Visual Art Studies: Graphic Design

The Graphic Design concentration is a practice-driven, studio-based pathway within the BA in Visual Art Studies (VAS), designed for students who want to design, experiment, collaborate, and build a real portfolio, just study theory.

This concentration flips the traditional classroom model: students learn by doing, working on real briefs, experimenting with tools, and developing ideas from concept to final execution. Classes feel more like design studios than lectures, encouraging collaboration, critique, and creative risk-taking.

Students graduate with professional-level projects, confidence in their creative voice, and a clear understanding of how the design industry actually works.

The Graphic Design program at AAU is unique as it is a rather practical, hands-on concentration as opposed to the rather theoretical curriculum of VAS. Although tools and technologies change rapidly, employers emphasise that they primarily seek graduates with strong design principles, conceptual thinking, and the ability to develop and refine ideas. Employers also consistently highlight the importance of communication and teamwork skills, as collaboration is central to most design environments. Initiative, problem solving, and the ability to work effectively within a studio or agency setting are similarly prioritised. Recent years have seen increased demand for skills in user experience design, motion graphics, social media content creation, and the use of emerging AI tools. Despite these developments, a solid grounding in core design fundamentals—such as typography, grid systems, and visual hierarchy—remains essential to effective professional practice. The Graphic Design concentration at AAU will provide students with a strong foundation in design principles while emphasising practical, project-based learning. Through hands-on experience, students will explore a range of professional pathways and begin to identify their individual specialisms.

Graduates leave with practical experience, emotional awareness, and a strong creative portfolio, along with clarity about their future professional direction.

Internship opportunities are likewise available to VAS graduates within organizations such as Kunsthalle, DOX Centre for Contemporary Art , Meetfactory, and others.

The B.A. in Visual Art Studies is a three-year study program. To graduate, students must accumulate 90 US credits (180 ECTS credits) by completing 30 courses. Having passed all the required and elective courses, students complete their studies by taking a state examination covering the contents of the major module and defending their thesis.

For more information on the modular structure and the study program, please contact our admissions team at admissions@aauni.edu.

The bachelor’s degree awarded is concurrently recognized as a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in the United States, as per AAU’s accreditation by the WASC Senior College and University Commission, and as a Bakalář (Bc.) in the Czech Republic, as per AAU’s accreditation by the National Accreditation Bureau for Higher Education (NABHE). Graduates may select whether to use the U.S. post-nominal or the Czech pre-nominal title.

Note: The Visual Art Studies: Graphic Design concentration is currently undergoing internal accreditation by the Academic Quality Assurance Board of Anglo-American University (accreditation pending). Upon successful accreditation, its completion will be indicated on the transcript and diploma supplement.

AAU provides a wide range of scholarships, tuition discounts, and financial aid options to help make quality education more accessible. To learn please visit Financial Aid and Scholarships.