Graphic Design

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Program Details

Program Code:6420
School:School of Communications, Media, Arts and Design
Credential:Ontario College Advanced Diploma
Program Type:Post-secondary program
Program Length:3 years/ 6 semesters

Location:Story Arts Centre
Email:lrebnord@centennialcollege.ca
Telephone:416-289-5000, ext. 8502

Program Overview

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Please note: Graphic Design is also offered fully online.

Centennial College's Graphic Design program, which has a graduate employment rate that exceeds 80 per cent, will prepare you for a multidisciplinary design career. Facilitated at the Story Arts Centre, the courses in this advanced diploma program will 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'll have lots of opportunities to work one-on-one with your professors.

In this college graphic design program, you'll:

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 (RGD Ontario);
Learn from professors who are up-to-date and professionally active in the design industry.

Program Highlights

RGD, which represents more than 3,000 graphic designers, managers, educators and students across Ontario, formally recognizes the Graphic Design program.
A combination of multidisciplinary design skills and practical experience will set you apart from the competition.
You'll 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;
Professionally execute your ideas in any medium;
Effectively communicate with employers and clients;
Start your career in any facet of the design industry;
Market yourself as a freelancer or start your own business;
Effect 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.

Program Outline

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Semester 1

Course Code	Course Title
COMM-170/COMM-171	College Communications 2
GMD-101	Design Process - Digital Imaging
GMD-102	Drawing in Graphic Communication
GMD-103	Two-Dimensional Design and Typography
GMD-104	Photography and Imaging
GMD-105	Graphic Design History and Theory
GMD-199	Creativity in Context

Semester 2

Course Code	Course Title
GMD-121	Design Process Intermediate
GMD-122	Intro to Advertising and Copywriting
GMD-123	Editorial Design
GMD-126	Two-Dimensional Design and Typography 2
GMD-130	Print Production
GMD-131	Design Process - Digital Illustration

Semester 3

Course Code	Course Title
GMD-124	Brand Visualization
GMD-201	Design Process Advanced
GMD-202	Publication Design
GMD-205	Web Design 1
GNED	General Education Elective
GNED-500	Global Citizenship: From Social Analysis to Social Action

Semester 4

Course Code	Course Title
COMM-180	College Communications 3
GDM-221	Illustration Workshop
GMD-125	Package Design
GMD-222	Web Design 2
GMD-226	Interactive Design for Mobile Platforms
GNED	General Education Elective

Semester Note

- COMM-180 or ENGL-253 (Advanced Business Communications)

Semester 5

Course Code	Course Title
GMD-223	Motion Graphics
GMD-224	Professional Practice and Self Employment
GMD-225	Portfolio Workshop
GMD-300	Infographics and Data Visualization
GMD-304	Development for Designers
GMD-500	Storyworks

Semester 6

Course Code	Course Title
GMD-302	Field Placement
GMD-310	Design Thesis Workshop

Semester Note

GMD-310 - Students must successfully complete all program courses, with the exception of GMD 302, to qualify.

GMD-302 - Students must complete all program courses, with the exception of GMD 310 , to qualify.

Career Options, Academic Pathways and Partners

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Companies Offering Jobs

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.

Articulation Agreements

Successful graduates of this Graphic Design Advanced Diploma program have the opportunity to apply their credits towards further study at the degree level. Listed below are the degrees from partnering institutions that are available for this program.

Please note that each partner pathway has a specific minimum grade requirement in order to qualify for transferring credits, which are assessed by the receiving partner institution.

Partner Institution	Degree Program
Algoma University	Honours Bachelor of Arts - multiple majors
	Bachelor of Business Administration - Accounting or Human Resources Management or Marketing (also offered at the Brampton, ON Campus)
	Bachelor of Science - multiple majors
Conestoga College	Bachelor of Design
Davenport University	Bachelor of Business Administration - General Business
Griffith University	Bachelor of Design
Humber College	Bachelor of Creative Advertising
Lakehead University	Honours or Bachelor Degree - multiple majors
Lakehead University	Honours Bachelor of Arts and Science - Media Studies
Laurentian University	Bachelor of Arts - multiple majors
Nipissing University	Bachelor of Arts
Ontario Tech University (UOIT)	Honours Bachelor of Arts - Educational Studies and Digital Technology
Seneca College	Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies
Wilfrid Laurier University	Honours Bachelor of Arts
York University	Honours Bachelor degree - any major
York University	Honours Communication Studies

Please visit our website at www.centennialcollege.ca/admissions/applying/education-pathways/outbound-pathways for more information on articulation agreements.

For pathways to other Ontario post-secondary institutions, please view ONCAT.

Career Outlook

Graphic/web designer
Interactive designer
Motion graphics designer
Art director
Editorial designer
Illustrator
Type designer
Print production artist
Digital imaging professional

Admission Requirements

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Academic Requirements

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

Additional Requirements

English language proficiency
Attend a mandatory Graphic Design program admission session, where you will submit a portfolio of work.

Portfolio requirements

Select 15 pieces of your original work in art and design, in a variety of media, materials and techniques. Work created by hand is required, but your portfolio can include both digital and hand-drawn art.
Include a sketchbook to show how your ideas are developed. If you are submitting a digital portfolio, photos of your sketchbook pages can be submitted.
Show work that demonstrates your ability and interest in graphic design, including use of typography if possible.
Include a short letter outlining your interest in graphic design and your career 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.

How to Apply

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1. Apply Online

Domestic Students

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.

International Students

Apply directly to Centennial College here.

2. Submit Documents

Domestic Students

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.

International Students

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).

For more information go to Submitting your Transcripts.

3. Confirm Your Offer of Admission

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.

5. Build Your Timetable (Register for Courses)

Build your timetable (web-register for courses) at my.centennialcollege.ca.

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.