What is communication design?

  • Communication design can play a pivotal role in conveying information. It combines elements of textual and visual communication to create a cohesive message that resonates. By utilizing principles of design, such as layout, typography, color theory, and imagery, communication design ensures that information is not just presented but also comprehensible, engaging, and memorable. A well-executed communication design strategy can significantly enhance how information is perceived and understood. – Elon Comm
  • Communication design seeks to attract, inspire, and motivate people to respond to messages and to make favorable impact. This impact oriented toward the objectives of the commissioning body, which can be either to build a brand or move sales. It can also range from changing behaviors, to promoting a message, to disseminating information. The process of communication design involves strategic business thinking, including using market research, creativity, problem-solving, and technical skills and knowledge such as color theory, page layout, typography, and creating visual hierarchies. Communication designers translate ideas and information through a variety of media. In order to establish credibility and influence audiences through the communication, communication designers use both traditional tangible skills and the ability to think strategically in design and marketing terms. – Wikipedia

Classes and Curriculum Information

View Classes and Curriculum information here.

The design of media and communication messages is essential in a visual world. A major in communication design prepares students to create these messages in static, kinetic, and interactive mediums and deliver them to diverse audiences through visual language, the principles of design, and other methods, theories, and practices. Students learn to identify and solve design problems and master the principles and practices used in the design of communication messages. These messages may involve design for print publications, advertising, website and mobile media.

Types of roles

Agency

  • Layout
  • Art Direction
  • Branding
  • Campaign Design
  • Communication
  • Copywriting
  • Creative Direction
  • Creative Services
  • Production
  • Public Relations and Publicity Design
  • Social Media Design
  • Strategy

Print Design

  • Book and Book Cover Design
  • Illustration
  • Lettering, Type and Typeface Design
  • Magazine Design
  • Music Packaging Design
  • Newspaper Design
  • Photo Editing
  • Publication Design

Digital Design

  • Application Design (App Design)
  • Game Design
  • Digital Product Design
  • Experience Design XD
  • Image making
  • Interaction Design
  • Video Game Design
  • Website Design
  • User Interface / User Experience UI/UX

Motion Graphics

  • Animation
  • Conference Motion Design
  • Film Title Design
  • Broadcast Television Graphics
  • User Interface Design

Identity Design

  • Branding
  • Corporate Identity Design
  • Logo Design
  • Stationery Design
  • Visual Identity Design

3-Dimensional Design

  • Exhibition Design
  • Environmental Design
  • Packaging and Point of Sale Design
  • Signage
  • Signage Systems
  • Tradeshow Design
  • Transdisciplinary Design

Employers and Titles of Recent Communication Design Elon Alumni

Company Title City State
The Island School Digital Content Associate Rock Sound Bahamas
Music@Menlo Production Stage Manager Atherton California
Bollare Digital Public Relations Intern Los Angeles California
Multihouse Junior Creative Associate Los Angeles California
Gap Inc. User Experience Designer San Francisco California
Marcus & Millichap Marketing Coordinator San Diego California
Informa Engage Junior Marketing Designer Boulder Colorado
Moore Strategies LLC Graphic Designer Stamford Connecticut
William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty Regional Marketing Coordinator Stamford Connecticut
Marks of Design LLC Social Media Specialist Shelton Connecticut
CET Academic Programs Graphic Design and Marketing Coordinator Washington District of Colombia
EDENS Graphic Designer Washington District of Colombia
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Graphic Design Intern Tampa Florida
Matte Collection Content Creator Atlanta Georgia
Adludio Junior Designer Chicago Illinois
ChappyWrap Graphic Design Specialist Portland Maine
Flywheel Digital Design Specialist Baltimore Maryland
Stanley Black & Decker Associate Brand Manager Baltimore Maryland
Nimblebot Assistant Account Manager Cambridge Massachusetts
Anheuser-Busch eCommerce Marketing Associate St. Louis Missouri
Million Dollar Media Graphic Designer Woodbridge New Jersey
Outcast Digital Associate New York New York
Giant Spoon Social Content Creator Intern New York New York
CLD PR New York Fashion Week Event Intern New York New York
VaynerMedia Post Creative Strategist Resident New York New York
AS Beauty Group Junior Packaging Designer New York New York
STV Graphic Designer New York New York
Boucher + Co Graphic Design Intern New York New York
Early Bird Night Owl Marketing Coordinator & Designer Durham North Carolina
Gelia Junior Art Director Raleigh North Carolina
Elon University Program Assistant Elon North Carolina
Peter Millar Junior Graphic Designer Raleigh North Carolina
Pillar4 Media Associate UX/UI Designer Charlotte North Carolina
The Mars Agency Associate Designer Philadelphia Pennsylvania
Sam Edelman Marketing Specialist Pittsburgh Pennsylvania

Job and Internship Websites

  • AIGA – Jobs and internships in design, content writing, copy writing, branding and more
    • must be an AIGA member for full access to postings
  • Coroflot – Design jobs (and limited internships posted), plus salary info
  • MediaBistro – Jobs and internships in the media industry
  • DesignCrowd – Freelance design jobs
  • Dribbble – Design jobs – full time and freelance/contract
  • GamesDirect – Jobs in the gaming industry – full time and contract work
  • IxDA – Design jobs
  • PRINT Magazine – Design Jobs
  • Upwork – Freelance jobs in design, print, copywriting, illustration and more
  • Jobs by ROSTR – Job Board for the music industry
  • PRSA Job Center – Public Relations, Advertising, and Marketing Jobs and Internships
  • FlexJobs – Job Board for remote and hybrid jobs, includes jobs in graphic design
  • SkullSparks Jobs – Creative jobs in college athletics

Extracurriculars at Elon

Professional Associations

Professional Networks for Inclusive Excellence

– Updated November 2025