Effective July 1, 2024, the department formerly known as Graphic and Interactive Design was renamed to Design and Illustration (D&I). This change, over six years in the making, better represents the breadth and depth of the degree programs offered and positions the department for future expansion into other related disciplines.  

“The new name encompasses our dedication to both traditional and emerging fields, underlining our commitment to providing students with a comprehensive and forward-thinking educational experience,” D&I faculty said in a statement shared with the Tyler community on July 1.  

The new Design and Illustration curriculum was designed with interdisciplinary learning and specialization in mind, which will give students an educational path that aligns with their career aspirations, preparing them with a robust foundation for future success.  

Matt Curtius, Associate Professor of Design and Illustration, explained that illustration has always been a part of the program; in fact, it was his proximity to the network of Tyler’s alumni who are illustrators that kept the school on his radar prior to joining the faculty last academic year.  

“The ethos of the department always maintained a holistic view of images and typography being used in tandem, often created by the same person,” Curtius said. “The new name adds the image-making—the illustration, which has been here at the highest level—to the name of the department. This will allow us to continue and expand upon the role of illustration in the curriculum.”  

In addition to the name of the department now reflecting the importance of Illustration in the curriculum, there will be a new BFA in Illustration and Emerging Media (IEM) beginning in Fall 2024. Though this major—along with a BFA in UX/UI, a re-envisioned BFA in Graphic and Interactive Design, and minors in all three disciplines—has been in the works for the last six years, the IEM degree was fast-tracked to accommodate students from the recently closed University of the Arts. The remaining program updates are on track to launch in Fall 2025. 

Students in this major will gain a well-rounded education in creating communicative images as a part of the Design and Illustration Department, learning alongside students pursuing adjacent design disciplines like graphic design and UX/UI design.   

“In most professional environments, illustrators work in partnership with other design professionals” Curtius said. “Among other strengths, this shared classroom experience will make them better illustrators, with better abilities to work with design partners, once they hit the field.” 

“We will offer a quality of illustration education competing with private institutions, with the financial benefits of our state-affiliated standing,” Curtius noted. “I anticipate and look forward to serving students from Philadelphia, from the state and region, from across the country and around the world.”