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Hone your 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.
Type
Undergraduate, BFA
Credits
126
Duration
4 Years
Courses
Plan of Study
School and Department
School of Design,
Undergraduate Communications Design
A poster for an event which has a background of pink and black. The black is in the shape of continent of Europe and the pink is the water around it. The text on the poster is set in white and different typefaces. It reads, "Dismantle what the ivy league man has told you is ugly. 03.30.23, TIME TBA, Steuben 401. Tea and Snacks. Social Engaged Art Practice. Discussion on: Beauty Standards, Design Education, Colonization, Patriarchy, and Revolution. Collage making workshop. No Boys Allowed."

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 applying 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.

The Graphic Design Emphasis

The graphic design emphasis prepares you for a career in design across platforms, from printed matter to digital communications.

You’ll take upper-level studio courses in visual systems, strategy and branding, interactivity, multi-platform expansion, user experience, and sustainable thinking. Our courses encourage critical inquiry, iteration, collaborative processes, experimentation, and exploration of emerging practices that position you at the frontier of design.

“Several [graphic design] courses deepened my passion for design, particularly my Senior Project classes, where I had the opportunity to develop brand identities for various types of companies. That experience set the stage for my professional career.”

Sydney Barton, BFA Communications Design ’18
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Enjoy the Full College Experience on Our Brooklyn Campus

Four students huddle around a laptop on a work surface white the student in the center points at something on the screen. Behind them, printouts of designs are pinned up all over the wall.

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

Students outside the University of the Arts, London.
Students outside the University of the Arts, London.

Join a close-knit community passionate about art and design. There is a strong maker mentality among our students, who have organized clubs, independent film festivals, knitting circles, 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 design educators and design professionals that teach alongside their work at top design positions in the city. See all Undergraduate Communications Design faculty and administrators.

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

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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

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

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Anthony Williams

Adjunct Professor – CCE

Person

After Graduation

A student attentively observes an alumna describe her work in a gallery.

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. Pratt’s exceptional alumni network also provides coaching and mentorship to students and hires our recent graduates. 

Where They Work

  • 2×4 
  • RGA 
  • Google
  • Ogilvy 
  • Gensler
  • Wolff-Olins
  • Partner & Partners
  • Landor

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.

“I was excited to be in the industry, putting my degree to use in a way I didn’t predict but was ultimately prepared for, thanks to Pratt.”

Deepa Shanbhag, BFA Communications Design ’13
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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

Come be a part of our community. Join us for events, follow us online, and learn more about Pratt’s impact in the world.

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.