| Ranking | School | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire Institute of Art | Manchester |
| 2 | Plymouth State University | Plymouth |
Our 2019 rankings of the top graphic design school programs in New Hampshire. For an explanation of the ranking criteria, click here.
1. New Hampshire Institute of Art, Manchester, New Hampshire
Founded in 1898, New Hampshire Institute of Art (NHIA) is the oldest and largest non-profit arts institution in New Hampshire. The school, which offers undergraduate (BFA, Dual Degree BFA/MAT), graduate (MFA, MAT), and community education programs (Youth Arts, Pre-College, Community Education, Professional Development), serves more than 2,000 students annually on two campuses in Manchester and Sharon/Peterborough, New Hampshire.
The BFA in Graphic Design “embraces both digital and analog technologies,” says the school. “At the same time” the school says that it utilizes Cintiq tablets to develop digital work and that it pushes students to learn “letterpress and incorporate hand-drawn type, skills that complement each other,” which makes NHIA students better designers.
The NHIA Design Department is “led by faculty who are practicing designers who immerse students in the industry through our Design NH agency, where students run an in-house agency for real-world clients, and the internship experience where students work for companies like Segway, Dyn, and Disney.”
Graduates of the program have numerous career options including Art Director, Communications Director, Creative Director, Design Manager, Editorial Designer, Environmental Designer, Exhibit Planner, Global Brand Manager, Information Architect, Interactive Digital Artist, Interface Designer, Multimedia Designer, User Interface Designer, Web Producer, and more.
2. Plymouth State University, Plymouth, New Hampshire
Founded in 1871 as a teacher training school, Plymouth State University (PSU) is part of the University System of New Hampshire (USNH). The school serves just over 5,900 students enrolled in 53 undergraduate majors, 60 undergraduate minors, and 68 graduate degree and certification programs through several dozen academic departments. The Art Department has two options for aspiring graphic designers including BA and BFA degrees in Art with a Graphic Design option.
Per the school, the 120 credit hour BA program is “designed to provide students with the opportunity for a breadth of experience in the Visual Arts as well as a foundation for further studies through a common 18-credit core of studio art and art history courses. This is followed by a choice of one of two options in the areas of Graphic Design and Studio Art. BA students should begin their option during year two.”
Sample courses for the program include An Introduction to Graphic Design Software, Art Foundations 2D: Composition and Content, Art Foundations 2D: Materials and Meaning, Digital Multimedia Design, Graphic Design I-IV, History of Graphic Design, Photography, and Production for Graphic Design.
The 122 credit hour BFA is designed to give students a “concentrated and focused education in graphic design or the visual arts (2D studio art or 3D studio art).” Students will “gain a broad understanding of the visual arts and art history through a common 21-credit core, and complete an additional option in graphic design or 2D studio art or 3D studio art. Portfolio reviews are required annually. The program culminates in a final project displayed at the annual BFA Exhibition.”
In addition to many of the same courses for the BA program, BFA students will take advanced courses such as Advanced Photoshop and Illustrator Techniques, Advanced Web and Multimedia Design, and Graphic Design V & VI. Students will also complete one internship course from the following: PSU Student Design Company and PSU Student Design Company Internship OR Internship.