• Communication Design AAS

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    [email protected]
    212.229.5150

    Program Contact
    Nika Simovich Fisher, Program Director

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  • Parsons’ AAS Communication Design program enables you to develop the foundational concepts and skills you need to become a creative professional shaping the visual design, graphic design, or interaction design industry. The curriculum is grounded in typography and interaction design for print and digital media, integrating socially responsible technology-driven design approaches. Leading the program are accomplished designers whose professional experience and networks help you enter and thrive in this growing industry.

    Program Highlights

    • Broad and Rigorous Instruction

      Learn to use type, imagery, code, and visual language to communicate strategically in editorial and publication design, branding, advertising, and digital product design.

    • Professional Relevance

      Deepen your professional abilities, master collaborative processes, and add published work to your portfolio through projects that mirror real-world design challenges.

    • Dynamic Approaches

      Investigate interactive systems and design digital products that rethink human behavior — from computers and mobile devices to appliances and beyond.

    • NYC Opportunities

      Submit work for competitions, apply design methods to social change, undertake internships, and engage with industry leaders as you prepare to join the creative community.

    • Applicant Profile

      The program is most suitable for mature students with some college experience, an academic or professional background in a field other than design, and a desire to start a new career in communication design.

    • Degree Associate of Applied Science (AAS)
    • Format Full-time or part-time, on campus
    • Start term Fall
    • Credits 60
    • Duration 2 years or less (depending on transfer credits)

  • Curriculum

    The AAS Communication Design curriculum (formerly Graphic Design) combines historical foundations with conceptual approaches and analytical methods for addressing design challenges. The course of study is designed to combine your previous life experience and academic capacities with new methodologies and processes of communication design.

    Explore the curriculum

  • Career Paths

    Notable AAS alumni include Alex Chung, founder of Giphy; Jennica Bocchino, art director for The New York Times’ T Brand Studio, and Sanchi Oberoi, winner of the 2018 American Graphic Design Award, presented by GD USA magazine.

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  • Parsons faculty represent a broad range of expertise and are acknowledged as leading practitioners and scholars in their fields.

  • Student Work

      See Our Work

    • Beyond the Classroom

      Our extensive resources prepare you for professional success. Coursework and career services staff give you access to a network of industry partners, and the university’s libraries, computer centers, and the cutting-edge tools of the Making Center support your creative work.
      • Internships

        Internships

        New York City’s thriving creative industry and cultural institutions are part of your Parsons education. Our Career Services Office is enmeshed in the art and design industry and can help you advance your career with industry-relevant internships.

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        Industry Engagement

        Connect to the organizations, businesses, and entrepreneurs driving global creativity and commerce. In classes, internships, and extracurricular projects, you gain marketable problem solving skills in sectors ranging from government and nonprofits to tech and creative industries.

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        Making & Academic Resources

        As a Parsons student, you enjoy access to extensive resources including New School libraries, computer labs, archives, and studios, along with Parsons’ state-of-the-art Making Center, facilities offering a broad array of tools to support your creative and academic growth.

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    • Related Programs

      • Communication Design (BFA)

        Full-time undergraduate major (four years, 120 credits); best suited to first-time college students. Culminates in a thesis and qualifies alumni for further graduate study.

      • Communication Design (MPS)

        Full-time graduate program (one year, 30 credits); applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in a related design field and/or work experience in graphic design and visual communications.

    • Program News

      • Take The Next Step

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      Undergraduates

      To apply to any of our undergraduate programs (except the Bachelor's Program for Adults and Transfer Students and Parsons Associate of Applied Science programs) complete and submit the Common App online.

      Undergraduate Adult Learners

      To apply to any of our Bachelor's Program for Adults and Transfer Students and Parsons Associate of Applied Science programs, complete and submit the New School Online Application.

      Graduates

      To apply to any of our Master's, Doctoral, Professional Studies Diploma, and Graduate Certificate programs, complete and submit the New School Online Application.