Studies & Degrees in Graphic Design
Graphic Design Study Programs
Graphic design is the practice of communicating ideas visually. Graphic designers create visual concepts, by hand or with software, for logos and brand identities, books and magazines, packaging, posters, signage, websites, apps and social media. The subject is also taught under the names visual communication and communication design.
Students learn the principles of design, such as typography, colour, composition and image-making, and the tools of the trade. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, most programmes include courses in studio art, principles of design, computerised design, commercial graphics production, printing techniques and website design, and students are advised to add writing, marketing and business. Course projects build into a portfolio, which matters as much as the certificate when applying for jobs.
Qualifications and levels
- Spain, higher design schools: the higher artistic studies in design are taught at escuelas superiores de diseño in four specialisations: graphic, product, interiors and fashion. They take four academic years of 60 credits each, 240 credits in total, require a specific entrance test, and lead to a qualification that is official and valid throughout Spain. These studies are organised at bachelor's and master's level.
- Spain, universities: some universities and their attached centres teach a bachelor's degree (grado) in graphic or digital design. In Seville, for example, the Escuela de Diseño CEADE Leonardo points students to the university degree in graphic design and digital creativity at Ceade San Isidoro, a centre attached to the Universidad Pablo de Olavide.
- Spain, vocational routes: the professional studies in plastic arts and design are taught as intermediate and higher cycles of two years each. Within vocational training (FP), the graphic arts family includes the higher-level qualifications Técnico Superior en Diseño y Edición de Publicaciones Impresas y Multimedia and Técnico Superior en Diseño y Gestión de la Producción Gráfica.
- United Kingdom and Australia: a bachelor's degree usually takes three years. The Graphic Design BA at London Metropolitan University runs over three years, and the Bachelor of Design at the University of the Sunshine Coast lasts three years with majors that include visual communication.
- United States: art and design colleges award the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and, at graduate level, the MA and MFA; the College for Creative Studies in Detroit offers all three.
- Short courses: private schools teach software, illustration and web design in courses that do not lead to a degree. Ask the school what recognition its certificate has.
Where to study it
SpainExchange lists 120 active schools for graphic design. Most are in the United States (66) and Spain (27), followed by the United Kingdom and Italy (5 each), Mexico (4) and Australia (3). Colombia has two, and Argentina, Singapore, Brazil, Ecuador and Uruguay have one each.
The schools differ in type. Some are universities with an art or design faculty, such as London Metropolitan University, where students work on live briefs with clients and visit professional studios. Others are specialised design institutes, such as the Istituto d'Arte Applicata e Design (IAAD) in Turin, which has undergraduate courses in graphic and communication design, or the College for Creative Studies in Detroit. In Spain the offer ranges from higher design schools and university centres to private schools with short courses in cities such as Madrid, Barcelona and Seville.
When comparing schools, look at the student work they publish, the balance between print and digital design, the workshops and software available, whether placements or client projects are part of the course, and what kind of qualification the programme leads to. Many schools ask applicants for a portfolio or an entrance test, so it is worth checking the requirements well before the deadline.
Careers
Graphic designers work in design studios, advertising and communication agencies, publishing houses, in-house design teams of companies and public bodies, and as freelancers.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, graphic designers usually need a bachelor's degree in graphic design or a related field, and candidates should have a portfolio that shows their creativity and originality. In the United States the occupation had 253,100 jobs in 2025, and one in five designers was self-employed. Employment is projected to decline 2 percent from 2025 to 2035, although about 16,000 openings are projected each year, to replace people who leave the occupation. These figures refer to the United States only.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be able to draw to study graphic design?
Basic drawing helps, but the subject is about communicating ideas, and much of the work is done with typography, photography and software. Schools often assess applicants through a portfolio or an entrance test.
How long does a graphic design degree take?
Higher design studies in Spain take four years and 240 credits. In the United Kingdom and Australia a bachelor's degree usually takes three years. Spanish vocational cycles last two years.
Is a degree necessary to work as a graphic designer?
Employers usually ask for a bachelor's degree in graphic design or a related field, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, and always for a portfolio. People with a degree in another field may complete technical training in graphic design.
What is the difference between graphic design and visual communication?
The names overlap. Visual communication and communication design are broader labels that some schools use for programmes covering graphic design together with digital and interactive media.