Honours Bachelor of Brand Design Program Bridge (G305)
- Program Name: Honours Bachelor of Brand Design
- Code: G305
- Credential: Honours Bachelor's Degree
- Method of Study: Full-time
- Duration: 5 semesters plus 1 Co-op Work Term
- Centre:
- School: Design
- Location: Waterfront Campus
- Starting Months: May
- Domestic Tuition: $7,891.00 * †
- International Tuition: $20,194.00 * †
- Fall 2023 Delivery: Semester 5: Hybrid
Compare up to 3 programs
Overview
Program Overview
The Honours Bachelor of Brand Design (G305) program is still accepting applicants for Spring 2023. Click here to check availability for Spring 2023
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.
Program Learning Outcomes
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
- Use ideation techniques to generate innovative design solutions that respond to a creative brief.
- Participate in a collaborative brand-building project to produce an outcome that meets the needs of the client.
- Incorporate interdisciplinary theoretical approaches in the planning, production and critique of design and strategy work.
- Plan, conduct and apply research in order to contextualize and make informed design.
- Assess the social, environmental and economic impact of the design solution in order to prioritize sustainability issues in design practice.
- Use the fundamental principles of branding to address the needs of the brand design and strategy for clients of various scale.
- Design solutions in support of a brand strategy.
- Communicate information, arguments, creative ideas and brand stories persuasively, to a range of audiences, using a variety of verbal, visual and written communication techniques.
- Utilize professional practices and knowledge of the business of branding in all design and strategy work.
Courses
Required Courses
Bridging Courses, Semester 4
Required bridge courses to be completed in the summer term:
| Code | Course Name | Prerequisite |
|---|---|---|
| BDES 2409 | Introduction to Brand Studies and Strategy | NONE |
| BDES 2410 | Brand Studies Research Preparation | NONE |
| BDES 2414 | Brand Writing | NONE |
| Lower Liberal Studies Elective | ||
| Lower Liberal Studies Elective |
Bridging students will need to complete two non-core liberal studies elective courses, at least one of which should be taken during the bridging semester.
Semester 5
| Code | Course Name | Prerequisite |
|---|---|---|
| BDES 3516 | Brand Strategy 2: Brand Resilience | BDES 2304 BDES 2405 |
| BDES 3517 | Research for Design 3: Data Collection and Analysis | BDES 2405 BDES 2304 |
| BDES 3518 | Design Studio 5: UX/UI Branded Experiences | BDES 2406 |
| BDES 3519 | Design Studio 6: 3D Branded Environments | BDES 2305 |
| Lower Level Liberal Studies Elective |
Semester 6
| Code | Course Name | Pre-requisite |
|---|---|---|
| BDES 3606 | Brand Consumption in a Global Economy | BDES 2404 BDES 3517 BDES 3516 |
| BDES 3607 | Research for Design 4: Systems and Services | BDES 3517 BDES 3518 BDES 3519 |
| BDES 3608 | Design Studio 7: Identity Design | BDES 3518 BDES 3519 |
| BDES 3609 | The Business of Design: Professional Practice | NONE |
| Upper Level Liberal Studies Elective |
Summer between Years 3 and 4
| Code | Course Name |
|---|---|
| GCOP 1001 | Work-Integrated Learning Co-Op |
Semester 7
| Code | Course Name | Prerequisite |
|---|---|---|
| BDES 4703 | Brand Strategy 3: Future Brand | BDES 3516 |
| BDES 4705 | Special Topics: Design for Social Good | BDES 3607 |
| BDES 4706 | Senior Project I: Thesis Preparation | BDES 4703 BDES 3608 |
| Upper Level Liberal Studies Elective |
Semester 8
| Code | Course Name | Prerequisite |
|---|---|---|
| BDES 4802 | Intellectual Property | BDES 3517 BDES 4703 BDES 3606 |
| BDES 4803 | Senior Project II: Thesis Development and Production | BDES 4706 |
| BDES 4805 | Cross Platform Brand Narrative | BDES 2408 |
| Upper Level Liberal Studies Elective |
Career & Postgraduate Study Opportunities
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.
Tuition and Fees
Domestic Tuition
International Tuition
Additional Costs
* Amounts listed are the total of tuition, materials, student service and ancillary fees for the first two semesters of programs starting in Fall 2022. Fees are subject to change for programs starting in Fall 2023 and at later dates.
† Fees for this program do not include the $500 cost of the work-integrated learning or co-op work term.
International Students
Visit the International Fees and Related Costs page for more information.
