Visual Communication

The visual communication major is a comprehensive design program that provides students with the aesthetic and technical background for entry-level positions in the design field.

“It’s the graphic design major,” said William Cobb, visual communication senior. “It’s called visual communication instead of graphic design because it branches out into many mediums. It’s a broad program.”

Foundation classes are taken the freshman year. After the completion of the foundation year, students accepted into the visual communications program begin a three year intensive study of the various aspects of visual communication.

Students undergo a portfolio interview to determine their acceptance into the program.

“Portfolio interviews are the most stressful,” Cobb said. “At the end of the first year, the faculty reviews your portfolio and they tell you what area they recommend you go in to. Then sophomore year, they throw everything at you to see if you can handle it.”

A limited amount of students are accepted into the program.

“The program is small,” Cobb said. “Only about 30 people a year are let in.”

There are three professors in the visual communication department, Eric Anderson, Karen Hayes-Thumann, and David Hissey.

Professors expect students to meet deadlines, attend class, and be interactive.

“Professors expect you to be responsible and to manage your own time,” Cobb said. “They’re not going to hold your hand. The professors are concerned with learning and getting better over having natural talent.”

Students study basic drawing and color, lettering, layout, packaging, logo design, publication design, webpage and multimedia design.

“You practice basic lines, kind of like Zen or Mr. Miyagi stuff,” Cobb said.

The program can get busy according to Cobb.

“Sophomore and junior year, I spent about one to two days a week sleeping in the studio,” Cobb said.

There is no set schedule on the visual communication syllabus.

“Time management is the most important thing,” Cobb said. “The second criterion is organization. There’s no set path to follow in the syllabus. You keep working, keep getting critiques and then move on.”

The faculty reviews the students’ work regularly.

“We don’t have tests; we make art,” Cobb said. “

Art school can be expensive.

“It costs quite a bit out of pocket,” Cobb said. “It’s a bit disappointing because we already spend approximately 180 dollars for technology fees. And then you still need to buy a computer and Adobe Creative Suite.

“I bought this Color-Aid for 90 dollars my freshman year. They said it would pay for itself. I’ve used two sheets of it.”

The visual communication classes are three hours a day, twice a week.

“Outside studio, I have about two to three assignments per week and spend approximately 20 to 30 hours per week on the assignments,” Cobb said.

The students and faculty become like a family according to Cobb.

“The walls come down a lot earlier,” Cobb said.

“One night at the studio, we were drunk while working on our projects, which were due for review the next day,” Cobb said. “All the projects were skewed in one direction because we were drinking. The critique was bad but funny. We realized that this work was too delicate to be working drunk.”

Cobb chose this major because he loves art and he doesn’t want to be poor.

Cobb’s ideal job would be making promotional posters in the music field or working on packaging at Hasbro.

“I really love music, so it wouldn’t be work anymore,” Cobb said. “I would be doing what I would have done anyway.”