DEPARTMENT OF DESIGN

PROGRAMS OF STUDY | FACULTY | FACILITIES | POINTS OF DISTINCTION

The University of Kansas Department of Design encompasses rich traditions of the past and embraces emerging paradigms that are defining design of the future.  ......Greg Thomas, chair of the Department of Design

Exceptional faculty and state-of-the-art facilities provide an environment that cultivates an optimal educational experience in each area of study. Our curricula speak to a myriad of options for designers and artists, including new offerings in both undergraduate and graduate areas that are the first of their kind in the region. Our students gain insights from world-renowned lecturers, collaborate with industry partners and art venues for real-world experiences, and have opportunities with other institutions around the world that provide enhanced global awareness.

PROGRAMS OF STUDY
Students can pursue MFA degrees in several program areas: ceramics, industrial design, jewelry/metalsmithing, scenography, and textile design. Students in Visual Art Education can earn the MA in Visual Art Education. Beginning in 2007, the department will offer MA degrees in design management and interaction design. Undergraduate students have several options in the BFA degree: industrial design (product, interaction, furniture, toy design), interior design, theatre design, and visual communication (graphics/illustration). We offer both BFA and BA degree programs in ceramics, jewelry/metalsmithing and textile design. Students in visual art education work toward the Bachelor of Art Education degree.

In addition, the department will soon offer PhotoMedia, an eighth concentration in the BA/BFA programs. PhotoMedia includes education in areas such as digital media, visual literacy, photographic composition, historical perspectives of photography, computer imaging and more. This concentration is for students seeking to prepare themselves for the constantly changing needs of the field of image capture and dissemination.

FACULTY
KU design faculty are drawn from nationally prominent institutions and from professional practice, and they represent a wide array of expertise in a variety of design and crafts. Additional information about KU design faculty and their work can be found at www.arts.ku.edu/~sfa/faculty

ADDITIONAL OFFERINGS
The department offers the Hallmark Design Symposium Lecture Series, sponsored by an endowment from Hallmark Cards, Inc., in which designers and artists from around the world are brought in to speak about their craft. Visit arts.ku.edu/~sfa/dsgn/hallmarksymp.shtml for the current Hallmark Symposium schedule. Together with the Symposium, the Professional Practice Series brings noted designers to campus and also incorporates "hands-on" workshops to enhance student experiences.

The department also offers students a chance to obtain real-world experience by participating in "Sponsored Topic Projects" with companies such as Nokia, Herman Miller, Huhtamaki and others. These projects enable students to work in teams on projects with real client input, providing not only good portfolio material, but also numerous opportunities to be recruited for an internship or full-time position by some of the most influential companies in the market. The Center for Design Innovation (CDI) engages in these research projects at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and we anticipate increased opportunities for students in off-campus settings. Many of the projects will be cross-disciplinary as we continue our collaborations with other schools at KU: Architecture and Urban Planning, Business, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (Department of Theatre and Film), Engineering, and Journalism.

The department believes in the need for our students to have increased global awareness in order to develop stronger design skills, so it offers study abroad opportunities in several countries, including Finland, Germany, Italy, Sweden and Taiwan. And, new alliances are being formed with educational partners in Australia, Japan and Singapore. 

Programs of Study

Ceramics | B.F.A. | M.F.A. |
Design Management | M.A. |
Industrial Design | B.F.A. | M.F.A. |
Interaction Design | M.A. |
Interior Design | B.F.A. |
Metalsmithing and Jewelry | B.F.A. | M.F.A. |
Photomedia | B.F.A|
Scenography | M.F.A. |
Textile Design | B.F.A | M.F.A. |
Theatre Design | B.F.A |
Visual Communication: Graphic Design or Illustration | B.F.A |
Visual Arts Education | B.A.E. | M.A.E. |

Email design@ku.edu for more information.

 

Hallmark Symposium
Art & Design Gallery
Lawrence Arts Center