Financial Assistance
This program is approved for OSAP funding, provided the applicant meets OSAP eligibility criteria.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this website is subject to change without notice. It should not be viewed as a representation, offer or warranty. Students are responsible for verifying George Brown College fee requirements.
How to Qualify and Apply
Admission Requirements
Application Process and Guidelines
Step 1
Determine if you are eligible to enter George Brown College’s Honours Bachelor of Brand Design program.
Only graduates, and second- and third-year students of the (three-year) advanced diploma in Graphic Design (G102) will be considered for this program.
Current students must have a program GPA of 3.2 (75 per cent) or above from their diploma program. Former students must have graduated with a program GPA of 3.2 (75 per cent) or above from their diploma program, and have graduated in the last three years.
Step 2
There is no need to apply via the Ontario Colleges Application Service (OCAS). To apply to the bridge program, contact Chair Ana Rita Morais at anarita.morais@georgebrown.ca expressing interest in transferring from Graphic Design to Brand Design (for current students).
Step 3
An application form will be sent to you in March. Our admissions office will confirm your eligibility and will register you for the summer bridge courses.
This college has been granted consent by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities to offer this applied degree for a seven-year term starting March 6, 2020. The college shall ensure that all students admitted to the above-named program during the period of consent will have the opportunity to complete the program within a reasonable time frame.
International Students
Visit the International Admissions page for more information regarding country specific admission requirements.
Special Requirements
Note: Offers will be conditional on the basis of completing the term with an overall GPA of 3.2 (75 per cent) (or having graduated with said GPA in the last three years).
International Students
Visit the How to Apply page for more information on how and when to apply.
International students should apply through the George Brown College Online Application System.
Contact Us
School of Design
Phone: 416-415-5000, ext. 3129
Email: design@georgebrown.ca
For more information about George Brown College, you may also call the Contact Centre at 416-415-2000 (TTY 1-877-515-5559) or long distance 1-800-265-2002.
International Students
Contact one of our international recruitment representatives specializing by country of origin by either booking a virtual meeting or submitting an inquiry. For more information visit the International Contact Us page
Visit Our Campus
This program is part of our School of Design, located at our Waterfront Campus, at 3 Lower Jarvis St., Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
School of Design Building
The School of Design resides in a new 103,000-square-foot facility in the Daniels Waterfront – City of the Arts development. This state-of-the-art building supports academic programs and industry projects with features such as:
- virtual and augmented reality lab
- usability and testing lab
- Future Ways of Living lab
- peer tutor lab
- digital sandbox
- incubators
- prototyping and workshop spaces
- design and innovation showcase spaces
Come and have your questions answered, learn about the program content and career options, meet your friendly professors and staff and experience what it is like to be in a George Brown College classroom at one of our information sessions. You can also book a campus tour.
Sign up and learn more about your options, our programs, and life at George Brown.
Honours Bachelor of Brand Design Program Bridge (G305)
- Program Name: Honours Bachelor of Brand Design
- Code: G305
- Credential: Honours Bachelor's Degree
- Method of Study: Full-time
- Duration: 5 semesters plus 1 Co-op Work Term
- Centre:
- School: Design
- Location: Waterfront Campus
- Starting Months: May
- Domestic Tuition: $7,833.00 * †
- Spring 2023 Delivery: Semester 4, 6, 7: Hybrid
Compare up to 3 programs
Overview
Program Overview
The Honours Bachelor of Brand Design Bridge program is available for graduates, second-year, and third-year students of the advanced diploma in Graphic Design (G102) program to transfer into the Honours Bachelor of Brand Design degree program. This degree program 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.
Computer Recommendation
All School of Design students are able to utilize the computers within the School of Design to complete their assignments. If a student within this program would like to purchase a personal computer to complete their work from home, we recommend the following specifications:
Apple
- A Macbook Pro, iMac, Mac Studio, or Mac Pro that was released within the last 3 years or better.
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.
Program Learning Outcomes
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
- Use ideation techniques to generate innovative design solutions that respond to a creative brief.
- Participate in a collaborative brand-building project to produce an outcome that meets the needs of the client.
- Incorporate interdisciplinary theoretical approaches in the planning, production and critique of design and strategy work.
- Plan, conduct and apply research in order to contextualize and make informed design.
- Assess the social, environmental and economic impact of the design solution in order to prioritize sustainability issues in design practice.
- Use the fundamental principles of branding to address the needs of the brand design and strategy for clients of various scale.
- Design solutions in support of a brand strategy.
