Program Overview

Introduction to the Design Program

The University of California, Davis, offers a comprehensive Department of Design, where students engage in multiple areas of design practice. This approach prepares students to work collaboratively with professionals from various fields, including engineering, coding, manufacturing, and design users.

Major Requirements

The UC Davis Design Program delivers a research-focused undergraduate curriculum that integrates design history, theory, and criticism with design thinking, making, writing, visual literacy, and creative practice. Studio courses cover various design practices, including:

• Exhibition design
• Fashion design
• Information design
• Interior architecture and product design (lighting and furniture)
• Textiles
• Visual communications (digital, environmental, and print)
• Sustainable design

Degree Outcomes

Graduates of the Design Program can pursue careers in:

• Design
• Graphic design
• Design history
• Fashion design
• Information design
• UI/UX design

Graduate Study

The program also prepares students for graduate studies in fields such as:

• Architecture
• Art history
• Design
• Design history
• Human-computer interactions (HCI)

Alumni Employers

Notable employers of UC Davis Design Program alumni include:

• Accenture
• Apple
• Disney
• Gap, Inc.
• Levi Strauss & Co.

Related Degrees

Related fields of study include:

• Landscape Architecture
• Art Studio
• Cinema and Digital Media

Program Opportunities

The program offers various opportunities, including:

• Internship opportunities
• Research projects and labs
• Global learning programs
• Undergraduate research opportunities

Career Connections

The Design Program helps students connect their major to career opportunities, providing a strong foundation for a successful career in design and related fields.