Graphic Design School Program

In the 21st century, graphic design is truly ubiquitous — and there are more opportunities than ever for skilled graphic designers to find creative expression and fulfillment. At the New York Film Academy’s Graphic Design School, students receive the opportunity to study with world-class faculty and develop the skills necessary to forge a path in an ever-evolving, dynamic, and essential discipline.

Programs in the Graphic Design School at NYFA combine in-class instruction, hands-on education, and extensive coursework, resulting in an equally challenging and rewarding experience with real-world application. Students enrolled in our graphic design programs should be prepared for an exhilarating full-time commitment, with graphic design classes five days a week and many evenings and weekends spent working on original projects. A top faculty of working graphic designers guides students to fluency in industry-standard software and equipment, with access to real design studios and professional-grade facilities. Students will graduate from NYFA’s graphic design programs not only with the skill set of a professional designer, but also with the ability to compete across a variety of industries.

The New York Film Academy’s Graphic Design School is committed to imparting the expertise and experience necessary to develop the next generation of well-trained and successful designers. Graphic design students at NYFA have the option to enroll in the graphic design BFA program in Los Angeles, or the one-year graphic design conservatory-style program in New York City.

GRAPHIC DESIGN CLASSES

Aspiring designers can enroll in a graphic design class at the New York Film Academy's Graphic Design School throughout the year. Click here to learn more about the start dates and tuition information.

GRAPHIC DESIGN DEGREE

The graphic design BFA degree program combines intensive classes and workshops in the fundamentals and more advanced concepts in graphic design alongside a thorough grounding in the liberal arts and science. More information can be found by clicking on the below link.

• Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Graphic Design

Graphic Design Program

Designed for students who wish to commit a year to studying the fundamentals of graphic design in an intensive, one-year program, students can learn more about our one-year graphic design program by clicking the link below.

• One-Year Graphic Design Program

Graphic Design Faculty

One of the unique aspects of the graphic design school at New York Film Academy is that students get the opportunity to study under highly accomplished and professional designers who remain active and respected in the field. Each faculty member is here to instruct and guide students through NYFA's challenging curriculum and help prepare them to achieve their professional goals upon completion of their program. Faculty members at NYFA's Graphic Design School include:

