Major in Graphic Design
Become a designer • Improve your technique • Solve problems creatively
John Brown University
2000 W. University St.,
Siloam Springs, AR 72761
479-524-9500
jbuinfo@jbu.edu
What are you looking for?
Become a designer • Improve your technique • Solve problems creatively
From logo design to corporate identity to infographics, great graphic design goes deeper than just the "look and feel." Ultimately it's about solving a problem for your client and meeting the needs of their audience. At JBU, we'll equip you with both the design techniques and communication skills you need to collaborate with clients to develop unique, effective visual solutions.
Start your applicationStudents of graphic design start with the basics of color theory, typography and good design with professors who've worked in the industry for decades.
The graphic design major allows students to tackle real-world print and digital projects such as logo design and branding, packaging, brochures and websites.
Before graphic design students graduate, JBU professors help them prepare a professional portfolio that will get them noticed and on the road to a career.
Graphic design students are given many opportunities and resources to graduate with all the skills they'll need to find careers, from buildings stocked with the latest technology and equipment to brilliant faculty with the experiences and knowledge to educate effectively.
One of the most amazing things about JBU is the relationships students create with the professors. Students are encouraged to visit and ask questions with professors, so that they can become better designers.
Our three art buildings include two 3-story facilities featuring classrooms, a theater, two galleries, photo and cinema studios, Mac labs and a printmaking workshop. The Studio Project Barn includes large spaces for a state-of-the-art photo studio, drawing and painting classrooms, woodshop, ceramics studio and individual artist stations.
Students are encouraged to learn skills beyond their major. Other than graphic design courses, students have the opportunity to gain skills in photography, printmaking, videography and more that will be beneficial for their future careers.
Featured are some designs that students created for their portfolios:
Students in the graphic design major are not only able to specialize in their passions, but they get the chance to work with other crafts and tools to graduate well-rounded, enabling them to find a job in any sector of art and design after school.
Work in any industry creating print or digital designs to support marketing and communication efforts or product design.
As you progress in your career, you may become a creative/art director, helping advertising agencies, newspapers, public relation firms, marketing firms, and manufacturers with your intimate understanding of product advertisement and graphic production.
Take over the steps of production in graphics, film or other formats. A production artist may also establish and maintain a product or company's brand identity.
Establish an entire line of graphics for a specific company or product to standardize the characteristics of the brand and the message the client is trying to communicate.
Work on a type of web design like graphics, web interface, user experience and search engines. A web designer is employed to build and maintain a web presence for an organization.
Ideate, lead and manage the creation of products. Communicate and work alongside various engineers, marketers, executives and other professionals.
Mr Paul Bulgin is a seasoned graphic designer with a heart to see graphic design used to increase the Kingdom of God. Before joining JBU and obtaining his MFA Mr Bulgin spent almost 20 years serving with Youth With A Mission (YWAM) in a variety of locations around the world. During this time he travelled to over 17 countries and completed graphic design work in 8 of those. His extensive graphic design experience has enabled him to teach in a variety of contexts; missions and church settings, community college and university.
Mr Bulgin has worked on projects and campaigns for YWAM internationally, nationally and locally. He has completed graphic design work for Auntie Anne’s Soft Pretzel's, Oh Yeah Creamery, non-profits companies figtyeight.oi and Just Good Work, among others.
Mr Bulgin is British - but not your typical tea drinking, cricket watcher. He enjoys reading fantasy/sci-fi books and supporting Liverpool Football Club. He is married to Ashley and they live in Siloam Springs with their 2 boys and are active members of Community Christian Fellowship.
Assistant Professor of Visual Arts, Graphic Design
Mr. Kirk Demarais is a graduate of JBU and served as an adjunct professor in the Visual Arts department since 2006. He previously worked for DaySpring cards as a member of the Web and New Media team for ten years before establishing himself as a freelance designer, artist, and writer.
Mr. Demarais's fascination with vintage toys, novelties, and 20th century pop culture has inspired two published works, "Life of the Party," a visual history book of the S.S. Adams Prank and Magic company (for whom he was employed as a package and catalog designer), and "Mail-Order Mysteries" which offers a rare look at mail-order products from vintage comic books. The latter appeared on annual best-of lists in USA Today and the Boston Globe, and placed on the Wall Street Journal Bestsellers list.
His enthusiasm for retro-culture has also manifested in an award-winning short film called "Flip" as well as "Foot," an animated film he co-created which was distributed by the toy company FunKo.
His pop-surrealist artwork is regularly shown and sold in Los Angeles and New York City galleries, and has received international attention, as well as support among the Hollywood community.
Mr. Demarais's writing has been seen in The LA Times, BoingBoing.net, and magazines including Comic Art, Make, and Reminisce. His body of work has been featured or cited in Wired, Rolling Stone, Huffington Post, Slashfilm, FastCompany, Print Magazine, Flavorwire, New York Post and many more.
Instructor of Visual Arts
Equip yourself for a successful career and a life of purpose.
John Brown University
2000 W. University St., Siloam Springs, AR 72761
479-524-9500 jbuinfo@jbu.edu
JBU does not unlawfully discriminate based on race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, military status, or age in the administration of its educational policies, admissions, financial aid, employment, educational programs, or activities.
John Brown University is a leading private Christian university, training students to honor God and serve others since 1919. Arkansas’ top-ranked university (The Wall Street Journal) and top-ranked regional university (U.S. News), JBU enrolls more than 2,200 students from 37 states and 42 countries in its traditional undergraduate, graduate, online and concurrent education programs. JBU offers more than 50 undergraduate majors, with top programs including nursing, psychology, construction management, graphic design, family and human services, and engineering. Eighteen graduate degrees are available in business, counseling, cybersecurity, and education.