Graphic & Experience Design (Master)
Overview
The Master of Graphic & Experience Design (MGXD) moves students toward a deeper knowledge of graphic and experience design through purposeful, individually driven design practice. Inquiry into contemporary and emergent design issues prepares graduates for leadership positions in user experience and user interface design (UX/UI), with expertise in research, data visualization, digital typography, and artificial intelligence. Successful completion of the MGXD results in a terminal degree, equivalent to the MFA, and qualifies graduates to teach at the university level or to pursue a PhD in Design.
The NC State Master of Graphic & Experience Design (MGXD) is consistently recognized as one of the top NASAD accredited graduate graphic and experience design programs in the country and one of the few with STEM Classification (CIP). The faculty is nationally and internationally recognized . Alumni are designers in enterprise-level software companies and leading design consultancies, as well as faculty members in colleges and universities.
Affordable NC State tuition usually makes the cost of attending NC State well below that of equivalent graduate institutions. For out-of-state students, North Carolina residency laws recognize graduate students as residents after their first year.
MGD II: Two-year Master of Graphic Design Program
The MGD II program targets applicants who have earned a BFA or equivalent in graphic design and are practiced in visual communication, user interaction design (UI), user experience design (UX) and/or related design fields.
Integrated graduate studios, seminars, and workshops expose students to histories, design-related theories, and research methods relevant to current and emerging practices. Students investigate questions individually and collaboratively around the design of communication and interaction in several ways: through making (visualizations, visual diagrams, and functioning prototypes, for instance); assigned and independent reading and research; discussion and critique; and writing. Students also enroll in at least one elective offered in the college, university, or our affiliate universities, Duke University and UNC, Chapel Hill.
Students create a body of work as they explore a research interest area within studio and seminar subtopics. The experience of creating this work, coupled with researching and writing, positions students to identify a design investigation in their final year, which culminates in the required Final Project. For this work, students comprehensively research an area of interest, design propositional artifacts (findings), document the research and findings in a written thesis, and present the project in a public forum.
MGD III: Three-year Master of Graphic Design Program
The MGD III program targets applicants who have some professional experience but who have not earned a first degree in graphic design or have earned a BA with a graphic design concentration. (Note that applicants aiming for a qualifying professional degree in graphic design should apply to the Bachelor of Graphic Design program.)
MGD III students enroll in two semesters of specialized and advanced undergraduate coursework prior to matriculating to the MGD II program. The curriculum includes two studio-based courses and at least two lecture/seminar courses. The 6 credit studios cover systems thinking in design for user experience, visual communication, and other professional graphic design topics while they prepare the student for graduate level inquiry. Additional three credit courses focus on subjects such as mobile interaction, typography, graphic design theory and history, coding and modeling for interface design.
Admissions Requirements
Applications for Priority Admission are due to the Graduate School by January 5. Applications are reviewed until all seats are filled. In addition to Graduate School requirements, the Department asks for department personal data forms, a written personal statement, and a website or accessible online PDF portfolio that demonstrates experience and skills in visual communication.
Degree Requirements
The MGD (II) degree requires successful completion of 48 total credits, however students typically take advantage of additional coursework during their time at NC State.
The core curriculum consists of a 9-credit studio and a 3-credit seminar -- either Design Methods, Design Frameworks, or Final Project Research -- in each of the first three semesters of study. Students are encouraged to augment their study during this time with 400 or 500 level design coursework that enhances skills and/or investigates topics of interest. For instance, the program offers seminars on Graphic Design Pedagogy, Design Discourse and Typography, and Special Topics in Social Innovation. Students are required to enroll in a 3-credit 400 or 500 level elective within another college at NC State or at nearby Duke University or UNC/Chapel Hill under NC State tuition. The fourth semester is devoted to the final project for 6 credits, under the supervision of three Graphic Design faculty members comprising each student’s graduate committee.
Faculty
Full Professor
- Helen Armstrong
- Scott Townsend
Emeritus Faculty
- Denise Gonzales Crisp, Full Professor
Associate Professors
- Kermit L. Bailey
- Deborah K. Littlejohn
- Matthew Peterson
- Tasheka Arceneaux Sutton
Assistant Professors
- Jarrett Fuller
- David Oh
Lecturers
- Edwin P. Utermohlen
Courses
This studio explores relationships between data visualization, information presentation, interface design, and user receptivity in plausible near-future scenarios. Coursework concerns the graphic and experience design that follows data management and analysis, not the data management or analysis themselves. Students develop strategies for managing design investigations in the absence of presently available and testable hardware.
