Graphic Design
- Starts February and September
- English
- 30 ECTS
- 5 months
Graphic design is everywhere!
Just look at the logo of your favourite jeans, the menu when you go out to eat, the websites you visit, or the billboards you come across on your way to school. Graphic design visualises ideas, solves communication problems, informs, inspires, and entertains.
About this minor
The Graphic Design minor is a blend of communication and art education, focusing on conceptual, creative, and technical skills. You will visually shape ideas that are creative, a little different, yet well thought-out and thoroughly researched. Throughout the minor, you will learn the skills that you need to create visual communication expressions. You will learn how to use Adobe software and how to develop creative ideas.
Why the minor Graphic Design?
- Work on projects for real clients such as small businesses or social initiatives
- A combination of strategic thinking and creation
- A blend of communication and arts education
- Enhance your creativity
More about this minor
The program offers you many ways to build an impressive portfolio, as you will be designing both for yourself and for real organisations. The minor Graphic Design requires around four days of commitment/attendance per week. You will gain access to theory and practical skills through lectures, workshops, coaching, and excursions. You will also work independently, both individually and in groups.
This minor is a valuable addition to studies in the economic domain, like marketing, communication, and business economics, but is also relevant to many other studies from ICT to (product) design programmes. Whether you want to create a compelling report or portfolio, or apply the skills directly in your future, this minor has something for you.
We consider motivation the most important factor in your application. So whether you’ve never created anything graphic before, or already have some experience, there’s plenty to learn in our programme!
The minor is offered in Dutch in September, and in both Dutch and English in February.
Programme
The minor Graphic Design is 30 ECTS, equivalent to 840 hours of study, spread over three projects.
Commercial - You’ll work (individually and in groups) on design projects for real clients. This includes acquisition, writing briefs, brainstorming, designing, project management, pitching, and invoicing. All projects and their processes will be compiled into a group portfolio.
Conceptual - As a future graphic designer, it’s also important to work on self-directed projects, assignments you do because you find them important, and enjoy them! For this project, you’ll be working within the theme ‘design for good’. Your research and the decisions you make are documented in a concept book. As a grand finale, there will be an exhibition showcasing your final graphic work!
Graphic Journey – In this project, you will document your own graphic development. What are your learning goals in graphic design, how will you work towards them, and where do you stand by the end of the minor? The format of this document is open, and through this design project, you’ll demonstrate how far you’ve come.
The minor covers the following topics:
- The graphic industry
- Brainstorming
- Concepting
- Typography
- Visual language
- Colour psychology
- Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop
- Analogue media
- Photography
- Pitching
- Ethical awareness
- Entrepreneurship
We aim to organise a study trip each semester. In the past, we’ve visited various museums, workshops, and conferences in Ghent, Vienna, and Barcelona. The study trip is a fun way to get to know your classmates and coaches better, and to see the city, and your surroundings, through a newly acquired graphic lens!
All classes take place on the Stappegoor campus in Tilburg.
Please note that there may be some costs for museum visits, printing your book(s) and final exhibition work, and purchasing Adobe software (student licence). However, you may also earn money through the commercial assignments completed for clients.
How to apply for this minor
Step 1: Register via Progress (for Fontys students) or via Kiesopmaat (for students outside Fontys).
Step 2: Send your motivation to fet@fontys.nl.
Include a personal motivation (in any format) in which you answer the following questions:
- Who are you?
- Why do you want to take this minor?
- What do you want to learn during the programme?
- How would you describe your current graphic design skills?
- Your preferred language. Do you want to follow the minor in Dutch/English/No preference? If you need to follow the minor in English, because you’re not a (native) Dutch speaker, please write this down in your application, so we can make sure that we place you in the English class.
To participate in the minor, you must have obtained your propedeuse (first-year diploma) or have permission from your own examination board.
Application deadline:
Notification of acceptance or rejection:
The minor may be canceled if fewer than 25 students register.
Please note: Due to the limited number of spots in the Graphic Design minor, selection will be based on motivation after the application deadline.
Agenda
Register here for one of our activities. This way you can be sure whether this is the minor for you! We hope to see you soon!
Practical information
Start September: Dutch
Start February: Dutch and English
A minor regulation informs you about what you will learn, how the assessment is structured, and when you have completed the minor. As a student, you can derive rights from the minor regulation.
Go to minor regulations ('25-'26) Go to minor regulations ('26-'27)