- Communicate information, arguments, creative ideas and brand stories persuasively, to a range of audiences, using a variety of verbal, visual and written communication techniques.
- Utilize professional practices and knowledge of the business of branding in all design and strategy work.
Courses
Required Courses
Bridging Courses, Semester 4
Required bridge courses to be completed in the Summer term:
| Code | Course Name | Pre-requisite |
|---|---|---|
| BDES 2409 | Introduction to Brand Studies and Strategy | NONE |
| BDES 2410 | Brand Studies Research Preparation | NONE |
| BDES 2414 | Brand Writing | NONE |
| Lower Liberal Studies Elective | ||
| Lower Liberal Studies Elective |
Bridging students will need to complete two non-core liberal studies elective courses,
at least one of which should be taken during the bridging semester.
Semester 5
| Code | Course Name | Pre-requisite |
|---|---|---|
| BDES 3516 | Brand Strategy 2: Brand Resilience | BDES 2304 BDES 2405 |
| BDES 3517 | Research for Design 3: Data Collection and Analysis | BDES 2405 BDES 2304 |
| BDES 3518 | Design Studio 5: UX/UI Branded Experiences | BDES 2406 |
| BDES 3519 | Design Studio 6: 3D Branded Environments | BDES 2305 |
| Lower Level Liberal Studies Elective |
Semester 6
| Code | Course Name | Pre-requisite |
|---|---|---|
| BDES 3606 | Brand Consumption in a Global Economy | BDES 2404 BDES 3517 BDES 3516 |
| BDES 3607 | Research for Design 4: Systems and Services | BDES 3517 BDES 3518 BDES 3519 |
| BDES 3608 | Design Studio 7: Identity Design | BDES 3518 BDES 3519 |
| BDES 3609 | The Business of Design: Professional Practice | NONE |
| Upper Level Liberal Studies Elective |
Summer between Years 3 and 4
| Code | Course Name |
|---|---|
| GCOP 1001 | Work-Integrated Learning Co-Op |
Semester 7
| Code | Course Name | Pre-requisite |
|---|---|---|
| BDES 4703 | Brand Strategy 3: Future Brand | BDES 3516 |
| BDES 4705 | Special Topics: Design for Social Good | BDES 3607 |
| BDES 4706 | Senior Project I: Thesis Preparation | BDES 4703 BDES 3608 |
| Upper Level Liberal Studies Elective |
Semester 8
| Code | Course Name | Pre-requisite |
|---|---|---|
| BDES 4802 | Intellectual Property | BDES 3517 BDES 4703 BDES 3606 |
| BDES 4803 | Senior Project II: Thesis Development and Production | BDES 4706 |
| BDES 4805 | Cross Platform Brand Narrative | BDES 2408 |
| Upper Level Liberal Studies Elective |
Career & Postgraduate Study Opportunities
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.
Tuition and Fees
Domestic Tuition
Additional Costs
* Amounts listed are the total of tuition, materials, student service and ancillary fees for the first two semesters of programs starting in Fall 2021. Fees are subject to change for programs starting in Fall 2022 and at later dates.
† Fees for this program do not include the $500 cost of the work-integrated learning or co-op work term.
International Students
Visit the International Fees and Related Costs page for more information.
Financial Assistance
This program is approved for OSAP funding, provided the applicant meets OSAP eligibility criteria.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this website is subject to change without notice. It should not be viewed as a representation, offer or warranty. Students are responsible for verifying George Brown College fee requirements.
How to Qualify and Apply
Admission Requirements
Application Process and Guidelines
Step 1
Determine if you are eligible to enter George Brown College’s Honours Bachelor of Brand Design program.
Only graduates, and second- and third-year students of the (three-year) advanced diploma in Graphic Design (G102) will be considered for this program.
Current students must have a program GPA of 3.2 (75 per cent) or above from their diploma program. Former students must have graduated with a program GPA of 3.2 (75 per cent) or above from their diploma program, and have graduated in the last three years.
Step 2
There is no need to apply via the Ontario Colleges Application Service (OCAS). To apply to the bridge program, contact Chair Ana Rita Morais at anarita.morais@georgebrown.ca expressing interest in transferring from Graphic Design to Brand Design (for current students).
Step 3
An application form will be sent to you in March. Our admissions office will confirm your eligibility and will register you for the Summer Bridge courses.
This college has been granted consent by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities to offer this applied degree for a seven-year term starting March 6, 2020. The college shall ensure that all students admitted to the above-named program during the period of consent will have the opportunity to complete the program within a reasonable time frame.
