Classes are canceled Monday, January 26, and campuses are closed to the public. More at Winter-Alert.

Request Information Plan Your Visit How to Apply
Refine your illustration and design practice in a program with craft and innovation at its core. Create in our state-of-the-art facilities and our studios steeped in a deep history of making, all in the cultural heart of NYC.
An illustration of a woman in profile. Their head is adorned with what looks like a crown of fire, small stuffed animal toys, and strings of charms. They are wearing headphones.
Type
Undergraduate, BFA
Credits
126
Duration
4 Years
Courses
Plan of Study
School and Department
School of Design,
Undergraduate Communications Design
Illustration by Lily Herring, UG Communication Design, Illustration '23

Communications Design: An Alignment of Thinking and Making

Explore how to become a visual storyteller—using words, images, and other forms of expression. In our program, you’ll build a diverse body of work as you:

  • become confident using typography, photography, illustration, and/or animation to construct narratives and convey complex information in compelling ways;
  • identify communication challenges and develop strategic solutions to address them; and
  • create content that resonates with specific audiences, using your talents to connect with clarity and authenticity.

Emphasis in Illustration: A Unique Program

The illustration emphasis is unique—it prepares you for a career in illustration, design, or one that combines both. You will not find another program like it in New York.

Under the watchful care of distinguished working illustrators, you’ll explore and develop your visual voice as well as different ways to express it—such as authorship, world-building, narrative storytelling, editorial commentary, and advertising. Courses encourage experimentation with multiple technologies, platforms, and techniques. Electives provide opportunities to explore a wide spectrum of contemporary illustration practices, including graphic novels, animation and 3-D modeling, independent publishing, production design, and character design.

Enjoy the Full College Experience on Our Brooklyn Campus

A student stands next to a three works that are pinned to the wall. They are speaking to someone off frame.

Pratt’s campus is a green oasis in Brooklyn. Minutes from theaters, museums, concert venues, and much more, the 25-acre campus is a leafy refuge in a prime location. A creative, transportive environment, Pratt’s campus is the ideal place to unleash your imagination. 

Learn more about life in Brooklyn.

Be Part of a Creative, Supportive Community

Join a close-knit community passionate about art and design. There is a strong maker mentality among our students, who have launched independent film festivals, zines, a plethora of clubs, and everything in between. Collaborative and entrepreneurial, this community offers many outlets for your creativity.

State-of-the-Art Facilities

Pratt’s generously sized studios, maker spaces, and labs offer top-of-the-line equipment and tools. Here you will exchange ideas, deepen your skills, and create alongside your peers.  Hands-on and immersive, any Communications Design student may use our many production labs to discover, iterate, and refine their investigations across different media.

Our Faculty

Our faculty of outstanding creative educators share a common goal to develop each student’s potential. Pratt students benefit from working with both professional designers who teach alongside their work at top design positions in the city and professional design educators. See all Communications Design faculty and administrators.

“My Illustration Intensive class prepared me the most for my career. Projects often tested me conceptually and technically, thanks to professors who were in the industry. They gave me some incredible insight as to what it would be like working with art directors.”

Sebastian Torrens, BFA Communications Design (Illustration) ’23
Read More

A close-up black and white portrait of a woman with light eyes and a relaxed smile. She wears large hoop earrings, a chain necklace, and has sunglasses resting on her head. Her hair is pulled back, and the background is dark and out of focus, drawing attention to her face.

Meta Newhouse

Chairperson of Undergraduate Communications Design

Person

A woman stands in front of a wall-mounted mixed-media art installation. She wears a layered dress and long-sleeved top, with her hands clasped in front of her chest. The black and white image conveys a sense of artistic focus and presence.

Nida Abdullah

Associate Professor; Pre-College Lecturer

Person

A man with short hair and glasses looks directly into the camera with a calm expression. He wears a dark crew neck shirt. The background is pitch black, drawing focus to the subject’s face in this sharply lit black and white portrait.

Daisuke Endo

Adjunct Associate Professor – CCE

Person

An older woman with short, curly gray hair and glasses smiles warmly at the camera. She is wearing earrings and a patterned scarf. Behind her, part of a framed artwork is visible. The photo is in black and white.

Patricia Cummings

Adjunct Associate Professor

Person

A woman with long blonde hair and expressive eyes smiles broadly with her mouth open in excitement. She is dressed in an off-the-shoulder outfit and stands in front of a backdrop with the word

Lynne St Clare Foster

Adjunct Professor – CCE

Person

An older woman with shoulder-length gray hair smiles gently while standing outdoors. She is wearing a large scarf and leather jacket. In the background, a city skyline is faintly visible under an overcast sky. The image is in black and white.

