Graphic design majors at Carthage are equipped with the versatility to work in a wide range of occupations. Students gain a thorough understanding of the design principles underlying everything from web design to photography and employ them in projects using industry-standard software. Upper-level courses drill deeper into their chosen specialties.
<div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/107/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,254,1537,1790/42136_IMG_0045.rev.1757347634.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/107/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,254,1537,1790/42136_IMG_0045.rev.1757347634.webp 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/107/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,254,1537,1790/42136_IMG_0045.rev.1757347634.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/107/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,254,1537,1790/42136_IMG_0045.rev.1757347634.jpg 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/107/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,254,1537,1790/42136_IMG_0045.rev.1757347634.jpg" alt="Jia Anderson '26" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/107/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,254,1537,1790/42136_IMG_0045.rev.1757347634.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/107/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,254,1537,1790/42136_IMG_0045.rev.1757347634.jpg 3x" data-max-w="1537" data-max-h="1536" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “I am so happy that I get to do an internship related to my major and minor while getting paid and receiving college credit. I don’t know what other place offers such unique benefits for college students.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/3174-jia-anderson">Jia Anderson</a> ’26</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
<div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/107/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,439,621/41434_Screenshot_2025-03-19_at_10.29.32AM.rev.1757347632.webp 2x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/png" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/107/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,439,621/41434_Screenshot_2025-03-19_at_10.29.32AM.rev.1757347632.png 2x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/107/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,439,621/41434_Screenshot_2025-03-19_at_10.29.32AM.rev.1757347632.png" alt="Emmitt Hansen '27" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/107/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,439,621/41434_Screenshot_2025-03-19_at_10.29.32AM.rev.1757347632.png 2x" data-max-w="439" data-max-h="621" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “Whether you’re into sports, the arts, business, or anything else, Carthage has the tools you need in order to be successful.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/3007-emmitt-hansen">Emmitt Hansen</a> ’27</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
<div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/107/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,753,590/41437_Yazminn-Lugo-27.rev.1757347633.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/107/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,753,590/41437_Yazminn-Lugo-27.rev.1757347633.webp 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/107/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,753,590/41437_Yazminn-Lugo-27.rev.1757347633.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/107/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,753,590/41437_Yazminn-Lugo-27.rev.1757347633.jpg 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/107/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,753,590/41437_Yazminn-Lugo-27.rev.1757347633.jpg" alt="Yazminn Lugo '27" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/107/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,753,590/41437_Yazminn-Lugo-27.rev.1757347633.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/107/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,753,590/41437_Yazminn-Lugo-27.rev.1757347633.jpg 3x" data-max-w="753" data-max-h="590" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “I chose Carthage for the proximity to my home and courses relating to my major and minor.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/3009-yazminn-lugo">Yazminn Lugo</a> ’27</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
<div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/107/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/358,755,1977,2374/40990_azariah.rev.1757347632.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/107/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/358,755,1977,2374/40990_azariah.rev.1757347632.webp 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/107/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/358,755,1977,2374/40990_azariah.rev.1757347632.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/107/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/358,755,1977,2374/40990_azariah.rev.1757347632.jpg 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/107/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/358,755,1977,2374/40990_azariah.rev.1757347632.jpg" alt="Azariah Oates '27" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/107/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/358,755,1977,2374/40990_azariah.rev.1757347632.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/107/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/358,755,1977,2374/40990_azariah.rev.1757347632.jpg 3x" data-max-w="1619" data-max-h="1619" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “I chose Carthage because of the four-year graduation guarantee, the challenging curriculum, and the small class sizes that offer one-on-one time with the professors if I ever feel lost.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/2908-azariah-oates">Azariah Oates</a> ’27</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
original work
The senior seminar culminates in a personal design exhibition, giving you the chance to display a portfolio of your best work. This final portfolio can be tailored to your professional interests.
career Opportunities for graphic design majors
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 3 percent growth in jobs for graphic designers through 2031, in part due to the need for professionals who can “create visually appealing and effective layouts of websites and social media sites.”
Many Carthage alumni are independent graphic designers, while others hold positions with employers such as:
Student Opportunities for Graphic Design Majors and Minors
Many students get involved in DRAFT, a campus organization for those interested in graphic design. Faculty arrange tours of design studios in the Chicago-Milwaukee corridor multiple times each year, and seniors often participate in the American Institute of Graphic Arts’ statewide portfolio review. Prof. Huaracha regularly leads J-Term study tours to photograph nature in locations like Arizona and Costa Rica.
More than 90 percent of Carthage students receive financial aid. Graphic design students have the opportunity to compete in an annual scholarship competition. Recipients are chosen based on an interview and work samples.
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