International Students
Visit the International Admissions page for more information regarding country specific admission requirements.
Special Requirements
Note: Offers will be conditional on the basis of completing the term with an overall GPA of 3.2 (75 per cent) (or having graduated with said GPA in the last three years).
International Students
Visit the How to Apply page for more information on how and when to apply.
International students should apply through the George Brown College Online Application System.
Contact Us
School of Design
Phone: 416-415-5000, ext. 3129
Email: design@georgebrown.ca
For more information about George Brown College, you may also call the Contact Centre at 416-415-2000 (TTY 1-877-515-5559) or long distance 1-800-265-2002.
International Students
Contact one of our international recruitment representatives specializing by country of origin by either booking a virtual meeting or submitting an inquiry. For more information visit the International Contact Us page
Visit Our Campus
This program is part of our School of Design, located at our Waterfront Campus, at 3 Lower Jarvis St., Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
School of Design Building
The School of Design resides in a new 103,000-square-foot facility in the Daniels Waterfront – City of the Arts development. This state-of-the-art building supports academic programs and industry projects with features such as:
- virtual and augmented reality lab
- usability and testing lab
- Future Ways of Living lab
- peer tutor lab
- digital sandbox
- incubators
- prototyping and workshop spaces
- design and innovation showcase spaces
Come and have your questions answered, learn about the program content and career options, meet your friendly professors and staff and experience what it is like to be in a George Brown College classroom at one of our information sessions. You can also book a campus tour.
Sign up and learn more about your options, our programs, and life at George Brown.
Honours Bachelor of Brand Design Program Bridge (G305)
- Program Name: Honours Bachelor of Brand Design
- Code: G305
- Credential: Honours Bachelor's Degree
- Method of Study: Full-time
- Duration: 5 semesters plus 1 Co-op Work Term
- Centre:
- School: Design
- Location: Waterfront Campus
- Starting Months: May
- Domestic Tuition: $7,833.00 * †
- Spring 2022 Delivery: Suspended
Compare up to 3 programs
Overview
Program Overview
The Honours Bachelor of Brand Design Bridge program is available for graduates, second-year, and third-year students of the advanced diploma in Graphic Design (G102) program to transfer into the Honours Bachelor of Brand Design degree program. This degree program produces designers with strengths in collaboration, research, critical and strategic thinking, technical design execution and brand storytelling.
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.
Program Learning Outcomes
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
- Use ideation techniques to generate innovative design solutions that respond to a creative brief.
- Participate in a collaborative brand-building project to produce an outcome that meets the needs of the client.
- Incorporate interdisciplinary theoretical approaches in the planning, production and critique of design and strategy work.
- Plan, conduct and apply research in order to contextualize and make informed design.
- Assess the social, environmental and economic impact of the design solution in order to prioritize sustainability issues in design practice.
- Use the fundamental principles of branding to address the needs of the brand design and strategy for clients of various scale.
- Design solutions in support of a brand strategy.
- Communicate information, arguments, creative ideas and brand stories persuasively, to a range of audiences, using a variety of verbal, visual and written communication techniques.
- Utilize professional practices and knowledge of the business of branding in all design and strategy work.
Courses
Required Courses
Bridging Courses, Semester 4
Required bridge courses to be completed in the Summer term:
| Code | Course Name | Pre-requisite |
|---|---|---|
| BDES 2409 | Introduction to Brand Studies and Strategy | NONE |
| BDES 2410 | Brand Studies Research Preparation | NONE |
| BDES 2414 | Brand Writing | NONE |
| Lower Liberal Studies Elective | ||
| Lower Liberal Studies Elective |
Bridging students will need to complete two non-core liberal studies elective courses,
at least one of which should be taken during the bridging semester.
