Elon University's School of Communications changed its communication design major to visual communication before the 2026-27 academic year. Chair of visual communication Ben Hannam said the change comes after prospective students expressed confusion between the major and digital content management. The DCM major was introduced in fall 2025.
Hannam said the process of renaming the major consisted of feedback from current students, visual communication faculty and School of Communications faculty.
“I teach the course with seniors, and then last year when we were considering it, had discussions with the seniors as well, what their thoughts are. There's no decision that is going to make everybody ubiquitously happy,” Hannam said. “I haven't had a lot of negative feedback, but people have been curious about why.”
Hannam said that the original name for the major was visual communication design and that visual communication was a recommendation. Hannam said they went with visual communication because it captured all of design into one.
“In terms of hierarchy within communication design, graphic design, UI/UX, package design, publication design and things like that, they all fall under the visual communication umbrella,” Hannam said. “We wanted something that was a little more recognizable and indicative of what we do in our major.”
Hannam said the department is working on developing content to announce the new name. Visual communication courses are located in Steers Pavilion where student work is showcased.
“The purpose is to try to get on the main tour that goes through Elon because we have the School of Communications, then we have sports management and game design at Long, and we're trying to create a corridor,” Hannam said.
Hannam said he’s looking forward to seeing the visual communication major change and develop alongside the rest of the university.
“It is changing, it is different, but you can look around the university and the university is growing in new ways, things are getting added. Growth is just part of the process,” Hannam said. “It's kind of an exciting time to, you know, have everybody pull and work together in the same direction and try to grow our program.”