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 | Organization | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Apprentice Letterpress Printer | Lunalux Letterpress | St. Paul, MN |
| Art Director Intern | Carmichael Lynch | Minneapolis, MN |
| Associate Designer | Heartbeat | New York, NY |
| Associate Designer | Sign Zone Inc. | Brooklyn Center, MN |
| Barista Lead | Tii Cup | Brooklyn Park, MN |
| Brand Strategist & Creative | Malone Portraits | Minneapolis, MN |
| Communications Director | Jewish Federation of Madison | Madison, WI |
| Content Creator | Willas Kitchen | Minneapolis, MN |
| Crepe Master | Minneapolis Cider Company | Minneapolis, MN |
| Customer Experience Banker | Huntington Bank | St. Paul, MN |
| Customer Service Representative | Telus | Riga, Latvia |
| Design Assistant | Urban Mast | Minneapolis, MN |
| Design Project Assistant | Wehmann Models | Minneapolis, MN |
| Digital Communications Coordinator | Brown & Brown, Inc. | Minneapolis, MN |
| Digital Content Assistant | Valleyfair Amusement Park | Shakopee, MN |
| Digital Design Consultant | Deep Focus Review | Minneapolis, MN |
| Digitizer | Embroidery Library | Maple Grove, MN |
| Graphic Design Associate | Healy Awards | Menomonee Falls, WI |
| Graphic Design Intern | Reproductive Freedom for All | Minneapolis, MN |
| Graphic Designer | Acme Tools Bemidji | Grand Forks, ND |
| Graphic Designer | Apogee Components | Colorado Springs, CO |
| Graphic Designer | Capsule | Minneapolis, MN |
| Graphic Designer | Creative Laboratories | Eagan, MN |
| Graphic Designer | Greater Thought Design & Marketing | Eden Prairie, MN |
| Graphic Designer | ISG Inc | St. Louis Park, MN |
| Graphic Designer | OGI Eyewear | New Hope, MN |
| Graphic Designer | Self-Employed | Minneapolis, MN |
| Graphic Designer | Self-Employed | Minneapolis, MN |
| Graphic Designer | Self-Employed | Minneapolis, MN |
| Graphic Designer | Synergy Imports | Oakdale, MN |
| Graphic Designer | Toole Design Group | Minneapolis, MN |
| Graphic Designer | Vital Print Press | Minneapolis, MN |
| Graphic Designer | WSB | Golden Valley, MN |
| Graphic Designer & Account Services Representative | Cardsource | Eagan, MN |
| Graphic Designer & Social Media Manager | 110 Percent | Jersey City, NJ |
| Graphic Layout Designer | The Bernard Group | Chanhassen, MN |
| Intern | Life Source | Minneapolis, MN |
| Junior Art Director | Yamamoto Moss Mackenzie | Minneapolis, MN |
| Junior Creative Designer | Mono Advertising | Minneapolis, MN |
| Junior Designer | CBX. | Minneapolis, MN |
| Junior Digital Graphic Designer | Food & Water Watch | District of Columbia, DC |
| Junior Graphic Designer | Anaplan | Minneapolis, MN |
| Junior Graphic Designer | Hunt Adkins | Minneapolis, MN |
| Legal Document Coordinator | MD Square Property Group | New York, NY |
| Makeup Artist | Blush Beauty Room | St. Louis Park, MN |
| Marketing Assistant | Whiting Turner | St. Louis Park, MN |
| Marketing Designer | Heavenly Hunks | Minnetonka, MN |
| Marketing Specialist | Pathway to Adventure Council | Chicago, IL |
| Motion Graphics Designer | OGI Eyewear | New Hope, MN |
| Personal Shopper | Sam's Club | Fridley, MN |
| Pre-Press Sign Technician | Martin Sign Company | San Francisco, CA |
| Principal Designer | Profluent Capital | San Francisco, CA |
| Production Graphic Designer | Sofia's Cookies | Minnetonka, MN |
| Programmer & Pre-Flight Technician | First Impression | Eagan, MN |
| Public Service Creative Director | Ad 2 Minnesota | Minneapolis, MN |
| Server | Sally's Saloon | Minneapolis, MN |
| Software Engineer | OptiSigns | Houston, TX |
| UX Designer | Sun Country Airlines | Minneapolis, MN |
Where do students continue education after graduation?
Where do students continue education after graduation?
| Program | School |
|---|---|
| Editing and Publishing | University of Minnesota Twin Cities |
| Technology Leadership | University of Minnesota Twin Cities |
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
- Background Stories Co
- Broadhead Co.
- Buffalo Games
- E&M Consulting
- Halftone Digital
- Hunt Adkins
- Lifetouch
- OGI Eyewear
- Portu Sunberg
- Red Line Editorial
- Target Corporation
- 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