Graphic design is a skill you can learn anywhere, but having a university degree can boost your career. Many universities around the world offer art and design classes, but some universities offer top programs for a better graphic design career. They provide exceptional qualities in knowledge, practical teaching, and career opportunities.
QS World University Rankings recently released a list of top universities that teach art and design programs in 2022. Here are the top-ranked schools you can consider to boost your design career.
Royal College of Art London
Royal College of Art London is one of the top universities for research and postgraduate programs in arts and design. It offers Ph.D., MA, MRes, and MPhil programs in 28 subject areas. The university also offers a new program called GenerationRCA, which provides education in art and design that can also be applied in other disciplines, like computer science, robotics, environmental studies, and machine learning.
Aside from long programs, the Royal College of Art offers short courses. Their topics range from typography to the development of the graphic novel. You can also join a short course about developing a portfolio to better prepare the practical foundation for your future career.
In short, the Royal College of Art is ideal for pursuing postgraduate degrees in design or a career as a researcher.
University of the Arts London
University of the Arts London offers a bachelor’s degree as a start to your graphic design career. The university has a BA program in 18 fields of arts and design, including graphic design. This three-year intensive program takes students from the basic theories and history of graphic design to more specific knowledge.
The bachelor’s degree program in graphic design also teaches students about practical and commercial aspects of a graphic design career. You can learn about publication, collaborative works, agency, and representation. The learning system combines blended learning with excursions, seminars, workshops, and independent learning to create competitive and skillful graduates.
Rhode Island School of Design
Rhode Island School of Design offers both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in graphic design. Students will learn about all the basic theories and skills necessary to launch a graphic design career. The graphic design program also encourages students to learn from and work in different fields, such as advertising, filmmaking, media, and many more.
As a top design school in the United States, Rhode Island School of Design is equipped with state-of-the-art design tools. You can learn to use both traditional and high-tech design tools, from Vandercook proofing presses to MakerBot Replicator 3D printer.
Aalto University
Aalto University is a top design school in Finland, and its graphic design program was renamed Visual Communication Design. In 2016, the university offered two new majors for this program: Visual Narrative and Information Design. These majors were created to give space for the graphic design field that has become more specialized.
Aalto University not only has strong practical and research programs but also emphasizes diversity and professional collaborations between different fields. A great place to study if you want to develop a graphic design career in a competitive world.
Aalto University encourages students to develop critical thinking and a progressive mind in design ideas. The university’s design program has various research groups, such as Empirica (Research on Art, Design, and Culture), INUSE (Users and Innovation Research Group_, and NODUS (Sustainable Design Research Group).
The Glasgow School of Art
The Glasgow School of Art is a top art institution in Scotland. Its graphic design course is one of the three specialisms under the Communication Design program, alongside photography and illustration. Students are encouraged to be well-engaged in traditional and modern elements of the design arts. There is also an emphasis on the digital age and cross-discipline skill application, perfect for future graphic designers who want to earn competitive skills.
The Glasgow School of Art graduates is known for working at notable places such as the BBC, ISO, Saatchi & Saatchi, Graphic Thought Facility, Pentagram, and many more. Many of the graduates also start successful freelance studios or work in fields such as film, stage art, photography, publishing, and many more.
Studying at a good design school can give your graphic design career a strong base, especially if you want to develop competitive skills and outlooks. Consider one of these art and design schools to start a promising path to a future career in graphic design.
