior Digital Designer | Target |
| Senior Product Designer | Line Modern |
| Senior Product Designer | Vivian Health |
| Senior Product Developer | APMEX |
| Senior UX Architect | U.S. Bank |
| Senior Visual Designer | Amazon |
| Software Engineer | U.S. Bank |
| Specialist | Apple |
| UI/UX Product Designer | Grayce |
Full outcomes report including salary, locations, satisfaction, and more
Common Entry-Level Job Titles
- Graphic Designer
- Information/Data Visualization Designer
- Interactive Designer
- Marketing Coordinator
- User Experience Designer
- Web Designer
Top Employers
- 3M
- Broadhead Co.
- Cards Against Humanity
- Hunt Adkins
- KNOCK, Inc.
- Riley Hayes
- Sezzle
- Space150
- Target
- University of Minnesota
Types of Employers
- Advertising agencies
- Design firms
- Educational institutions
- For-profit organizations
- Government agencies
- Nonprofit organizations
Meet Your Career Consultant
Brian (he/him) can assist you with
- Major and career exploration
- Internship planning
- Job searching
- Interview prep and practice
- Grad school planning and more...
Additional Resources
In addition to these resources we recommend the following strategies to locate more information about careers related to your major:
- O*NET and Careerwise. These tools provide comprehensive information about a wide range of careers including typical duties, salaries, employment outlook, skills and interests.
- Locate professional associations related to your major or career interests by conducting a Google Search on “(Name of major/career area/industry) professional associations.” Try these keywords: graphic, design, marketing
- Get involved in one of the many industry-related student groups on campus. These groups provide links to experiences, guest speakers, and discussion with like-minded students.
- Study Abroad Information for Graphic Design