Orientation: The Graphic Design Program at Ohio University places emphasis on: providing an understanding of the designer’s personal and social responsibility, developing the student's capacity for critical thinking, and stimulating imagination and innovation.
Understanding graphic design within a cultural context is an essential component of a designer's education. At Ohio University, design education finds its home within the College of Fine Arts, where new thinking edges of performance, video, film, music, theater and dance are around us. The design program is within one of the schools of the college, the School of Art. Design students can visually research in printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, painting and photography at the same time they are studying in their design studio classes.
We develop fundamental skills of perception, interpretation, and inventiveness, as well as understanding the nature and meaning of visual form in context. Our graduating designers secure positions within top design firms nationally and internationally. They design within a broad spectrum of applications from print to interactive gaming systems. Regardless of the position filled upon graduation, we prepare our students to be resourceful in researching the designer as witness, as reporter, as seducer, as innovator, and as producer.
Our ultimate strength is visually translating ideas into form, or in other words sending an intended message to a targeted audience. Our ability to aesthetically structure type and image in order to interest and inform has been highly acknowledged by the design industry. Studio classes, inside and outside the graphic design program, as well as liberal arts courses, prepare students for an immediate goal, the design practice; and a long term goal, continuing intellectual, personal, and creative growth.
Portfolio Review, Spring 2008:
This year the graphic design program is in its fifty-ninth year of granting degrees. The Program acknowledges the success and quality of the accomplishments made by the BFA recipients of its curriculum. We estimate eighty percent of all known alumni are working in the practice of design, illustration or related fields. However, when illustration was removed from the curriculum, a ninety five percent and greater placement occurred. This placement record gives substance and a proven vitality to our program, which we intend to continue. This is why the reviews are so critical to us. One of our objectives is to create a connection between students. The talented individuals selected are interested in and prepared to benefit from each other and what the faculty has to offer, which is, the activity of advanced study in design. We all become one family focused on design research.
Juniors: The Junior review is required for students who wish to continue in Graphic Design courses at the 400 level. The review starts with a 5-minute presentation focusing on your strengths, your progress over the past year, your vision of the senior year and reflecting upon the area of design that interests you. Rehearse this presentation, limit yourself and be prepared. By limiting your presentation to 5 + - minutes, you will allow the faculty to engage in a 10 minute discussion with you regarding your performance over the year. After the discussion we will ask you to briefly present your ideas for your degree project. Follow the outline at: http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~adleta/classes/year0304/dp.htm. Bring the work completed in ART 351, 352, and 353. Be prepared to address questions regarding this work. Suggestions will be provided for advancement over the summer. A sign-up sheet will be posted. These reviews will occur on May 8 and 9.
Please remember you must have 15 cr hrs at 300/400 in studio electives on order to graduate with a BFA. Please turn in the DP proposal and review form at the review. This review is part of your spring quarter’s grade.
Candidates for Major: The portfolio review is for students who want to apply for admission to 300 level graphic design courses in order to graduate with a BFA, in Graphic Design. 300 level Graphic Design courses are reserved for only those accepted into the major. Portfolio reviews are necessary for an accurate evaluation of design competence and accomplishment. The BFA degree program in Graphic Design at Ohio University is rigorous and competitive. Although the actual ranked criteria are on the Application to Major Form, the portfolio review evaluates the following 10 categories: 1. Research/development, concepts/ideas, problem solving, 2. Communication skills, professionalism, organizational skills, 3. Your use of typography, 4. Image use, 5. Your drawing skills, 6. How you use color, 7. Craft/finish, execution, portfolio presentation, visual organization, 8. Other studio arts skills, portfolio range, consistency, 9. Overall preparation for major, and 10. Potential for major.
Eligibility for the portfolio review is as follows:
The official requirements are in the Ohio University catalog issued the first year of your enrollment.
Please complete of the following by the end of summer 2008.
ART 110, 112, 113, 116, 117, 118, 211, are the courses required from the area of foundations.
10** credit hours of School of Art studio areas outside graphic design are required.