	Debra Drodvillo, Chair: After receiving her BFA from Cooper Union, Debra Drodvillo worked for the graphic design studio deHarak and Poulin. She attended the Graphic Design Program at Yale University School of Art, from which she graduated in 1993. She worked as a senior designer at several New York design studios, including Bureau and Design Writing Research, and was a founding member of the art collective, Class Action. In 1995, she established her own New York based graphic design consulting firm, Notion Studio. Her work has been published in Print Magazine, Eye Magazine, I. D. Magazine, American Corporate Identity, Society of Publication Designers, The Type Directors Club of New York, Gilbert Paper Exquisite Corps, American Center for Design Statements, AIGA Annual No. 16, “From Suffragettes to She-Devils” by Liz MiQuiston, and “The Design of Dissent” by Mirko Ilic and Milton Glaser. Debra was Chairman of the Graphic Design department at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia from 1999–2005, where she also taught and was an Associate Professor. She has also taught at The Cooper Union, Yale University, The School of Visual Arts, Pratt, and Parsons The New School for Design. BFA: Cooper Union; MFA: Yale University.
	Keith Godard, Creative Director: MFA Yale School of Arts and Architecture. BFA, London College of Printing and Graphic Design. An award-winning industry trailblazer in graphic design for over four decades, Godard is regarded as a renaissance man in the fields of public art and exhibition design. As the principal behind the esteemed design firm Studio Works, which he founded over twenty-five years ago, he has created animation, exhibitions, and prints for such clients as University of Virginia, Fortune Magazine, Business Week, and much more. He focuses on integrating his imagination with a broad range of new media, print, animation, and website and environmental designs.
	Jee-eun Lee: Jee-eun Lee is an independent designer in New York currently serving as design director at ThoughtMatter, a branding studio with an artful perspective. She has extensive experience in branding, publication, packaging and identity work for industries ranging from hospitality to nonprofit clients. In the past, Jee-eun has worked for renowned designers including Mirko Ilic and Milton Glaser, where she was in charge of developing concepts and creating various designs for Brooklyn Brewery. She has taught Publication Design at the Fashion Institute of Technology.
	Sophia Bilynsky: Founder and creative director of AlleyCat Design, a creative strategy firm focused on developing solutions that drive business and social outcomes. With 20+ years of experience in branding and business strategy, Bilynsky brings her passion for art, identity, and world affairs to her design, integrating strategy and culture in ways that align organizations with purpose and meaning. Her body of work is notable for its relevance to mission, time, place and goals, and has included partnerships with such prestigious brands as FedEx, IBM, United Way, Tommy Hilfiger, Nine West, Givenchy and the Memphis Grizzlies Foundation. Prior to launching AlleyCat, Sophia lived and worked in Istanbul, Turkey, collaborating with an international team to build the first privatized television station. This unique immersion opportunity in full motion graphics placed her on the leading edge of the industry trends in digital and set design. Later, Bilynsky leveraged the experience to build her own broadcast studio, providing creative space with changing set design to television/digital clients like ABC, NBC, and CBS. Bilynsky has always invested in growing the next generation of designers, both through her hiring practices and her choice of volunteer commitments. She has been chair and co-chair of the University of the Arts Alumni Association and has been a volunteer with Change for Kids in Manhattan. She is also a member of The American Institute of Graphic Arts. She holds a BFA in Graphic Design from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia.
	Alexander Polyakov: Over a long and varied career, Alexander has worked extensively as a graphic designer, a graphic design instructor, a furniture designer, and a journalist primarily focused on subjects related to graphic design. His diverse portfolio includes work for clients such as Interior Design magazine, DesignTex, Bernhardt Furniture, Metropolitan Life, Ameriprise, Strathmore Paper, Independent Curators Inc., Merce Cunningham Dance Company, RedTop Architects, Duce Construction, The Carpenter Group, Outdoor Life, Good Harbor, and Red Top Architects. In addition to his commercial successes, Alexander has taught graphic design at Rutgers University, FIT, MSU and Pratt Institute. Alexander’s furniture designs have been featured in publications such as The New York Times, Metropolitan Home, Elle Decor, and Vogue, to name just a few. As a journalist, he’s written profiles of movie stars, interior designers, architects, and graphic designers — as well as humorous essays, shopping guides, travel pieces, and interior design articles. His writings has been featured in numerous high-profile publications: American Home Style, Advertising Age, Child, Details, Elle, Elle Decor, Harper’s Bazaar, How, InFashion, Metropolitan Home, Saveur, The New York Times, The New York Daily News, and The New York Post. Between his innovative work in graphic design solutions, his commitment to educating students, and running his clock business, the vitality and diversity of Alexander’s career continue to grow.
	Erin Culton: Erin Culton is a multimedia artist with a background in animation, motion graphics, video production, and fine art photography. She completed her undergrad studies at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and recently finished her Master's of Media Studies at The New School in New York City. Her projects have been exhibited widely, including shows in New York, Chicago, Tokyo and Hamburg. Her recent work, "The Anonymous Heartache Project" (a collaborative transmedia documentary) debuted on the New Media Festival scene in Brooklyn and was featured on American Public Media’s "The Story" with Dick Gordon. She currently resides in Brooklyn, where she works as a professor at Empire State College and New York Film Academy, as well as continuing to freelance as a graphic design artist. Erin is co-founder of Elektric Breakfast.

GRAPHIC DESIGN COURSES

Depending on which New York Film Academy program length you choose, graphic design courses may include:

Elements of Design	Communication Design	Fundamentals of Typography	Drawing and Image Making
History of Graphic Design	Tech Lab 1	Communication Strategies — Branding and Visual Identity	Design for Interaction
Type and Motion	Tech Lab 2	Portfolio Production and Business Practices	Design Studio

Contact Us

If you wish to speak to one of our admissions representatives and learn more about our graphic design program, you can call our NYC campus at +1 (212) 674-4300, our LA campus at +1 (818) 333-3558, or follow the links below.

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