Graphic Design Program (G102)

Program Description

Program Overview

The Graphic Design program is an ideal training ground for the design profession. As a student in the program, you will gain a strong overall understanding of design while also allowing you to select a major in either Communication Design, which prepares you for a corporate design career, or Advertising Design, which prepares you for a career in an advertising agency. In addition, design electives allow you to gain skills in areas such as illustration, motion, interaction, web, book and environmental design.

Full Description

The Graphic Design program is an ideal training ground for the design profession. The program provides a strong overall understanding of design while also allowing you to select a major in either Communication Design, which prepares you for a Corporate Design career, or Advertising Design, which prepares you for a career at an advertising agency. In addition, design electives allow you to gain skills in areas such as illustration, motion, interaction, web, book and environmental design.

The first three semesters provide you with a strong foundation in the core subjects of design, typography, production, digital applications, drawing for design and design culture. In the fourth semester, you choose a major while continuing to develop applied skills through intensive studio projects. In the final year, you become involved in a thesis or major project, which allows for synthesis of skills. You will also engage in professional practice classes that prepare you for the workplace.

You learn through working on real-life projects in state-of-the-art labs and through industry networking. Students with an overall grade point average of 3.3 or higher by the end of semester 4 will be eligible for field placement.

Membership in the Association of Registered Graphic Designers of Ontario is included in your tuition, giving you access to a network of Canada’s top design professionals and a head start in the process of becoming a Registered Graphic Designer. The best student work will be displayed in annual exhibitions and a publication distributed to industry and the general public.

Your Field Education Options

Students with an overall grade point average of 3.3 or higher by the end of semester 4 and a B+ on the portfolio assignment (semester 5) will be eligible for the Field Placement course (GRAF3017) in semester 6.

Learn more about Experiential Learning at the School of Design including how to apply, important dates, workflow, and PLAR eligibility.

Career & Postgraduate Study Opportunities

Career Options

Graduates of this program will have acquired the skills and knowledge needed for employment in a variety of graphic design or advertising industry positions, specializing in:

  • graphic design
  • corporate identity design
  • editorial
  • environmental graphics
  • exhibition design
  • packaging design
  • multimedia
  • motion graphics
  • interaction
  • retail identity
  • wayfinding
  • production design
  • web design
  • art direction
  • advertising copywriting
  • marketing coordination
  • print advertising
  • multimedia advertising

Educational Pathways

Graphic Design Education Pathway diagram

Watch this video from one of our graduates.

Steven Tiao
Ontario College Advanced Diploma

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