AH 211, 212, 213, and 214, 3 of these, 12 credit hours, are the courses required from the area of art history.
ART 250, 251, and 255 are the courses required from the area of graphic design.
ART 459 Graphic Design Topics is an elective; nonetheless it is very helpful to you enroll in this class.
GPA’s of 3 or greater in graphic design classes are more likely to get accepted in the program than those with a lower GPA. We also consider your overall GPA, and require a minimum of 2.75. We are encouraged when we see a 3 or better on your DARS.
Please make an appointment with your advisor, if you have any questions about requirements.
Results of this portfolio review will be one of the following:
Accepted into the 300 level graphic design studio courses.
Not accepted for upper division graphic design studio courses at this time.
IMPORTANT: We recommend that every student submitting a portfolio prepare an alternate course plan to follow if not accepted. Students who are not accepted may rework and re-submit a revised portfolio for consideration in the next review Spring 2009.
Preparation: Attend the Junior and Senior AIGA portfolio advisory sessions. Portfolios submitted should include work from every 200 level graphic design course taken. Be selective, but include something from all design classes.
Fully represent your abilities and interests based on knowledge gained during your 200 level study. Design projects done outside of class may also be submitted, however consulting with faculty is advised when considering these pieces. We want to see how you prioritize and select work; therefore we discourage faculty-advising applicants regarding which class projects to include. Your portfolio should also include your best work from other studio art courses, such as drawing, printmaking, photography, etc. Be selective, weak examples will weaken your eligibility.
Select a total of fifteen to twenty pieces. As a general rule, begin and end with your strongest work. Process books can be presented as is, and can count as a piece. Any written compositions showing critical thinking regarding design can be included as a piece for consideration. Put your completed portfolio review data sheet, an Application to Major Form, your statement of purpose and a current DARS report inside the front cover of the portfolio. The brief statement of goals on the data sheet will allow the faculty to evaluate your interests and your potential of working harmoniously within the Graphic Design Program’s research team.
A clear submittal is imperative. Some recommendations are: Submit work in a fixed portfolio or in portfolio sleeves (14" x 17" or 18" x 24”), if work does not fill a page, mount it on a black or white slip sheet, one project per side, do not crowd a portfolio page. If you are using individual portfolio sleeves, hold the sleeves together with report clips. Present your work in a logical sequence (not necessarily chronological). Adhere work at the top with two 1/2" pieces of double sided tape. (Spray mount and rubber cement can stain and damage work.) Document three-dimensional pieces, paintings and/or large format pieces. Files must be in .pdf or a compatible format easily accessed at stations in our lab. Slides are still accepted. Label each piece and file with the course title, quarter, year, and instructor’s name. Be consistent and use design sense for labeling work, small type 12’.
Place your work in a portfolio or envelope. Label the outside of the portfolio or envelope with your name. The juniors and seniors offer sessions where they will consult with you regarding portfolio reviews in the past. There is one evening in the winter quarter when the juniors and seniors bring their portfolios they used for admission. During the spring quarter the juniors and seniors invite you to bring the pieces you plan to include in your portfolio. At that time, the majors and AIGA student members will offer their opinions and advice. They will be announcing times via posters and perhaps email to your OU account.
Schedule: Sign-in to register your portfolio, with your data sheet, application to major form and a current DARS report, on Wednesday, May 7, between 9 and 10 A.M., to the monitor in Seigfred 405. Graphic Design classes will be canceled on May 7, 8, and 9. Portfolios will be returned with an evaluation on Saturday, May 10, between 10:00 and noon, or Monday, May 12, before 9:00 A.M., in Seigfred 405. A letter stating the results of the assessment along with an evaluation sheet, completed by all graphic design faculty, will include comments and recommendations. Please read the evaluation sheet carefully.
* This list is subject to modification/simplification, however these changes will be provided.
** A total of 7 studio classes (35 credit hours) outside of the major, 3 at 300 to 400 level, beyond foundations is required for graduation.
Only 5 credit hours of the 35 total can be used for the Media or LetterPress classes.