RISD's graduate program in Graphic Design prepares students for professional practice by emphasizing the role of social context, media and aesthetics in the production of visible language systems. Like the discipline itself, it requires a nimble and intelligent response to constant change and burgeoning technology, while building a strong foundation of formal, aesthetic and analytical knowledge.
The department's accomplished professors extend the energy and ideas graduate students bring to the studio and encourage generative thinking and making. In addition, visiting designers offer varied models for practice and introduce students to resources in the larger design world.
current enrollment
graduate students: 34
undergraduates: 191
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Graphic Design Department website
visit risd admissions
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- What are you looking for in an application portfolio?
Your portfolio should present images of your best and most complete work (even if it's three-dimensional). Support it with working drawings, pages from your sketchbook — anything that shows you're able to "think through making." Along with graphic design work, please feel free to show drawings, prints, photographs or other media that are a mix of good finished and process pieces. This shows the scope of your visual engagement and lets us see the genesis of your solutions.
- What format should I use for presenting my portfolio?
Please submit your work on disk, as individual tiffs or jpgs (not larger than 2MB or so per image). Organize and sequence the imagery in PowerPoint or Keynote self-running sequences or in Preview, or post your portfolio to a website and provide the URL (with a disk submitted for back-up).
- Which program is best for me — the two-year or three-year one?
The two-year program is intended for students with an undergraduate background in graphic design — that is, people with BFA or BA degrees in Graphic Design, Visual Communications or the equivalent. The three-year program is for students who have visual/verbal aptitude and an interest in entering the field, but lack a related degree. We have accepted people with undergrad degrees in such fields as computer science, literature, fine arts, creative writing and even neuroscience.
- Should I plan to visit RISD before making a decision?
Yes, if possible. It's always helpful to get a sense of the place and the program by visiting in person. You can attend an InFocus session for graduate candidates and/or schedule a tour through Admissions. Due to the volume of inquiries, however, we can't schedule individual meetings or portfolio reviews.
link to general questions on Graduate Studies at RISD
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“My role as an educator is to facilitate critical thought and practice in design — and to help our graduate students recognize every opportunity to make meaningful contributions.”
Bethany Johns MFA '83, Graduate Program Coordinator / Associate Professor
Bill Newkirk, Department Head / Professor
Bethany Johns, Graduate Program Coordinator /
Associate Professor
Jan Baker, Professor
Lucinda Hitchcock, Associate Professor
Krzysztof Lenk, Professor
Akefeh Nurosi, Professor
Hammett Nurosi, Professor
Thomas Ockerse, Professor
Nancy Skolos, Professor
Hans van Dijk, Professor
Franz Werner, Professor
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