University Launches Transformed BFA Program Under Guidance of Art Department Faculty

This September, Westfield State University is set to debut its innovative Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) program thanks to the collaborative efforts of George Ramirez, Assistant Professor of Art, and David Shapleigh, Chair and Professor of Art. This new program aims to elevate students' experiences in art, professional development, practical application, and visual arts theory.

While graphic design is sometimes misunderstood as a craft and profession, Ramirez, who teaches graphic design, animation, and courses relating to illustration, emphasizes the true essence of graphic design as “communication that leads to action.”

“Our new program is focused on heavy research,” he said. “It’s client-focused from day one when students get into the advanced courses, which is very different from what it was before. Before, it was a lot of, ‘how pretty is your poster?’ Now, it’s about ‘how smart is your poster?’ Does it make sense? Is it communicating? The focus now is making things very clear for what students will do."

By nature, graphic designers are often overlooked by consumers as their work is in making sure products remain forward-facing in a world driven by clicks. Ramirez affirms the importance of designers’ work and asks his students to not conflate that with fame. “I tell my students that they’re the invisible heroes because people are spending money on how you talk to them through design,” he said. “That’s how powerful you are. I tell them, ‘one day, the world is going to shift and change, and you’re going to have a hand in it. Be proud of the work you do.’”

The BFA program diverges from its graphic design concentration roots with the introduction of Typography II, a course engaging students with experimental approaches to typography, typesetting, augmented reality, and virtual reality animation. These skills are explored in relation to structure, exhibitions, and consumer feedback.

“Graphic design can be very stoic,” Ramirez noted. “Not all designers are artists, and that’s something I really want to stress. Although we’re under the umbrella of the art department, graphic design as an approach is not art. That’s why you have so many non-artists who go into the field and become highly successful. As an artist myself, who went into graphic design, I understand where the students are coming from. As an alum, I get that it’s a fine edge and I want them to use their talent.”

The revamped BFA program includes updated class titles and a stronger curriculum foundation. Furthermore, Ramirez also hints at a future where the program may become interdisciplinary in nature, collaborating with departments that overlap with graphic design, such as English and theatre. This integration would enhance students' real-world application of graphic design, particularly in projects involving text and branding.

“We work with the marketing department all the time,” Ramirez commented. “Students will do projects in collaboration with them, but we want to open up that level of collaboration to other departments who either feel that what they do graphically needs to be enhanced or work with professional designers to get their ideas across. For example, if we have a whole group of creative writing students and my students need clients for a design project, I would love for that to happen. We’re definitely open to it.”

Students will get a real-world feel for how these disciplines merge together in September, when they will begin a semester-long project with a client, developing and launching their brand in a contest between peers. “They’re going to make it come alive,” Ramirez said, “and it’s going to be a real project for them to put in their portfolio. That, to me, is why the BFA program needs to exist.”

While passion is one of the main driving forces of the program, Ramirez also commented on the rigorous and rewarding nature of the BFA program, both for the students who apply but also for their Owl parents. “We’re going to teach you how to get a job in design,” Ramirez said. “When students and parents come in, I tell them, ‘I’m going to train, educate, and make sure that your students understand their education is going to be focused towards getting a job in graphic design. That is the goal. If you want a job in design, I will help you.’”