Visual Communication Design

Be a leader in design-driven innovation

Herron's M.F.A. program in visual communication design prepares future design leaders to foster interdisciplinary collaboration with organizations, communities, and society in order to strategize meaningful change.

Founded in 2007, our two-year intensive degree program focuses on the use of design thinking to lead the development of innovative products, services, environments, and business models. Visual communication design is approached as a sensemaking practice linking experiences, information, and skills in collaborative problem-solving.

We teach you to use design's ability to clarify, humanize, energize and solve complex problems at all levels through research, writing, and studio practice.

This program is being redesigned, and applications for the 2021-22 academic year are not being accepted. Please contact Herron's Office of Admissions and Student Services at 317-278-9400 or herrgrad@iupui.edu if you have any questions.

Collaborative external projects

In a partnership with the City of Indianapolis, the graduate cohort envisioned a sustainable transport network including dockless electric scooters. The students conducted a literature review, product analysis, onsite observations, and stakeholder interviews to better understand the challenges and opportunities posed by scooters.

Learn more about the project

Sustained career growth

Once you learn the mindsets and approaches of people-centered design, you'll dive deeper into design leadership and facilitation as a second-year graduate student. Working directly with a variety of professionals and community partners on and off campus will position you for a sought-after future after graduation.

Explore Career Services

Plan of study

The M.F.A. curriculum supports your learning of the methodology of design research. Most of the graduate program consists of experiential projects, both group and individual. You develop knowledge, skills, and practices for your culminating thesis research project through seminars, method courses, and collaborative action research courses, which apply your knowledge and practice to real-world contexts and collaborations with external clients.

Year 1, Fall Semester

Introduction to Design Thinking
Introduction to Human Factors in Design
Intro Design Thinking for Tackling Wicked Problems and Sensemaking
Design Methods for Framing Problems
Collaborative Action Research in Design 1
Collaborative Action Research in Design 2

Year 1, Spring Semester

Collaborative Action Research in Design 3
Collaborative Action Research in Design 4
Design Methods for Ideating
Design Methods for Prototyping
Interdisciplinary Elective

Year 2, Fall Semester

Leadership in Design Practice
Leadership in Design Education
Collaborative Action Research in Design 5
Collaborative Action Research in Design 6
Thesis Writing 1
Thesis Studio 1
Interdisciplinary Elective

Year 2, Spring Semester

Collaborative Action Research in Design 7
Collaborative Action Research in Design 8
Thesis Writing 2
Thesis Studio 2

Ideal candidates

Herron's visual communication design graduate program is truly interdisciplinary. We focus on methodical approaches for people-centered innovation. An ideal candidate is someone who wishes to investigate design processes and their role in making positive social changes.

We welcome professionals, practitioners, or recent graduates interested in business, healthcare, public service, nonprofit organizations, technology, and education innovation.

This program focuses on thought process. We approach design as a verb, a purposeful course of thinking and action.
Youngbok Hong, director of visual communication design programs, associate professor

Design thinking stories

Pamela Napier

(M.F.A. VCD '09)

In this round of "Five Questions," Pamela Napier shares her sage advice and insights about people-centered design.

Meet Pamela

Aleicha Ostler

(M.F.A. VCD '18)

Aleicha Ostler used 17 years of experience working in Indianapolis Public Schools to gain approval to start her own charter school.

Meet Aleicha

Juhi Singh

(M.F.A. VCD '11)

A passion for design research using design to build empathy with people has led Juhi Singh to work on some exciting projects around the globe.

Read Juhi's Q&A

Career placements

Upon completing a master's degree in visual communication design, life after Herron may lead to a career in sectors such as like healthcare, information technology (IT), service design, or higher education.

Our graduates are strategists, user experience designers, faculty members, entrepreneurs, and many more, and have found meaningful careers at powerful companies, such as:

Airbnb
Amazon Web Services
Anthem
Center for Health Innovation and Implementation Science
Chase Bank
Collabo Creative
Community Health Network
Cummins
ExxonMobil
Facebook
Google
Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority
Humana

Indiana University Health
Indiana University School of Medicine
Mad*Pow
Mayo Clinic
Meituan-Dianping
OurHealth
Regenstrief Institute
Riverview Health
Richard L. Roudebush Veterans' Administration Medical Center
Salesforce
Studio Science
Texas Tech University
The University of Cuenca, Ecuador

Join Indiana’s premier school of art and design

Degree programs

Art Education (B.A.E.)
Art History (B.A.)
Art Therapy (M.A.)
Ceramics (B.F.A.)
Drawing & Illustration (B.F.A.)

Furniture Design (B.F.A.)
Integrative Studio Practice (B.F.A.)
Painting (B.F.A.)
Photography (B.F.A.)
Sculpture (B.F.A.)

Herron School of Art + Design