Megan Barnum
The information on this page is provided to help you with your application to the BFA Graphic Design program. This includes eligibility requirements, portfolio guidelines, portfolio tips, deadlines, and an outline of the review process. The buttons at the end of the Eligibility and Review Process sections are both linked to the first page of the BFA Graphic Design application system where you can verify your eligibility at any time during the year and, during specific application periods, get started with your application. The dates of these application periods are noted in the Application Periods and Deadlines section.
To be eligible to apply to the BFA Graphic Design program, you must have completed the following nine required courses with a grade of C- or better:

• ART 1120 2D Design
• ART 1400 Graphic Computer Applications
• ART 1410 Typography I
• ART 1420 Graphic Design I
• DGM 2120 Web Essentials or DWDD 1600 Web Essentials
• ART 2280 3D Computer Modelling
• ART 2400 Production Design
• ART 2430 Branding I
• ART 2440 Motion Graphics I

You may verify your eligibility at any time during the year by reviewing the course, grade, and application attempt information on the first page of the BFA Graphic Design application system. The information on that page is linked directly to your UVU academic records. If you believe there are any discrepancies with the course or grade information, please contact the Registrar’s Office.
Alternatively, if you find you’ve been directed to the AAS Graphic Design application system even though you’ve already been accepted to the AAS program, please don’t panic. It’s probably because grades for all nine of the courses you need to complete to be eligible to apply to the BFA program haven’t been entered yet. You just need to wait until that happens and then, after that point, you should be directed to the BFA application system as expected.
Please note that earning good grades in any of the nine required courses does not guarantee acceptance into the BFA Graphic Design program.
Your portfolio should consist of 8–12 pieces of your strongest work carefully selected from some or all of the courses listed in the Eligibility section above. Transfer students may include work completed in other courses at their former school(s).
Do NOT include personal, professional, or internship projects. The inclusion of such work may result in a score reduction.
You may optionally choose to include work you deem as exceptional from other ART classes you’ve taken such as drawing, photography, and sculpture. If you decide to do so, please place those projects at the end of your portfolio.
For each of your projects:

• Write a short description that explains the underlying concept.
• Consider using digital mockups to enhance the presentation of your work instead of submitting flat artwork exported directly from your layout files. This is not a requirement and may not apply to some of your projects, but it is recommended for most projects.
• Consider uploading more than one image up to a maximum of eight images per project. This could include different views or close-ups of the project design or different parts of the project such as store signage and product packaging.
• Make sure the resolution of your images is sufficiently high to allow your work to appear clearly.
• Acceptable file formats include .jpeg, .jpg, .png, .gif, and .pdf.
• For motion graphics projects, provide a link to the online video in the URL field. No images are required but may be included if desired.

Please see example images below:
Page Layout Design
Sarah Utley
Branding
Megan Barnum
The spring application period is open from January 1 to March 1. Applications must be submitted before 11:59 p.m. on March 1 if you’re aiming to register for courses offered during the following fall semester.
The fall application period is open from August 1 to October 1. Applications must be submitted before 11:59 p.m. on October 1 if you’re aiming to register for courses offered during the following spring semester.
After you have submitted your application:

• An email will be sent to your UVU email address confirming receipt of your application.
• You may return to your application and make changes at any time before the submission deadline.

After the application deadline has passed, the BFA Graphic Design Portfolio Review Committee will evaluate your portfolio based on the five criteria shown below:

• Concept & Communication—Effective concept development and communication of information.
• Typography—Effective typeface selection, typesetting, and creation of customized letterforms.
• Image—Effective selection, creation, modification, and implementation of high-quality images.
• Design—Effective use of hierarchy, space, pacing, and graphic elements such as line, shape, and color.
• Presentation—Effective presentation of design work in high-quality images.

Within approximately 1–2 weeks, you will be notified whether or not you have been accepted into the BFA program.
If you are accepted into the BFA program, registration blocks will be removed and you will be able to register for BFA-only courses. If you are not accepted into the BFA program, you may reapply once during a future spring or fall application period. Students are limited to applying to the BFA Graphic Design program a total of two times.
If you decide to reapply, we encourage you to make improvements to your portfolio within the framework of the original class assignments. If you decide not to reapply, we encourage you to meet with your academic advisor to discuss alternative degree options.

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