Department of Design

Main Office
Art Building, Room 237

Mailing address:
1155 Union Circle #305100
Denton, TX 76203-5017
940-565-3621
Fax: 940-565-4717

E-mail: design@unt.edu
Web site: www.art.unt.edu

Cynthia Mohr, Chair

The Department of Design offers the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree with majors in communication design, fashion design and interior design. The department offers two graduate degrees: the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree with a major in design is offered with concentrations in fashion design, interior design and innovation studies, and the Master of Arts (MA) with a major in design with a concentration in innovation studies. Students interested in these degrees may contact the department chair.

Mission/Vision Statement

The three professional programs in the Department of Design share a common mission that prepares students not only to meet, but also to define and re-invent solutions for the fundamental challenges that impact their respective professions in an increasingly changing world. The curricula in each of these programs have been designed and are being taught to help future designers develop the conceptual, aesthetic, analytical and technical skills necessary to achieve these objectives.

Communication Design

The BFA degree program with a major in communication design is structured to help students who complete the program become effective conceptual thinkers and, most importantly, effective problem solvers who learn how to design (among other things) books, web sites, advertising campaigns, corporate identity systems, posters, electronic motion graphics, interactive information delivery systems and retail packaging. Students emerge from this program with the ability to generate original, creative messages and ideas, and the skills necessary to visually communicate them to specific audiences. They learn to do this by thoughtfully manipulating typography and imagery within carefully constructed systems and structures to direct, inform, educate, clarify, evoke, expose and beautify in both print and electronic media.

Fashion Design

The fashion design program prepares its students for successful careers in the fashion industry. In this pursuit, they develop a thorough understanding of the fashion design industry, historically and present day, and the technical skills necessary to design, develop, and merchandise womenswear or menswear lines for the ready-to-wear market. They are also trained in the technological proficiencies necessary to function in the current-day apparel design and manufacturing business. The students acquire the ability to design and create, applying conceptual design practices through a rigorous series of courses.

Interior Design

The CIDA accredited interior design program is structured to provide students with a complete exposure to residential and commercial interior design practice. Our curriculum prepares students for analyzing interior design problems, assessing existing conditions, researching and synthesizing solutions, visually and verbally presenting solutions, and reviewing the process for insights on future improvements, all with the goal of creating interior design solutions that are beautiful, conceptually relevant and safe.

Portfolio Reviews

Each major has a review system. Some majors require an entry-level portfolio review and a mid-point portfolio review, which the student must pass to continue in the major. All majors require that seniors pass an exit review and/or a capstone course prior to graduation. It is the students’ responsibility to familiarize themselves with all requirements for their major. Further information regarding the review system for each major is available from the Department of Design Office, Art Building, Room 237. Students who do not pass one or another of the successive required reviews should consult with their faculty advisor and/or the department chair regarding further options.

Students are responsible for notifying faculty that they need to participate in the exit review. A faculty advisor in the student’s major should be contacted at the beginning of the student’s last fall or spring term/semester prior to graduation. Exit reviews are conducted only in fall and spring terms/semesters. Students who anticipate summer graduation must have their work reviewed during the previous spring term.

Note: Students should contact a faculty advisor in their major for specific expectations and procedures for all portfolio reviews.

Accreditation

The Bachelor of Fine Arts program in interior design is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (146 Monroe Center NW, Suite 1318, Grand Rapids, MI 49503-2822; 616-458-0400), a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and a member of the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors (ASPA).

Programs

Pre-majors

Majors

Courses

Design

Quicklinks

Catalog