Centennial College's Graphic Design program prepares you for a multidisciplinary design career, and has a graduate employment rate that exceeds 80 per cent. Facilitated at the Story Arts Centre, the courses in this advanced diploma program take a hands-on approach in an intimate studio environment, rather than having you sit passively in large lecture halls. With small class sizes, you have lots of opportunities to work one-on-one with your professors.
In this college graphic design program, you:
Master industry-standard Adobe software including Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign
Learn creative problem solving and design thinking
Design for print, including advertisements, magazines, books and packaging
Design responsive websites, mobile apps and create exciting motion graphics
Explore drawing, photography, illustration and type design
Learn professional practice skills to land a great job or start your own design business
Contribute something unique and innovative to the design community in a thesis course
Learn on the job and get course credits through an industry field placement in your final semester
Interact with industry professionals
Become a student member of the Association of Registered Graphic Designers of Ontario (RDG Ontario)
Learn from professors who are current and professionally active in the design industry
Please note: This program requires you to have and use a mobile computing device that meets or exceeds the recommended hardware and software requirements. For more information, please visit Mobile Learning Programs.
Program Highlights
The Centennial College Graphic Design program is formally recognized by RGD Ontario, which represents more than 3,000 graphic designers, managers, educators and students across Ontario.
A combination of multidisciplinary design skills and practical experience sets you apart from the competition.
You will be more flexible in your design solutions and more desirable in the marketplace.
The Graphic Design program will develop your abilities to:
Think creatively and design effectively for print, motion, and interactive media.
Execute your ideas professionally in any medium.
Communicate effectively with employers and clients.
Start your career in any facet of the design industry.
Market yourself as a freelancer or start your own business.
Affect social change through your design problem-solving skills.
Understand all aspects of industry standard workflow, from initial creative, through to print production or interactive prototyping.
Centennial College Graphic Design graduates have found a range of jobs with companies including, but not limited to, HJC New Media, RockHippo, Gamebridger, G4Box, Formative innovations, 4front Media Group, CX Interactive and Bash! Interactive.
Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, or mature student status (19 years or older)
English Grade 12 C or U, or equivalent (minimum grade required) or take the Centennial College English Skills Assessment for Admission (score of 170 or 171 required)
Additional Requirements
Attend a mandatory Graphic Design program admission session, where you will submit a portfolio of work.
Portfolio requirements
Select up to 15 pieces of your original work in art and design (your sketchbook should demonstrate your problem-solving and creative process as well as present work in variety of media, materials and techniques)
Show work that demonstrates your ability and interest in graphic design
Include colour integrated designs created in digital illustration and digital imaging applications
Include a short letter of interest about your design philosophy and aspirations
Notes:
If work is too large to transport, you may present photographs. To arrange a digital submission of your portfolio, please contact program coordinator Lisa Rebnord at lrebnord@centennialcollege.ca.
After applying, you will receive a letter with instructions on how to book the mandatory Graphic Design program admission session.
If you are applying through the Second Career Strategy, please apply at the Employment Training Centre for Second Career (Progress Campus). Second Career Strategy is a funding initiative for those who have been laid-off and are in need of training. For more information go to Second Career Strategy.
If you have previously attended a full time program at Centennial College, you may be eligible for a Program Transfer. Visit Enrolment Services at any Campus for information.
All other applicants must apply online at Ontariocolleges.ca. A non-refundable application fee of $95 must accompany applications. The fee is payable online, by telephone, online banking, by mail, or in person to Ontariocolleges.ca. For more information go to Ontariocolleges.ca Application Fees.
2. Submit Documents
Current Ontario high school students and graduates from Ontario high schools: Notify your guidance counsellor that you have applied to college and your school will forward transcripts to Centennial College via Ontariocolleges.ca.
Graduates of college/university, or high school outside Ontario but within Canada: You are responsible for requesting that your educational institute sends any required documents and transcripts to Ontariocolleges.ca.
Applicants who attended school outside of Canada: If you are submitting transcripts to meet admission requirements, you must have the transcripts assessed by an independent credential assessment agency such as World Education Services (WES) or International Credential Assessment Service (ICAS).
Offers of Admission are sent by mail to eligible applicants. When you receive your offer, you must login to your account at Ontariocolleges.ca and confirm before the Deadline to Confirm noted in your offer letter.
You may confirm only one college and one program offer at a time.
You must confirm your offer by the Deadline to Confirm noted in your Offer of Admission letter or your seat may be given to another applicant.
When you confirm your Offer of Admission at Centennial College you are given access to your personal myCentennial account where you can check your email, grades, register for courses, pay tuition fees, and see your class timetable.
4. Pay Fees
Centennial fees statements are sent by email to your personal email account and to your myCentennial email account. Fees statements are not mailed.
You must make a minimum payment by the Fees Deadline noted in your Fees Statement or your seat may be given to another applicant.
Fall registration begins mid-July January registration begins mid-December May registration begins mid-April
Your web-registration will not open if:
You have not submitted your minimum fee payment by the deadline
You received a Conditional Offer of Admission and you have not met the conditions of your offer.
Once you have paid your fees or have made appropriate arrangements, register for your courses online through myCentennial.