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Design

Degree Type
  • Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Science
Location
  • Main Campus in Radford, VA
Format
  • In-Person

Overview

Design plays a crucial role in shaping the world around us, from the spaces we inhabit to the products we use every day. Students in our program learn the business, history, psychology, and philosophy of design, and they create their own original work.

student dressing a mannequin

Select Your Concentration

Bachelor of Fine Arts 

Concentration in Fashion Design
Fashion Design at Radford University provides students the opportunity to develop the skills necessary to express their creativity and realize individual design visions. Course work teaches students fundamental creative and technical skill sets including fashion drawing, fashion design, and apparel construction.

Concentration in Interior Design    
Interior designers are imaginative, creative, artistic, and resourceful. Interior designers know how look at a space or blueprint, and visualize the completed environment. Interior designers work with products, textiles, light, color and materials to create an aesthetic interior  for their client. In addition, interior designers must understand the structural requirements of their plans, the health and safety issues, building codes, and many other technical aspects.

Bachelor of Science

Concentration in Design Management
Design Management blends design with business. Graduates are well equipped to become managers within design fields. The Design Management Concentration provides provides students with a basic knowledge of business and administrative practices, functions, analytical problem-solving, and decision-making skills.

Concentration in Merchandising     
The Merchandising concentration provides a comprehensive studio-based education and prepares students for careers in management, retailing, merchandising and auxiliary fashion and interiors industries. Students learn to identify, research, and creatively problem solve through a series of courses that develop knowledge, skills, ethics, and creativity.

Why Study Design at Radford?

  • You’ll have uniformly small class sizes with outstanding and dedicated faculty
  • You’ll receive hands-on experiential learning
  • We have MakerSpaces for you to hone your design skills
  • Our campus has Industry-specific equipment
  • Four concentration options give you a range of options for working in the design field

Careers and Internships

What are some jobs you can land with a degree in Design from Radford?

  • Design strategist
  • Project manager
  • Fashion designer
  • Interior designer
  • Creative director
  • Social media director

Roles in allied professions include building construction, furniture, textiles, styling, and sales.

Opportunities for Design students at Radford

All of the degree programs in the Department of Design begin by developing the basic skills needed for the major, including sewing and drafting.

Admission Requirements

Any student receiving admittance to Radford University is eligible. No portfolio is required for acceptance into these programs and no previous experience is required. All of the degree programs in the Department of Design begin by developing the basic skills needed for the major, including sewing or drafting.

Related Programs

Design Thinking Certificate

Choose a path to a well-rounded education

Students will combine this concentration with courses in other areas such as communication, economics, management, marketing, media studies, psychology, or journalism, in consultation with the student’s major advisor.

student drawing

“I took just one design class to see if it would be something I’d be interested in. The first course I spent between 4 to 6 hours every single night in the studio... I have never worked so hard in my entire life on something. I was like, ‘Okay, this is what I want to do."

Maddison Kunkel '24

student in an art room

Ready to Study at Radford?

We want to get to know you better and we are excited that you are ready to take your next step and learn more about us. We are here to help you and look forward to working with you during your college search process.