Cheryl Gross

Adjunct Professor – CCE

Person

A man in a black leather jacket and fedora smiles slightly at the camera. The portrait is overlaid with semi-transparent images of various family members in formal attire, creating a layered collage effect. The photo is in black and white.

Rudy Gutierrez

Professor

Person

A middle-aged man with short hair and a full gray beard stands against a plain gray background. He wears a black shirt and gazes directly at the camera with a neutral expression. The portrait is in black and white.

Duncan Hamilton

Professor

Person

Kimi Malka Hanauer

Assistant Professor

Person

A close-up side profile of a man with short hair and a textured beard, his expression calm and thoughtful. The lighting emphasizes the contours of his face and the fine texture of his skin. The photo is in black and white.

Floyd Hughes

Adjunct Associate Professor – CCE; Pre-College Lecturer

Person

A man with a bald head and a thick, graying beard looks out of frame while sitting indoors. He wears large dark-framed glasses and a textured cardigan over a white shirt. The lighting is soft, and the photo is in black and white.

Michael Kelly

Adjunct Professor – CCE

Person

A man with round glasses smiles outdoors in the snow. He wears a fleece jacket and his face is partially in shadow. The close-up black and white image captures a cheerful winter moment.

Thomas La Padula

Adjunct Professor – CCE

Person

A woman with shoulder-length hair stands indoors, smiling warmly. She wears a floral shirt and hoop earrings, with sunlight streaming through nearby windows. The image has a candid, welcoming feel.

Veronica Lawlor

Adjunct Professor – CCE

Person

A woman with shoulder-length dark hair sits in profile, leaning slightly forward while gazing contemplatively into the distance. She wears a textured blazer and is lit by natural light streaming through tall, white columns. The background includes classical architectural elements and a patterned floor. The image is in black and white, with high contrast between light and shadow.

Xinyi Li

Associate Professor

Person

A close-up photo of a man’s face turned slightly, with a skeptical expression and looking up to his left. He has a trimmed beard and stands near a sculptural column, creating an artistic and candid black and white composition.

Scott Menchin

Adjunct Professor – CCE; K-12 Center Instructor

Person

A man with slightly tousled gray hair and glasses smiles warmly at the camera. He wears a dark button-up shirt, and the background is a neutral studio tone. The image is in black and white with even lighting.

Scott Santoro

Adjunct Professor – CCE; SCPS Lecturer

Person

Joshua Trees

Associate Professor

Person
Black and white portrait of a woman with voluminous curly hair, wearing a dark blazer over a light top, looking at the camera with a slight smile and intense eyes.

Jessica Wexler

Associate Professor

Person

Jon Weiman

Adjunct Professor – CCE

Person

Anthony Williams

Adjunct Professor – CCE

Person

After Graduation

Communication Design alumni are leading thriving careers, addressing critical challenges, and creating innovative work at a variety of companies and institutions. Many also become entrepreneurs and principals, leading their own studios and businesses.

Where They Work

  • Amazon
  • Hasbro
  • Pegasus Books
  • Scholastic
  • Penguin Random House
  • Cricket Media

Career Support for Life

Students and alumni can schedule one-on-one appointments with career strategists in Pratt’s Center for Career and Professional Development. A career strategist can work with you to develop your job/internship search strategies and life and business plans, as well as review résumés, cover letters, websites, and other marketing materials.

Ready for More?

HERE’S HOW TO APPLYPORTFOLIO HELPOUR CAMPUS & BEYOND
Thinking seriously about Pratt? Learn more about admissions requirements, plan your visit, talk to a counselor, and start your application. Take the next step.Building your portfolio can be daunting. We’ll answer your questions and help you feel confident about the portfolio you submit with your application. Start building your portfolio, now.Find yourself at home at Pratt: our residence halls, student organizations, athletics, exhibitions, events, the amazing City of New York and our Brooklyn neighbors. Check us out.

Social Media

School of Design

A collage of various design sketches hang from a wall. The designs range from wireframes and graphics to anatomy drawings and abstract 3d shapes.

Undergraduate Communications Design

Graphic design with neon colors. A sleeping, naked woman floats amongst an array of different items like plants, posters, alarm clocks and other objects in abstract forms.