Communication Design: Graphic Design Track

The Communication Design Program at the University of North Texas offers two concentrations: Graphic Design and User-Experience Design. This web page describes the application process for students interested in the B.F.A. in Communication Design with a concentration on Graphic Design.

How to become a Communication Design: Graphic Design Major

To become a major in Communication Design students must follow a two-stage process in their first year. 

Stage 1: Candidacy Review

• At the end of the first-year fall semester, students must participate in the Communication Design: Graphic Design Candidacy Review. Note: In December 2022, only 55% of applicants were selected for 60 slots.

Stage 2: Entry-Portfolio Review

• In the first-year spring semester, selected students will take the Foundations for Graphic Design course ADES 1540.
• Students will participate in the graphic design entry-portfolio review at the end of the Foundations for Graphic Design, ADES 1540 course.
• If selected, the student is designated a Communication Design major in the Graphic Design concentration. Note: In May 2022, only 66% of applicants were selected for 40 slots.

Examples of Work

Applicants must upload six work examples that best represent their skill set and potential as a potential communication design major. The work can be produced in any medium — traditional or digital. Physical projects should be photographed or scanned. Please provide active links to online projects, such as websites, videos, etc.

All projects must be submitted through UNT SlideRoom — see the Application Schedule on this page for the link. The application cost is $10. Students are encouraged to present work that shows a broad range of interests and abilities. Work should exhibit your ability to draw, create, and conceptualize compelling designs or images that use design principles and color theory. Work may come from your art foundation core classes, high school coursework, or work outside the classroom.

Consider how your work might stand out. Be aware that reviewers will not know the criteria or parameters you were attempting to satisfy in particular examples of the work you submit. Evaluate the likelihood of these examples being effectively understood by the reviewers and make decisions to include or not include specific examples accordingly. 

Sketchbook 

A personal sketchbook of your process works and daily reflections is required for the in-person review. The sketchbook should or may include process work for drawing and design courses, personal sketches and process work for projects outside of courses.

You will need to photograph the front cover of the sketchbook and a minimum of 20 spreads to a maximum of 30. Arrange these spreads using Adobe Acrobat PDF, MS PowerPoint or Word, or some other program in a slide presentation. Save the final version as a PDF to upload with your submission packet. The sketchbook should capture your process and convey your commitment to the discipline of design through deep exploration and refinement of ideas. The sketches need not be polished but should effectively capture your thinking and exploration. This must be completed and uploaded with your complete Candidacy Review submission through UNT SlideRoom. 

The sketchbook should capture your process and convey your commitment to design discipline through deep exploration and refinement of ideas. Your sketches need not be well-polished, but they should effectively depict your thinking processes and ability to explore a broad range of ideas. This must be completed and uploaded by the application deadline through SlideRoom.

Graphic-Centered Worksheets

A series of supplied, pdf-based worksheets guide applicants through the research and design process for a hypothetical client. Worksheets can be requested via email from Lecturer Whitney Holden, Whitney.Holden@unt.edu, graphic design program coordinator.

These worksheets must be completed and uploaded with your complete Candidacy Review submission through UNT SlideRoom. 

Notification

Applicants will be notified via email by the date found in the Application Schedule on this page about their opportunity to participate in the in-person, Graphic Design faculty-facilitated review. Only those selected may participate.

Non-selection: Visit Academic Advising 

Students who receive a non-selection email must meet with their CVAD academic advisor to develop an alternative degree plan and a schedule for the next semester. Do this immediately after you receive an email of non-selection. 

Part 1B: In-Person Review

Cycle date: December

Candidates selected to advance to Part 1B will be assigned a window of time to appear in person for one of two sessions. Important: Latecomers will not be admitted under any circumstances.

Required Materials: Drawing utensils: pencils and a regular black Sharpie are strongly suggested

Important Note: No online sessions, Zoom chats, or MS Teams meetings will be conducted.

Find the date for the in-person review in the Application Schedule on this page. Plan to bring the required materials: drawing utensils — one fine-point and one medium-point marker are recommended — and a drawing pad approximately 9 x 12 inches. Your email notification will include the date, time and location of your review.

Prerequisites

The prerequisite to advancing to Stage 2 is successful advancement after Stage 1.

The Graphic Design Challenge

A verbal prompt from a faculty member will fuel the Graphic Design challenge at the beginning of each review session. Participants will then spend the remainder of the 150-minute experience in two activities.

1. Sketching/generating and then
2. Presenting and explaining the original graphic design ideas they complete.

Using the required writing utensils and drawing pad, each student will have 30 minutes to sketch or depict possible outcomes or scenarios in response to the prompt provided by the UX design faculty at the beginning of the challenge.

After 30 minutes, participants will be placed in small groups with UX design faculty members to present, explain and discuss whatever concepts and ideas they developed. This discussion will last approximately 90 minutes. All participants should be prepared to speak clearly about the design approaches they chose to operate and the contextual factors that guided their decision-making. 

Final Notification Delivery

All notifications will be emailed to your UNT email account. If you are a transfer student, the notification will be delivered to the email you use when you create your UNT SlideRoom account, or if you are a current UNT student, you must use your official UNT email account.

Non-selection: Visit Academic Advising 

Students not selected for the Graphic Design track should meet with their CVAD academic advisor to develop an alternative degree plan and a schedule for the next semester. Do this immediately after you receive a non-acceptance email. 

Reapplication to the Candidacy Review 

Students may reapply for entry into the Communication Design: Graphic Design concentration program the following year, but they are advised to develop a secondary degree plan to pursue. It is important to note that the Communication Design program cannot be expedited, so reapplying will delay graduation by a year. Reapplying for the Candidacy Review is allowed once. 

Stage 2: Communication Design Entry Review: Graphic Design Track — Spring

Entry Review Process

All students accepted into the Communication Design: Graphic Design program must take the Foundations for Graphic Design course, ADES 1540, in the spring semester after acceptance. This class is a prerequisite for the Communication Design Entry Portfolio Review in May and the following fall semester's Communication Design courses.

• ADES 1510: Typography 1, and
• ADES 2515: Image Making and Color Theory

Coursework completed during the spring course Foundations for Communication Design, ADES 1540, will be reviewed by all graphics design track faculty during the Communication Design Entry Portfolio Review.

Students will drop off process binders and printed portfolios at 8 a.m. and pick them up by 5 p.m. Faculty will consider these key areas and rank all candidates: concept, creativity, technicality, and class performance. The top 40 applicants will be accepted into the program.

Notification of acceptance or nonacceptance will be sent to each student's official UNT email account. 

The top 40 applicants accepted into the program after successfully completing the Communication Design Entry Portfolio Review in May will have their major changed to Communication Design: Graphic Design Track. Students must have a minimum 2.75 GPA on required art courses and a 2.25 UNT GPA to move into the major status.

Additionally, students must have completed ADES 1500, ART 1600, 1700, 1800, and 1900 with a C or better.

Foundations for Communication Design 

All students accepted into the Communication Design Graphic Design track must take ADES 1540: Foundations for Communication Design in the spring semester. This class is a prerequisite for the following fall Communication Graphic Design coursework — ADES 1510: Typography 1 and ADES 2510 Image Making and Color Theory. Note: If you cannot take ADES 1540 in the spring, you are advised to wait until the next entry review cycle.

More information about ADES 1540: Foundations for Communication Design can be found online in the UNT Office of the Registrar’s spring schedule of classes and the UNT Undergraduate Course Catalog.  

Technology Requirements

All students accepted will be required to have a laptop. Please reference our Technology Requirements specifications for hardware and software.