Online Graphic Design Degree Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Yes. Along with SNHU's other 200+ online degree programs, you can earn your bachelor's in graphic design online, on your time.

While we've developed a reputation as a leader of online education, we also offer campus and blended learning experiences. All of SNHU's programs are regionally accredited, and some, such as our nursing and accounting programs, have additional industry-specific accreditation. That means, when you finish a program with us, you'll get a respected degree from a university you can trust.

Just ask one of our online students:

"Southern New Hampshire University, when it comes to online education, is top of the league," said SNHU organizational management graduate Adam Schumacher '22. "I may be sitting here in Kingsland, Georgia, nowhere near New Hampshire, but I still feel like I'm part of SNHU. I still feel like I'm part of the university."

Online graphic design graduate John Reck agrees.

"I found the online program to be remarkable," he said. "There are a ton of resources in the SNHU virtual world – tutors, workshops, library. The [online writing center] will read your papers and guide you to understand what you're working on."

Graphic designers play a major role in any creative team. Here are a few key skills you'll need to succeed in the field:

• Creativity. An appreciation for art and creativity is probably what brought you here in the first place – and it's a highly valuable skill in the field. By using your knowledge of color, composition and typography, you'll find new ways to push designs in unexpected directions. As a contractor, you may help a small business redesign its company website. In an ad agency setting, you may spearhead an interactive out-of-home (OOH) experience. As long as you know how to apply the skills in your personal toolkit, you'll have the power to influence and innovate through your work.
• Collaboration. The ability to work with a team is another crucial skill, as you'll need to collaborate closely with writers, web developers and videographers to make your vision come to life. In addition, clients, stakeholders and creative directors will provide feedback to help fine-tune your work. This means finding a happy middle ground between owning your ideas and redirecting creative executions as needed. It's a delicate balancing act, but when done right, it can help you create some of your best designs.
• Communication skills. Similar to collaboration, designers need to be able to communicate clearly with clients and stakeholders and be able to explain their work. Designers need to be able to articulate their design choices while ensuring they're understanding the needs of the clients.
• Tech-savvy. Marketers are always looking for new cutting-edge ways to appeal to consumers. To keep up, you'll need to have a solid understanding of today's technologies. This means knowing how to use the latest design software tools and keeping an eye on current trends in marketing, UX, web design and more.
• Problem-solving. There are many moving parts from the ideation to the implementation stage of every creative project, and that can make for a whole host of challenges. For example, a client may have strict budgetary restrictions that limit the scope of your design. Time can also be a major factor – if you're producing work for a specific event, like a national conference or job fair, you'll be expected to complete it with very little lead time. In these situations, you'll have to find out-of-the-box ways to deliver great designs that satisfy client requests (and, ideally, exceed their expectations).
• Attention to detail. In many situations, yours will be the last set of eyes to view your design before it gets printed or published. That means you'll need to have a sharp eye for details, spotting errors like typos as well as inconsistencies in line spacing and alignment. You'll also need to make sure that file types and sizes match the request of the stakeholder, giving them everything they need to put your work out into the world.

While not required, typical entry-level education for graphic designers is a bachelor's degree.¹ Plus, with the growing competitive marketplace for designers, an online degree in graphic design can help set you apart.

Students with years of industry experience, like Mikki Mihalovic '21, are able to find significant value in completing their degree now, even as a working professional.

"My degree program was well worth it," said Mihalovic. "Though I have been a creative director for many years, I was laid off at the age of 58. Given all my years of experience in the industry and skillset, not having a degree kept me from getting other creative director positions even when I was in the top two candidates."

Now, with her degree, she's up for promotions at work and is able to provide more creative solutions and projects for her clients. "I fulfilled a promise to myself 40 years ago when I left college that one day I would go back and finish what I started no matter where I was in my career."

For those who have yet to break into the field, a bachelor's program can offer a safe space to grow, test and develop compelling work in various media. You'll learn about industry-leading graphic design software, and challenge your limitations as an artist by creating fully-formed, marketable ideas and creative executions.

In addition, a grounding in a liberal education and the humanities will give you a cultural frame of reference that can help enrich you both professionally and personally. You'll be prepared to take on "real-world" visual communication projects that demand an understanding of a broad range of content.

Programs like SNHU's BA in Graphic Design also offer internships where you can gain critical workplace experience. In addition to putting your technical skills to the test, you'll learn firsthand how to collaborate, solve problems and implement creative design solutions for real stakeholders working in the industry today. These experiences, and the resulting portfolio work, can help you stand out in a highly competitive market.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, specific projections for growth in graphic design vary by industry.¹ For example, jobs in web development and digital design are projected to grow 16% through 2032 — much faster than the average for all occupations.¹

When it comes to web development and digital design, graphic designers play a major role in creating compelling, user-friendly experiences on both web and mobile environments. They must blend form and function to create layouts that are at once visually striking and easy to use.

With website development driving much of this job growth, graphic designers with a background in web design or user experience design may possess a more marketable skill set for today's employers.

Yes, graphic designers can work remotely. The responsibilities of a remote graphic designer, or one that is onsite, are ultimately the same. In addition to the chance to work at home, graphic designers also have the option to work in a number of different professional settings, such as studios, ad agencies and design firms.

You may have the option of working as a contractor, giving you additional flexibility with both remote and onsite work. Collaboration, however, is crucial in this profession, so you'll need to facilitate consistent communication with clients, stakeholders and fellow creatives throughout every project – whether in-person or through remote channels.