Graduate Graphic Design
The MFA in Graphic Design provides a rigorous and challenging academic and studio environment for candidates interested in enhancing their current professional practice.
The 2 1/2-year program includes three consecutive eight-week summer sessions in residence and two spring sessions of mentored off-campus independent study.
This program has three individual themes or tracks: typography and type design, social responsibility of the artist in society, and advancing the discipline through theory and innovation. Summer sessions are taught by core faculty, visiting lecturers, and visiting artists who are recognized internationally and nationally in their design and art practices. The curriculum includes project-specific assignments; individual projects; liberal arts courses focusing on history, theory, and criticism; and a thesis project. The three curricular tracks of this MFA program speak directly to educating conscientious individuals who believe that design has the power to contribute to and shape our world.
Deadline for applications is February 15. Please contact admissions@otis.edu or 310 665 6800 for an application.
More content available in the complete Course Description and Curricula (PDF)
Primary
| Summer | Spring | |||
| First Year | GRDS 500 | Seminar I | 6.0 | ---- |
| AHCS 576 | History + Theory: Cont Theories in Design | 3.0 | ---- | |
| GRDS 620 | Studio Topics Typography and Type Design | 2.0 | ---- | |
| GRDS 630 | Studio Topics: Soc Responsibility of the Designer | 2.0 | ---- | |
| GRDS 640 | Studio Topics: Advancing the Discipline | 2.0 | ---- | |
| GRDS 799 | Directed Studies | ---- | 7.5 | |
| Total Credits per Semester | 15.0 | 7.5 | ||
| Summer | Spring | |||
| Second Year | GRDS 600 | Seminar II | 6.0 | ---- |
| GRDS 650 | Visiting Artists Critique | 2.0 | ---- | |
| AHCS 577 | History of Graphic Design & Vis Culture | 3.0 | ---- | |
| *GRDS 620 | Studio Topics: Typography and Type Design | 2.0 | ---- | |
| *GRDS 630 | Studio Topics: Soc Responsibility of the Designer | 2.0 | ---- | |
| *GRDS 640 | Studio Topics: Advancing the Discipline | ---- | ||
| GRDS 799 | Directed Studies | ---- | 7.5 | |
| Total Credits per Semester | 15.0 | 7.5 | ||
| *Students must choose two of these courses. | ||||
| Summer | ||||
| Third Year | GRDS 700 | Seminar III | 6.0 | |
| GRDS 790 | Thesis/Final Project | 4.0 | ||
| AHCS 578 | Special Topic in Design | 3.0 | ||
| **GRDS 620 | Studio Topics: Typography and Type Design | 2.0 | ||
| **GRDS 630 | Studio Topics: Soc Responsibility of the Designer | ---- | ||
| **GRDS 640 | Studio Topics: Advancing the Discipline | ---- | ||
| Total Credits per Semester | 15.0 | |||
| **Students must choose one of these courses. | ||||
Alternate
| Summer | Spring | |||
| First Year | GRDS 500 | Seminar I | 6.0 | ---- |
| GRDS 620 | Studio Topics: Typography and Type Design | 2.0 | ---- | |
| GRDS 630 | Studio Topics: Soc Responsibility of the Designer | 2.0 | ---- | |
| GRDS 640 | Studio Topics: Advancing the Discipline | 2.0 | ---- | |
| GRDS 700 | Seminar III | ---- | 3.0 | |
| GRDS 799 | Directed Studies | ---- | 9.0 | |
| AHCS 576 | Hist + Theory: Cont Theories in Design | 3.0 | ---- | |
| Total Credits per Semester | 15.0 | 12.0 | ||
| Summer | Spring | |||
| Second Year | GRDS 600 | Seminar II | 6.0 | ---- |
| GRDS 650 | Visiting Artists Critique | 2.0 | ---- | |
| *GRDS 620 | Studio Topics: Typography and Type Design | 2.0 | ---- | |
| *GRDS 630 | Studio Topics: Soc Responsibility of the Designer | 2.0 | ---- | |
| *GRDS 640 | Studio Topics: Advancing the Discipline | ---- | ||
| GRDS 700 | Seminar III | ---- | 3.0 | |
| GRDS 799 | Directed Studies | ---- | 6.0 | |
| AHCS 577 | History of Graphic Design & Visual Culture | ---- | 3.0 | |
| Total Credits per Semester | 12.0 | 12.0 | ||
| *Students must choose two of these courses. | ||||
| Summer | ||||
| Third Year | GRDS 790 | Thesis/Final Project | 4.0 | |
| **GRDS 620 | Studio Topics Typography and Type Design | 2.0 | ||
| **GRDS 630 | Studio Topics: Soc Responsibility of the Designer | ---- | ||
| **GRDS 640 | Studio Topics: Advancing the Discipline | ---- | ||
| AHCS 578 | Special Topic in Design | 3.0 | ||
| Total Credits per Semester | 9.0 | |||
| **Students must choose one of these courses. | ||||
| Department Heads | Department Chair, Kali Nikitas |
| Faculty | Maja Blazejewska | Meg Cranston |
| Yasmin Khan | Kerri Steinberg | |
| Davey Whitcraft | ||
| Invited to Participate in Program | Juliette Bellocq | Andrea Bowers |
| Max Bruinsma | Annelys de Vet | |
| Sibylle Hagmann | Peter Hall | |
| Akiem Hemling | Julie Lasky | |
| Laurie Haycock Makela | Erik Spiekermann | |
| Sophie Thomas | Teal Triggs | |
| Daniel van der Velden | Omar Vulpinari | |
| Pae White | Jan Wilker | |
| Agustin Garza | Ana Llorente | |
| Jessica Fleischmann | Sean Donahue | |
| Jori Finkel | Jessica Wexler | |
| Alice Twemlow | April Greiman | |
| Fritz Haeg | Jon Sueda | |
| Louise Sandhaus | Kristine Matthews | |
| Brian Kennon | Skylar Haskard | |
| Aaron Turner | Faith Coloccia | |
| Harmen Liemberg | Mario Ybarra Jr. | |
| Shana Lutker |
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Telephone 310 665 6800