Program Overview

Department of Design

The Department of Design at San José State University is part of the College of Humanities and the Arts.

Undergraduate Programs

The department offers several undergraduate programs, including:

• Design Studies
• Animation & Illustration
  • Degrees
  • Faculty
    • David Chai
    • John Clapp
    • Raquel Coelho
    • Kevin Mannens
    • Angela Wu
  • Student Work
  • Community Engagement
  • FAQs
  • Alumni
  • Clubs
• Graphic Design
  • Degrees
  • Faculty
    • Yoon Chung Han
    • Connie Hwang
    • Marjan Khatibi
    • Chang Sik Kim
    • Dana Ragouzeos
  • Student Work
  • Community Engagement
  • FAQs
  • Alumni
  • Clubs
• Industrial Design
  • Degrees
  • Faculty
    • John McClusky
    • Josh Nelson
    • Dana Ragouzeos
    • Kohar Scott
  • Student Work
  • Community Engagement
  • FAQs
  • Alumni
    • Robert Brunner
    • Becky Field
    • Gerard Furbershaw
    • Kara Harrington
    • Gita Jacobson
    • Angie Kim
    • Mike Lowe
    • François Nguyen
    • Scott Summit
    • Kyle Swen
    • Cassie Tweed
    • Valerie Weilert
  • Clubs
• Interior Design
  • Degrees
  • Faculty
    • Eleanor Pries
    • Virginia San Fratello
  • Student Work
  • Community Engagement
  • FAQs
  • Alumni
  • Clubs

Undergraduate Minors

The department also offers undergraduate minors in:

• Graphic Design
• Interaction Design
  • Student Work
  • FAQs
  • Clubs
• Interior Design

Graduate Programs

The graduate programs offered by the department include:

• Master of Design (MDes)
• Experience Design Specialization
  • How To Apply
  • Faculty
  • Alumni
  • FAQ
  • MDes XD | Thesis Projects
    • InstaCare | 2025
    • Shift Deck | 2025
    • In the Wild | 2025
    • SpeakEasy | 2025
    • We-A-Go | 2025
• Animation Specialization
  • Faculty
  • Curriculum
  • Guest Presentations
  • Students
  • Outcomes
  • Admissions
  • Tuition
  • FAQ

Graphic Design Program

The Graphic Design Program at San José State University was formalized in 1969 and remains the only program in a public university in the Silicon Valley. The program's location in the Bay Area allows students to work with design and technology industries, as well as professional and service organizations, to connect with broader design communities. The internship requirement arms students with the skills and confidence that make them effective contributors to the professional graphic design world.

The Graphic Design faculty believes that to effectively mold the next generation of graphic designers, professors must be active in the field to instill in their students the most updated knowledge gained through firsthand experience. Many faculty members are working as designers concurrently with their teaching.

The program emphasizes the importance of user experience and interaction with visual design. Graphic design is more than simply knowing how to draw; it's more than self-expression; it's having the ability to understand every aspect of the world. From packaging, to branding, to everything that happens on a screen, the program strives to provide students with the fundamental toolbox that prepares them for the constantly changing needs of society.