<p>I will be majoring in graphic design after High School and was wondering which colleges on the East Coast have particularly good graphic design programs.</p>
<p>Your usual suspects...MICA, SVA, RISD, Pratt</p>
<p>I am currently a visual communications student at the University of Delaware. I feel that the program here is amazingly strong. The art program consists of 4 years of study. First is a required foundations year, and there are 6 required courses. Then, students can apply to either be in the fine arts, or visual communications. There are usually around 90 students admitted to the foundations program, and at MAX, 45 are admitted to VC. The program is very difficult, but incredible in my opinion. I might also add, that I was once a student at the University of Arts in Philadelphia, but chose to leave that school. UD's VC program pushes a great understanding of typography, and we also have classes that push being able to clearly communicate ideas through concept and technique. </p>
<p>They are strict, you have to work very hard. I rarely procrastinate, and I spend probably every night in the studio. However, it pays off greatly. </p>
<p>I think just a glance at the faculty page can give you good understanding:
UD/ART/Visual</a> Communications: Faculty</p>
<p>Our school also has really nice facilities. We have the Raven Press, which houses historical press machines for hand setting type. Our Mac lab houses 20 Mac Pro machines (or G5's, whatever they're called), plus scanners and large format printers.</p>
<p>UD really pushes doing everything analog the sophomore year of the VC program, as in, by hand. We do almost nothing digitally. This can drive some people crazy, however, my skills with technical pen and watercolor have increased dramatically. Even in the media today, as everything is fueled by technology, there is some desire to fall back to basics. These skills will never go out of style. However, we also have classes in Indesign, Illustrator, Flash, as well as other design programs.</p>
<p>Anyways, Im talking a lot. University of Delaware in generally is a pretty great school. The campus is beautiful, the area is nice, the dorms are nice, and I personally like being at a University and having the chance to go to a football game or a frat party. The entire experience is really nice. </p>
<p>If you have any questions, feel free to send me a message.</p>
<p>The best graphic design programs on the east coast are at RISD, Yale, Virginia Commonwealth, Carnegie Mellon, Maryland Institute College of Art, and School of Visual Arts. There are also strong programs at Mass Art, Syracuse, Temple, Pratt, Parsons.</p>