Many Universities try to get graphic design students in and out the door as quickly as possible. As an Alumni of Mississippi State University I can say that I greatly appreciate the education in graphic design and fine arts that I was given and required to take

Before entering the graphics program a student at MSU must pass a fine arts portfolio review. It is a hard process but it requires students to be the best artist they can be in every sense of the word, you have to prove that you have the skills to be a great designer. It takes a year and a half of preparation. Most universities offer painting and drawing for their graphic artist sure, but it tends to be just once class or two at most then you get put in front of a computer and expect to create works of art in the world of graphic design.

The great motto at MSU is that to be a designer you need to be a fine artist first, so the students are required to take multiple drawing, painting, printmaking, photography (not the digital kind the old school kind), sculpture, ceramics, design (non computer based) each class available at different levels of difficulty and skill.

Learning the fine arts is a great way to understand the world around you, to understand and appreciate the history in art which led to digital graphic arts. Knowing your roots is the best way to be fully rounded in your filed. An artist studied drawing and learned proportions, dimensions and perspectives; An artist who learned color and blending, and tones and hues; An artist who understands three dimensionality through sculpture and ceramics and understands materials and composition those artist that can become amazing graphic designers, designers who have every tool to design as creative and uniquely as possible.

When choosing a university to study for design make sure you check out the universities curriculum for the degree. Make sure they require a fine arts background, not just one or two but several of different subject matter. Research the art coming out of the university. The more information you know about your university choices the happier and better prepared with your decision you will be.