Advertising and Digital Design

This industry-driven program teaches students to develop concepts and tell stories that engage audiences and help shape the culture. The Advertising and Digital Design program is a pioneer in integrating advertising and digital design. We were the first undergraduate program in the country to offer a set of specialized courses in digital design, such as UX/UI design and kinetic typography, ensuring that you have the technical skills and expertise you need to excel in this fast-moving field.

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With a curriculum created by award-winning faculty, industry experts, and thought leaders who are actively shaping the future of the creative economy, this program prepares you to work in a range of positions at both advertising and digital agencies. The program offers courses not only in design but in concept development, creative strategy, UX/UI design, digital product design and TV and web video. In addition, students can specialize in art direction, branding, copywriting, social media or user experience design.

Keep in mind that to be eligible to apply to the Advertising and Digital Design BFA, you will need a portfolio and a Communication Design Foundation AAS or equivalent degree. Learn more about eligibility for this program.

Degree Details

We use design to spark conversations to influence culture, rather than just reflect it.

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The FIT Advertising & Digital Design Program was ranked #3 in the world by the One Club of Creativity for 2022 Young Ones One Show student awards that included one Gold One Show Pencil, and two Bronze One Show Pencils.

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Scarlett Maestre earned a 2019 Young Ones Award with her print campaign for Budweiser that answers the question “What does it mean to be an American?”

With a design that truly has wings, Courtney Bott ’19 received the top prize in the Driving Creativity contest sponsored by Kia Motors America and Ad Age Studio 30.

Iwona Usakiewicz '17 was on a team of FIT students who took the top prize for their design system in a competition that reimagined every NFL team’s graphic identity.

Concept. Design. Copy. Technology … These elements come together to create powerful messaging for the digital age.

The digital age requires a new creative team of art director, copywriter, and experience designer that can develop and execute ideas that are original, engaging, and inclusive of all media.

Joe StaluppiCo-Chair, Advertising and Digital Design BFA Curriculum

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Students have interned at Ogilvy & Mather, Saatchi & Saatchi, and TBWA\Chiat\Day. Graduates have worked at Anomaly, BBDO, Code and Theory, The Community, Digitas, Droga5, FCB, Grey, Havas, Leo Burnett, R/GA, and VMLY&R. Their roles include art director, copywriter, user experience (UX) designer, user interface (UI) designer, digital product designer, digital content designer, app designer, branding designer, interaction or web designer, motion designer, information architect (IA), social media content creator, and strategic planner.

Beyond Graduation

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Explore All Programs

Our faculty are industry professionals and thought leaders who have received top honors from The One Show, Art Directors Club, Cannes Lions, Type Directors Club, Clio, Communication Arts, A’Design Awards, the International Advertising Festival, and AdWeek’s Best Spots. Meet more Advertising and Digital Design faculty.

CJ Yeh

Yeh is a creative director, artist, educator, and author. The founder of Cynda Media Lab, an award-winning interdisciplinary design studio, his client list includes Google, The Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei, and the world's leading toy design company, GUND. His designs have been featured in numerous publications and he has exhibited at the Queens Museum of Art and MAXXI Museum. Yeh has won multiple teaching awards, including the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and the Adobe Educators’ Choice Award.

Christie Shin

Shin specializes in branding, typography, UX/UI design, and digital product design. She joined Cynda Media Lab in 2013 as partner and design director, with clients that include the Hearst Corporation, UNESCO APCEIU, Kaplan Inc., and Sony BMG Music Entertainment. Her design work has won numerous international awards from The Type Directors Club, Communication Arts, Print Regional Design Annual, and HOW Magazine.

Joe Staluppi

Staluppi, as curriculum co-chair, updated the curriculum so that it prepares students for creative excellence in the digital age. Before teaching at FIT, he worked at Y&R, DMB&B, Bozell, McCann, and Brushfire, creating many brand-building campaigns for clients such as Crest, Norelco, Pampers, Black & Decker, Mass Mutual, New Jersey Tourism, and the New Jersey Lottery. Those campaigns won over 50 creative awards including The One Show, The Clio, The ANDY, The ADDY, the International Advertising Festival of NY Gold Medal, Communication Arts Advertising Annual, and Adweek’s Best Spots.

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