Honours Bachelor of Brand Design Program Bridge (G305)

Program Description

Program Overview

The Honours Bachelor of Brand Design is a four-year degree that produces designers with strengths in collaboration, research, critical and strategic thinking, technical design execution and brand storytelling.

To apply, please review the application process and guidelines information.

Full Description

The Honours Bachelor of Brand Design is a four-year degree program that responds to the rapidly changing world of graphic design by preparing you to be a forward-looking brand designer with strengths in collaboration, research, critical and strategic thinking, technical design execution and brand storytelling. This program is built on multidisciplinary pillars of research, critical thinking, strategic brand development, technical design execution and brand storytelling. Brands are more than logos or sales tactics, they are carefully developed relationships between the brand makers and audiences – a brand is a promise to follow through on a purpose and a set of values that taken together express how someone perceives an organization or product. The Honours Bachelor of Brand Design degree is an opportunity for you to connect to a knowledgeable creative community of collaborators. You will become a strategic designer who can bridge business strategy, technology and the design world in order to produce innovative brand experiences. As a graduate of this program, you will have the analytical and technical skills to:

  • Communicate and evolve the brand through the design of visual and physical, online and offline identities and experiences.
  • Research to create and tailor designs that work across different touchpoints, generating dynamic, responsive, multisensory and personalized brand experiences for customers.
  • Write, visualize and translate the brand story across these touchpoints and engage long-term with the emotions of audiences.
  • Collaborate toward creative innovation with multidisciplinary teams. 

This program responds to the dynamic and growing field of design, training you to:

  • Create streamlined brand messaging across numerous mediums and touchpoints that engage audiences.
  • Understand new technology and be able to work across the old and new channels.
  • Have strong writing skills and adapt to different situations, audiences and genres.
  • Be flexible in that you are able to adapt to changing work and work environments (multiple sectors, services and products).
  • Work collaboratively and bridge business and creative roles by understanding the culture, processes and language of the branding business.
  • Utilize diverse and quantifiable research methodologies in the design process.
  • Offer a diverse and customizable range of services to clients, particularly niche services (e.g., video and animation).
  • Have the ability to compete on tender: put together a professional sales pitch while offering a competitive price.

Advanced Entry Pathway: 

Graduates and students currently in year two or three of George Brown College’s three-year Graphic Design (G102) advanced diploma may be eligible for advanced entry into the Honours Bachelor of Brand Design program. Following the winter semester (January–April), students who have successfully completed the second year of the George Brown College Graphic Design (G102) advanced diploma with a GPA of 3.2 (75 per cent) or higher, or have graduated from the program with a GPA of 3.2 (75 per cent) or higher, will be eligible to complete a summer bridge program. Upon successful completion of the bridge, students will enter into semester 5 of the degree program in the fall.

Program Structure

Option A:

Two years completed of Graphic Design+ Bridge (three courses + two Liberal Studies electives) + two years of Degree (18 courses plus 420 hours of co-op) = Honours Bachelor of Brand Design.

Option B:

Three years completed of Graphic Design+ Bridge (three courses + two liberal studies electives)+ two years of Degree (18 courses plus 420 hours of co-op) = Graphic Design advanced diploma PLUS Honours Bachelor of Brand Design.

Your Field Education Options

Students must complete a 420-hour paid co-op work term in the spring/summer period between the third and fourth year.

Students have the opportunity to complete this co-op domestically and/or internationally, as opportunities arise. The majority of co-op work terms are completed in the Greater Toronto Area, where the design sector is robust and the majority of interaction jobs are located.

The School of Design Field Placement team works with many notable training partners, including agencies such as Publicis, K9 Strategy + Design, Trevor/Peter and Relish Interactive; larger, well-known brands such as Nelvana (Corus Entertainment), Rogers Media, Mozilla, Crayola and PUR Gum; and a variety of industry-relevant arts and design institutions, including the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), the Association of Registered Graphic Designers (RGD) and Applied Arts.

The work term allows students to apply the skills, abilities and knowledge they've acquired in the program in a workplace environment or through an appropriate interaction design research project or initiative. Students gain valuable experience and the opportunity to reflect on the application of previous learning. A faculty member evaluates the student based on feedback provided by the employer.

Students will develop a digital portfolio demonstrating artifacts completed during the co-op work term.

Career & Postgraduate Study Opportunities

Career Options

Graduates of this program will have acquired the skills necessary to be employed in design, branding and digital media studios, creative labs, in-house design and digital departments within larger corporations across sectors, or to work independently or in a start-up.

This program prepares graduates for positions such as:

  • brand designer
  • digital designer
  • user interface designer
  • design strategist
  • community manager
  • graphic designer
  • design researcher
  • storyteller/content writer
  • communications officer
  • marketing researcher
  • communication designer
  • content strategist

Graduates will be trained for work that spans several occupational areas in advertising, marketing and public relations, as graphic designers and illustrators, content writers and web producers, communications specialists, marketing researchers and business and strategy consultants.

Educational Pathways

Graduates of the Honours Bachelor of Brand Design program may qualify to pursue further graduate studies in relevant program areas. Students should contact universities directly to explore graduate school opportunities.

Graduates and students currently in year two or three of George Brown College’s three-year Graphic Design (G102) advanced diploma may be eligible for advanced entry into the Honours Bachelor of Brand Design program. Following the winter semester (January–April), students who have successfully completed the second year of the George Brown College Graphic Design (G102) advanced diploma with a GPA of 3.2 (75 per cent) or higher, or have graduated from the program with a GPA of 3.2 (75 per cent) or higher, will be eligible to complete a summer bridge program. Upon successful completion of the bridge, students will enter into semester 5 of the degree program in the fall.

Program Structure

Option A:

Two years completed of Graphic Design + Bridge (three courses + two Liberal Studies electives)+ two years of degree (18 courses plus 420 hours of co-op) = Honours Bachelor of Brand Design.

Option B:

Three years completed of Graphic Design + Bridge (three courses + two liberal studies electives) + two years of degree (18 courses plus 420 hours of co-op) = Graphic Design advanced diploma PLUS Honours Bachelor of Brand Design.

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