R: Graphic and Experience Design majors only
Typically offered in Fall only
This studio explores user-centered design research methods and interface design within an industry-oriented problem space. Emphasis is placed on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.
Restriction: Graphic and Experience Design majors only; Prerequisite: GD 501
Typically offered in Spring only
This course introduces practices of design-based discovery, which utilizes theory in guiding design exploration.
Restriction: Graphic and Experience Design majors only; Prerequisite: GD 502
Typically offered in Fall only
Advanced problems in the visual design and structuring of information in interactive multimedia presentations. Topics include the design of interfaces, navigation, motion graphics, and websites as well as exploration of narrative and hypermedia approaches to the organization of content.
Prerequisite: GD 410, Design Majors
Typically offered in Spring only
Advanced problems of typographic expression/communication in which typographic variables are used to alter, enhance, or reinforce verbal meaning. Historic precedent and experimentation with the conventions for typographic form are explored. The impact of the computer on changes in typographic aesthetics, including motion graphics, typeface design, and website design.
Prerequisite: GD 417, Design Majors
Typically offered in Spring only
This course examines research methods used in graphic & experience design for the development of products, services, systems, and experiences. The course addresses research in multiple phases of the design process including problem definition, generative, and evaluative phases. Emphasis is placed on matching the attributes of methods with the research needs of designers to ultimately define and validate design requirements. Nonmajors by permission only.
Typically offered in Fall only
Introduction to recent theories in various disciplines concerning a cultural understanding of graphic design. Theories of mass and popular culture, critiques of creativity and authorial intentionality, influences of interpretive criticism, theories of consumption and issues of cultural representation. Emphasis on adaptation of these theories to an understanding of the cultural significance of graphic design. Non-majors by permission only.
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
This coursework introduces texts that examine the evolution of computation and design between 1960 and present, particularly as this evolution relates to graphic and experience design. The course begins with the early development of personal computers and graphical user interfaces, considering how humans communicated with machines during the mid to late century. The focus then shifts to more recent issues arising at the intersection of technology and design such as speculative design, data ethics, and AI creativity. Emphasis is placed on how designers might consider these issues in their own design practice. Nonmajors by permission only.
Prerequisite: GD 572
Typically offered in Fall only
This course examines research methods used in graphic & experience design for the development of accessible digital products, services, systems, and experiences. The course introduces students to Disability Theory, assistive technology, and individualized ("one-size-fits-one") design approaches. Emphasis is placed on the intersection of assistive technology and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.
Typically offered in Fall only
Topics of current interest in interpretation, criticism, methodology and research, relating to graphic design history. Further specialized study in history of printing, typography, communication, image-making and information systems. Investigation of how we study artifacts, production and producers.
Prerequisite: GD 242
Typically offered in Spring only
This course assists students in preparing research questions and investigating and constructing documentation for their final project.
Prerequisite: GD 573
Typically offered in Fall only
This studio supports students as they complete the final project. Students engage in group discussions of their work in class (and with faculty committees outside of class). Progress is monitored and visual studies are evaluated.
Prerequisite: GD 581
Typically offered in Spring only
Topics of current interest to program/option offered by faculty in School. Subjects offered under this number normally used to test and develop new courses.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
An investigation of special topics in graphic design of a particular interest to advanced students under direction of chair of graduate committee on a tutorial basis; credit and content vary with each student.
Prerequisite: Permission of grad. advisor
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
Special problems in various aspects of graphic design developed under the direction of a faculty member on a tutorial basis.
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
Seminar on subjects of current interest in graphic design, presented by persons not part of regular faculty.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
Teaching experience under the mentorship of faculty who assist the student in planning for the teaching assignment, observe and provide feedback to the student during the teaching assignment, and evaluate the student upon completion of the assignment.
Prerequisite: Master's student
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
For students in non-thesis master's programs who have completed all credit hour requirements for their degree but need to maintain half-time continuous registration to complete incomplete grades, projects, final master's exam, etc.
Prerequisite: Master's student
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
For students in non-thesis master's programs who have completed all credit hour requirements for their degree but need to maintain full-time continuous registration to complete incomplete grades, projects, final master's exam, etc. Students may register for this course a maximum of one semester.
Prerequisite: Master's student
Typically offered in Spring only
For students in non-thesis master's programs who have completed all other requirements of the degree except preparing for and taking the final master's exam.
Prerequisite: Master's student
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer