Industry Cluster: Communication Design

Chantal Jachan, BFA in Communication Design, Capstone Project

WashU alums are thought leaders in the practice, industry, and scholarship of Communication Design.

Communication Design is a very broad umbrella term for an enormous number of industry niches — from traditional graphic design (publications, type design, paper, brand identity systems) to image-making (editorial illustration, animation, storyboarding) to exhibition and environmental design to interaction design, an area that’s seen exponential growth in the last decade. Be sure to join the WashU Communication Design Network — almost 1,000 practitioners working across the discipline and practice of design — alums sharing job openings and professional development opportunities with both students and one another.

Our alums concept and design beautiful, imaginative things in the world — but also complex systems, social challenges, even one country’s entire approach to public education. Communication designers, no matter the niche, seek to stir audiences while solving problems.

Alums share stories:

Mara MacMahon, character modeler/rigger at Pixar
Deandra Nichols, Senior User Experience Research Manager at YouTube + designer-activist

Fall 2025 Professional Development Seminars

Register on Handshake

click flyer for printable PDF
click flyer for printable PDF

Capstone Projects & Portfolios for BFA Communication Design Students 2021-2025

http://www.saraarielwong.com/about

http://www.mikottisdesign.com/

http://michellekim.work/about

http://lauren.blackburn.ws/

http://susanhaejinlee.com/about-1

http://rachel-harris.com/hello.html

http://www.jocelynrunice.com/

http://www.merritte.com/

http://emilysybrant.com/me

http://washburnillustration.com/sam

http://lexycopithorne.com/

http://www.hollydoodlestudio.com/

http://www.siminlim.com/

http://www.zoedovemany.com/

http://hirshon.net/

http://www.andreanobledesign.com/

http://allisoncmiller.com/

http://lucywji.com/

http://www.mledelman.com/about

  • WashU AIGA
  • WIAD (Women in Architecture + Design)
  • Design for America
  • Human Computer Interaction (HCI) Club
  • WashU Animation Association

If you’re a design student or young professional looking to work in the social impact design space, here are a few resources which might help you in your job search:

1. Words of mouth (https://lnkd.in/dquv7Evw)
by Rachel Meade Smith
A weekly newsletter sharing opportunities across design, the arts, education, information, and the built environment.

2. Design gigs for good (https://lnkd.in/dxhvGXN5)
by Mollie R. and Sarah Fathallah
A free job board full of opportunities at the intersection of
design & social impact.

3. Social change by design database (https://lnkd.in/dd67PDFa)
by George Aye and Greater Good Studio
A database of over 300 studios worldwide working in the social design space
.