This petition is for the ODU Graphic Design student body, alumni, and future students.
Currently ODU only offers a concentration in Graphic Design (which is only mere 24 credit hours). A full Graphic Design BFA major offers more classes and a large variety of them too. According to NASAD (National Association of Schools of Art and Design) ODU Graphic Design Program is considered "pre-professional." http://nasad.arts-accredit.org/site/docs/AIGA-NASA...
As a soon to be graduate of the ODU GD program, I have worked my hardest in collaboration with my professors to compete with other schools that have full BFAs in Graphic Design. Not just competing for design shows, but I struggled to be considered for a job after I graduate along with all the other ODU GD seniors. My first choice in colleges was VCU, who has a very competitive arts program and a fully accredited BFA in Graphic Design. I was not accepted into VCU, so I then applied to ODU: at the time ODU advertised a "major" in graphic design and it wasn't until I got into the GD program that I found out it was only a concentration. My parents and I have invested a lot of money in ODU, a four-year school to be considered as "pre-professional" as a community college. A professional degree is expected in the design industry as an graduate, anything less is not considered adequate.
Graphic Design is my passion, I love the design community and I want to make it bigger. I want the best for the upcoming ODU GD students and this is why I have created this petition. A bigger, better design community needs and thrives on experienced and well-educated designers. ODU would greatly benefit from a full BFA Graphic Design degree, the art department would grow in admission (so hey, more money for ODU) and the graphic design students would be knowledgable in their field and could easily compete with other schools.
Updates
May 1, 2016
I really had no idea so many of you felt this same frustration about the concentration versus BFA distinction. I am currently digging into the specific email addresses for the department heads because simply waiting for a response that might never come is not exactly working for me.
26 Comments
My daughter is a studying graphic design at ODU. She could have gone to VCU, but chose ODU. ODU needs to have graphic design as a major to compete with other top colleges, like VCU and to allow the students the opportunity to compete with other top colleges/students for these professional jobs.
As president of AGIA Hampton Roads, the professional association for design, and a former ODU graphic design graduate. I think it is important to have this concentration moved to a major. Graphic Design is an extremely competitive field and for ODU to remain relevant to these students, it needs to invest in the program and grow. We shouldn't live with status quo just because "that's how it's always been."
This is an absolute must! There are some talented students at ODU and the quality of the portfolios have gotten a lot better over the past 4 years. But they need more. More studio classes. More conceptual classes. More advertising classes. I think ODU can become recognized nationally for GD in a few years if it becomes a BFA major. I'll do what I can to help this come to fruition.
Norfolk (and the surrounding region) is home to a growing number of employers like digital agency Grow, that are hungry for qualified graphic designers. ODU should give strong consideration to enhancing its degree offering in this area, to better serve students seeking internships and employment in this field.
ODU really needs to catch up with the Graphic Design program and put more focus on it as it is the MAJORITY of the art department when you look at numbers of students and their majors. The program would benefit vastly from a few minor changes that would also benefit the school and future students!
As a graduate of the ODU Graphic Design program, I am all for the graphic design program being offered as a BFA. It will bring more success and a wider range of skills to those who want to pursue a career in the field.
It's about time ODU had a solid graphic design BFA. This way students can stand against other schools who do.
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This petition is for the ODU Graphic Design student body, alumni, and future students.
Currently ODU only offers a concentration in Graphic Design (which is only mere 24 credit hours). A full Graphic Design BFA major offers more classes and a large variety of them too. According to NASAD (National Association of Schools of Art and Design) ODU Graphic Design Program is considered "pre-professional." http://nasad.arts-accredit.org/site/docs/AIGA-NASA...
As a soon to be graduate of the ODU GD program, I have worked my hardest in collaboration with my professors to compete with other schools that have full BFAs in Graphic Design. Not just competing for design shows, but I struggled to be considered for a job after I graduate along with all the other ODU GD seniors. My first choice in colleges was VCU, who has a very competitive arts program and a fully accredited BFA in Graphic Design. I was not accepted into VCU, so I then applied to ODU: at the time ODU advertised a "major" in graphic design and it wasn't until I got into the GD program that I found out it was only a concentration. My parents and I have invested a lot of money in ODU, a four-year school to be considered as "pre-professional" as a community college. A professional degree is expected in the design industry as an graduate, anything less is not considered adequate.
Graphic Design is my passion, I love the design community and I want to make it bigger. I want the best for the upcoming ODU GD students and this is why I have created this petition. A bigger, better design community needs and thrives on experienced and well-educated designers. ODU would greatly benefit from a full BFA Graphic Design degree, the art department would grow in admission (so hey, more money for ODU) and the graphic design students would be knowledgable in their field and could easily compete with other schools.
Updates
May 1, 2016
I really had no idea so many of you felt this same frustration about the concentration versus BFA distinction. I am currently digging into the specific email addresses for the department heads because simply waiting for a response that might never come is not exactly working for me.
26 Comments
As an alumni who is now a professional designer, I know first hand that a Full BFA in graphic design is essential in the coming years if we want students to graduate with competitive skills.
My daughter is a studying graphic design at ODU. She could have gone to VCU, but chose ODU. ODU needs to have graphic design as a major to compete with other top colleges, like VCU and to allow the students the opportunity to compete with other top colleges/students for these professional jobs.
As president of AGIA Hampton Roads, the professional association for design, and a former ODU graphic design graduate. I think it is important to have this concentration moved to a major. Graphic Design is an extremely competitive field and for ODU to remain relevant to these students, it needs to invest in the program and grow. We shouldn't live with status quo just because "that's how it's always been."
This is an absolute must! There are some talented students at ODU and the quality of the portfolios have gotten a lot better over the past 4 years. But they need more. More studio classes. More conceptual classes. More advertising classes. I think ODU can become recognized nationally for GD in a few years if it becomes a BFA major. I'll do what I can to help this come to fruition.
Norfolk (and the surrounding region) is home to a growing number of employers like digital agency Grow, that are hungry for qualified graphic designers. ODU should give strong consideration to enhancing its degree offering in this area, to better serve students seeking internships and employment in this field.
ODU really needs to catch up with the Graphic Design program and put more focus on it as it is the MAJORITY of the art department when you look at numbers of students and their majors. The program would benefit vastly from a few minor changes that would also benefit the school and future students!
As a graduate of the ODU Graphic Design program, I am all for the graphic design program being offered as a BFA. It will bring more success and a wider range of skills to those who want to pursue a career in the field.
It's about time ODU had a solid graphic design BFA. This way students can stand against other schools who do.
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As an alumni who is now a professional designer, I know first hand that a Full BFA in graphic design is essential in the coming years if we want students to graduate with competitive skills.