Semester 5
| Code | Course Name | Pre-requisite |
|---|---|---|
| BDES 3516 | Brand Strategy 2: Brand Resilience | BDES 2304 BDES 2405 |
| BDES 3517 | Research for Design 3: Data Collection and Analysis | BDES 2405 BDES 2304 |
| BDES 3518 | Design Studio 5: UX/UI Branded Experiences | BDES 2406 |
| BDES 3519 | Design Studio 6: 3D Branded Environments | BDES 2305 |
| Lower Level Liberal Studies Elective |
Semester 6
| Code | Course Name | Pre-requisite |
|---|---|---|
| BDES 3606 | Brand Consumption in a Global Economy | BDES 2404 BDES 3517 BDES 3516 |
| BDES 3607 | Research for Design 4: Systems and Services | BDES 3517 BDES 3518 BDES 3519 |
| BDES 3608 | Design Studio 7: Identity Design | BDES 3518 BDES 3519 |
| BDES 3609 | The Business of Design: Professional Practice | NONE |
| Upper Level Liberal Studies Elective |
Summer between Years 3 and 4
| Code | Course Name |
|---|---|
| GCOP 1001 | Work-Integrated Learning Co-Op |
Semester 7
| Code | Course Name | Pre-requisite |
|---|---|---|
| BDES 4703 | Brand Strategy 3: Future Brand | BDES 3516 |
| BDES 4705 | Special Topics: Design for Social Good | BDES 3607 |
| BDES 4706 | Senior Project I: Thesis Preparation | BDES 4703 BDES 3608 |
| Upper Level Liberal Studies Elective |
Semester 8
| Code | Course Name | Pre-requisite |
|---|---|---|
| BDES 4802 | Intellectual Property | BDES 3517 BDES 4703 BDES 3606 |
| BDES 4803 | Senior Project II: Thesis Development and Production | BDES 4706 |
| BDES 4805 | Cross Platform Brand Narrative | BDES 2408 |
| Upper Level Liberal Studies Elective |
Career & Postgraduate Study Opportunities
Your Career
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 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.
Tuition and Fees
Domestic Tuition
Additional Costs
* Amounts listed are the total of tuition, materials, student service and ancillary fees for the first two semesters of programs starting in Spring 2022. Fees are subject to change for programs starting in Fall 2022 and at later dates.
† Fees for this program do not include the $500 cost of the work-integrated learning or co-op work term.
International Students
Visit the International Fees and Related Costs page for more information.
Financial Assistance
This program is approved for OSAP funding, provided the applicant meets OSAP eligibility criteria.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this website is subject to change without notice. It should not be viewed as a representation, offer or warranty. Students are responsible for verifying George Brown College fee requirements.
How to Qualify and Apply
Admission Requirements
Application Process and Guidelines
Step 1
Determine if you are eligible to enter George Brown College’s Honours Bachelor of Brand Design program.
Only graduates, and second- and third-year students of the (three-year) advanced diploma in Graphic Design (G102) will be considered for this program.
Current students must have a program GPA of 3.2 (75 per cent) or above from their diploma program. Former students must have graduated with a program GPA of 3.2 (75 per cent) or above from their diploma program, and have graduated in the last three years.
Step 2
There is no need to apply via the Ontario Colleges Application Service (OCAS). To apply to the bridge program, contact Chair Ana Rita Morais at anarita.morais@georgebrown.ca expressing interest in transferring from Graphic Design to Brand Design (for current students).
Step 3
An application form will be sent to you in March. Our admissions office will confirm your eligibility and will register you for the Summer Bridge courses.
This college has been granted consent by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities to offer this applied degree for a seven-year term starting March 6, 2020. The college shall ensure that all students admitted to the above-named program during the period of consent will have the opportunity to complete the program within a reasonable time frame.
International Students
Visit the International Admissions page for more information regarding country specific admission requirements.
Special Requirements
Note: Offers will be conditional on the basis of completing the term with an overall GPA of 3.2 (75 per cent) or having graduated with said GPA in the last three years.
International Students
Visit the How to Apply page for more information on how and when to apply.
International students should apply through the George Brown College Online Application System.
Contact Us
School of Design
Phone: 416-415-5000, ext. 3129
Email: design@georgebrown.ca
For more information about George Brown College, you may also call the Contact Centre at 416-415-2000 (TTY 1-877-515-5559) or long distance 1-800-265-2002.
International Students
Contact one of our international recruitment representatives specializing by country of origin by either booking a virtual meeting or submitting an inquiry. For more information visit the International Contact Us page
Visit Our Campus
This program is part of our School of Design, located at our Waterfront Campus, at 3 Lower Jarvis St., Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
School of Design Building
The School of Design resides in a new 103,000-square-foot facility in the Daniels Waterfront – City of the Arts development. This state-of-the-art building supports academic programs and industry projects with features such as:
- virtual and augmented reality lab
- usability and testing lab
- Future Ways of Living lab
- peer tutor lab
- digital sandbox
- incubators
- prototyping and workshop spaces
- design and innovation showcase spaces
Come and have your questions answered, learn about the program content and career options, meet your friendly professors and staff and experience what it is like to be in a George Brown College classroom at one of our information sessions. You can also book a campus tour.
