How Do I Get a Bachelor of Design Degree?

A Bachelor of Design (B.Des.) degree may be beneficial for any of a variety of design-related jobs, including architecture, fashion design and video game design. To earn such a degree, you first should choose a type of design on which to focus and look for schools that have strong related programs. Fulfilling the particular program's course requirements, including both design classes and general classes such as writing and business, will be needed to graduate with a degree in hand. The Bachelor of Design education usually ends with an internship, allowing you to develop work contacts and possibly line up a job after you graduate.

The primary step to take toward earning a Bachelor of Design degree is to choose the specialty you prefer, because various industries require a design degree. Some common examples include fashion, jewelry and textiles. If you prefer to design structures, then you may want to focus on architecture, interior design or a combination of the two, which often is called interior architecture. Many students prefer to design using computers, in which case designing video games, graphics or multimedia applications may be ideal careers. Once you decide on the best industry for you, you should find a school that offers a Bachelor of Design degree in that specialty.

After you are accepted into the program, you likely will be required to take courses that focus on the type of design to which you are most drawn, though you also may have to take some courses that teach the fundamentals of all types of design, so you can get a broad, general understanding of the subject. In many cases, you will learn to work with the equipment that most often is used in your field, whether this includes computer software or sewing machines. You typically will learn how to create designs on your own and get an overview of the ethics, laws and marketing efforts involved in the industry you have chosen. In addition, many students trying to obtain a Bachelor of Design degree are required to take general classes to ensure that their knowledge of writing, math and business is up to par. Many colleges have student advisers who will let you know which courses you need to take and how many credits you need to graduate.

At many schools, the last year of this type of program involves an internship. This means you will be required to find a job, either paid or unpaid, at a design firm dealing with the type of work you expect to be performing once you graduate. This is where you will need to put your education to work, because you often will be given simple tasks until you can prove that you are able to take on harder work. In most cases, an internship completes your requirements to graduate so you can get a Bachelor of Design.