KUCD. You should be here.
The world is full of knowledge and possibility. And at KU, you have access to it all. Because, here, we believe there’s no limit to what you can do.Kutztown University’s Communication Design (KUCD) program is a community of designers who are passionate about what they create. We empower you to solve problems, communicate visually, and evoke meaningful change—all through dynamic visual expression.
The KUCD curriculum blends general education, art foundations, and specialized coursework in four key areas:
- Graphic Design – Master branding, layout, and visual storytelling.
- Interactive Design – Explore UI/UX, web design, and creative coding.
- Advertising Design – Develop compelling campaigns and marketing strategies.
- Illustration – Create original imagery for books, media, and more.
Here, you’ll discover the power of your voice and grow, not into someone new, but truly into yourself. You are imaginative, innovative, and challenge-seeking and you deserve a program that rises to meet your abilities. That’s why a KUCD degree isn’t just a piece of paper, it’s evidence of an experience. It’s a secret handshake into the world of design.
Find your voice. Design your KUCD story.
MFA education customized for you.
KU offers the first & only Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Communication Design (KUCD) within the Pennsylvania State system. As a designer, we offer you the opportunity to grow, not into someone new, but truly into yourself. KUCD is a community of designers — graphic design, advertising design, interactive design, illustration, design entrepreneurship, design education (aspiring and current) — who are passionate about what they create.Our 100% online program is geared toward working professionals and our classes are designed to work around your schedule. We are actively engaged with our students through “in-person” zoom meetings, critiques and class discussion. A KUCD degree isn't just a piece of paper, it's proof of an experience. Let us help you create it.
Exhibits and Events
KUCD is very active with monthly AIGA events, design film screening, workshops, and exhibit openings. We have annual events that keep give back to the community and help our graduating class assimilate into their new design careers.Kutztown University's Communication Design prides itself on offering the best resources available.
- Our classrooms and CD Lab have new iMacs loaded with all the software students use
- The Lab is generally open 24-7 — every day that the university and dorms are open
- Four lab workstations are reserved for scanning or digital illustration work — three 22” Cintiq displays and an 11 x 17 scanner
- The Lab also offers a service bureau that provides large format color printing, laser cutting and etching, 3D printing, non-toxic adhesive application and a direct-to-garment printer
- With training, students can also use the Landis Press Letterpress Studio and our 4-arm Screenprinting Press.
Instagram @ku_cd
It's that time again! The Group CD Advising Meeting is February 17th at 11 via Zoom. Keep an eye out for an email from Professor Doll-Myers for the zoom link.
3 hours ago
Cheers! During the winter session, three students—Sydney R., Neece J., and Sophia G.—from KUCD were accepted into a study abroad program in London, England. The experience gave them the opportunity to explore the city while immersing themselves in its typography, food, and cultural landmarks.
More photos and details will be shared soon on our By Design blog!
#thursdayinnit #kucd #studyabroud
3 days ago
Proud of the work coming out of the Advanced Branding Senior Seminar. With guidance from Professor Kate Clair, these projects grew into full brand guideline systems, grounded in strategy, strong visual language, and real-world thinking. The level of cohesion and professionalism in this work truly shows the depth of the branding process.
Featured Guides:
Liz Heisey - Penny’s Sweet Cow Dairy Bar
Jennifer Newman - Blue Bowl Soups & Breads
Justin Conley - The Crow’s Cache Oddities and Antiques
Sydney Reicher - Hygge Lagom Danish Furniture
AJ Haynes - Columbia Gators
Brynn Patchell - Peelin’ Good Banana Cafe
Hannah Christ - Armadillo Salsa
Audrey Cullen - Luminous Bazaar Moroccan Lamps
#KUCD #Branding #BrandGuidelines #graphicdesign
6 days ago
This week we are highlighting Sydney Reicher! Sydney interned at @neopangea last semester and here is what she had to say:
"I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to be an intern at NeoPangea, where I gained hands-on experience supporting a wide range of creative and strategic tasks. One of the highlights of my internship was developing an independent internship project, which allowed me to explore ideas from concept through execution and build a meaningful portfolio piece. I was able to bring a passion project to life by creating an interactive website and branding. In addition to my project, I assisted with various stages of the design and research process, including gathering inspiration, collecting and organizing data, learning about how they utilize AI, and making edits and refinements to design work. I had the chance to observe and learn from NeoPangea’s collaborative workflow, seeing how ideas evolve through iteration and teamwork. This experience helped me strengthen my creative thinking, attention to detail, and understanding of how thoughtful design comes together in a professional setting. I’m incredibly grateful for the guidance and support I received from such a talented team at NeoPangea."
#KUCD #neopangea #StudentIntern
1 week ago
SALUTE 2025 is the fifth annual national juried ID and GD student competition hosted by @ucodesign.
Congratulations to the Best in Graphic Design: Interactive/Video/Motion category winner!
Dreams - Rachel Moss
Congratulations to the Honorable Mention winner in the Graphic Design: Interactive/Video/Motion category!
Green Scout - Jake Youse
2 weeks ago
Blood, Sweat, & Illustration deserves a proper celebration !
Join us Tuesday, Feb 10th from 6–7 PM in the main lobby of Sharadin Art Building to celebrate all the incredible work that went into this exhibition.
Come hang out, see the pieces up close, and give these artists the love they earned. Snacks, art, and good creative energy included! See you there! ❤️
2 weeks ago
For one full day, student designers team up to create real work for real clients. Fast, focused, and full of fresh thinking. If you’re a student, this is your chance to build your portfolio, collaborate, and push your creativity further than a normal class project ever could. If you’re a business, organization, or community group, this is your opportunity to get high-quality creative work while supporting the next generation of designers.
Sign up to participate or become a client and be part of the 18th Annual Designathon with Kutztown University Communication Design. Let’s make something great together.
Sign up form can be found on the KUCD Website!
#KUCD #Designathon #StudentDesign
2 weeks ago
Today we a are back and we're spotlighting Melanie Yurchak and their time as a Graphic Design intern at Ignite2X!
Here's what Melanie had to say about their time there:
"I had a blast working at Ignite2X with Virginia and Sarah! I worked on animation, social media graphics, hand lettering, and illustration for different companies. I got to work with so many markers and pens, and this helped with my creations. This internship helped me expand my creativity and knowledge in a professional setting. Thank you so much for this opportunity!"
#designintern #studentdesigner #kucd
2 weeks ago
So proud to see KUCD students recognized as finalists in the Flux Student Design Competition! Their hard work, creativity, and dedication to their craft continue to represent our program in such an amazing way.
Leviathan Sweets — Lien Nguyen
Behind The Curtain: Murasaki Shikibu – The Woman Who Wrote The First Ever Novel — Leah Bloss
Monarch Brochure — Kate Phillipp
#KUCD #StudentDesign #FluxDesignCompetition #GraphicDesign #DesignStudents
3 weeks ago
