Course Descriptions

In this course students are introduced to the digital technologies and media used in the design and advertising industries. Students gain technical knowledge related to the set-up and maintenance of digital platforms and tools, and begin to work with industry standard image-making and file conversion software.

This course introduces students to the origins of illustration through an integration of history, theory, and practice. Lectures review notable artists and their work, and illuminate the influence of society on visual expression from the Renaissance until the mid-20th century. Applied projects are based on lecture content and related mediums and techniques, including principles of light, form, and colour.

This course provides a grounding in the development of illustration as a profession through the integration of history, theory, and practice. Lectures review notable illustrators and their work, and the influence of economic and historical milestones from the Golden Age until the present day. Applied projects are based on lecture content and the use mediums, techniques, voice, and storytelling in illustration.

This course provides an introduction to line, form, and light through an exploration of drawing and photography. Students develop skills in the use of drawing tools and a digital SLR (single lens reflex) camera. Principles of perception, observation, proportion, and perspective are covered through drawing and photography of man-made and natural objects, including the human figure.

This course examines the evolution of visual communication from paleolithic cave paintings to the mid-20th century through an integration of history, theory and practice. The course covers the origins of written communication and its subsequent role in the development of typography and the design and advertising professions. Applied projects explore the articulation of historical styles and aesthetics.

This course examines graphic design and typography from the mid-20th century to the present day through an integration of history, theory, and practice. Students are introduced to modernist, post-modernist, and information age movements as an aesthetic and philosophical basis of modern graphic design and advertising. Applied projects, including the integration of concept with design principles, are integral to the course.

This course introduces students to human-centred principles and practices of User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) design. Students will explore the industry and agile workflows used to create omnichannel interactions and applications. This course explores the fundamentals of shaping an interactive experience such as problem framing, information architecture, and interface design. Students will develop a life-long learning mindset that encourages them to continually observe, question and explore.

This course introduces students to professional page layout software for print and digital publishing. Students gain knowledge in the use of industry-standard software and associated file formats, learn to manage fonts and colour systems, and prepare files for production. Students need a working knowledge of the computer desktop environment, file management, and vector/image software to take this course.

This course introduces students to illustration as visual communication. Students learn the process of completing an illustration project through concept, sketches, client approval, and finished work, and begin to develop style and voice. Skills are developed using various mediums and techniques including contemporary painting and life drawing.

This course focuses on the development of illustration styles for visual communication using voice and storytelling. Students are assigned targeted briefs and create conceptual solutions using moderately complex subject matter. The roles of illustrator and art director as part of a creative team are emphasized in the process of creating illustration for advertising, design, and publishing.

This course introduces digital illustration techniques for static and dynamic media. Students gain an understanding of the strengths of digital technology in contemporary conceptual illustration and motion graphics. Technical skills using image-making and motion graphics software are introduced through a variety of in-class exercises and projects with targeted briefs.

This course introduces students to the fields of communication design, information design, and advertising, and to the role of design in business and marketing. Students understand the design process by analyzing design problems, working through creative briefs, creating appropriate design solutions, and developing rationales. Instruction in design-related software supports the course.

This course focuses on communication design practice and its role in promoting sustainability. Students are introduced to ways in which design solutions can engage "strategies, processes and materials that value environmental, cultural, social and economic responsibility" (GDC Sustainable Design Principles, 2009). Projects emphasize collaboration, the discovery process, and the development of platform-neutral solutions. Instruction in design-related software supports the course.

This course provides students with a thorough understanding of typography as a core element of visual communication. The evolution of type from the mid-1400s to the present day is discussed in the context of the technology of the time and its influence on letterforms. Students gain a grounding in the principles of best typographic practice as they apply to print and digital mediums. Instruction in design-related software supports the course.

This course introduces students to the field of brand identity by following the process of a branding assignment as it would typically be handled in a design studio or advertising agency. Students are guided through the process from creative brief through strategic framework to logo development and design of a variety of marketing materials. Presentations are conducted in a simulated "real world" environment.

This course develops essential skills to support a career as a digital visual designer, focusing on interactive media for the web. Students will learn responsive web design, basic HTML and CSS, and software for prototyping digital interfaces. The curriculum includes applied projects for real-world digital communication scenarios, along with studying critical design patterns and digital accessibility best practices. Students will be introduced to the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence as a tool in the production of digital experiences, to help them understand the ethical implications of AI in the creative process.

This course builds skills in front-end technologies for digital media production. The emphasis is on user interface design and navigation for different types of screen technologies. It is important for students to already have a working knowledge of web authoring tools.

This team-taught, modular course provides students with an introduction to aspects of visual communication, including drawing, photography, and communication design, framed around a current Indigenous theme. Through a study of storytelling, objective observation, image composition, and visual hierarchy, students learn how to articulate ideas, artifacts and knowledge in a visually coherent fashion. The course is designed for students with an interest in, but not necessarily prior immersion in, the visual arts.

Students select from a wide variety of full-day workshops covering specialized topics in visual communication. Some workshops support skill development specific to a concentration (e.g. interactive design, illustration, or branding). All workshops provide tools and resources for self-learning, online support, and individualized faculty feedback on workshop projects.

Students select from a wide variety of full-day workshops covering specialized topics in visual communication (topics differ from those in Visual Communication Workshops I). Some workshops support skill development specific to a concentration (e.g. interactive design, illustration, or branding). All workshops provide tools and resources for self-learning, online support, and individualized faculty feedback on workshop projects.

Thematically structured around the concept of "design for good", this course introduces a variety of creative briefs, research methods, leadership skills, and tools that model best practices. Students work in groups to deconstruct the briefs, build on the research, identify tasks, map workflow, explore and define problem-solving strategies, and build solutions and case studies. Students will work in their choice of visual communication areas.

Thematically structured around the concept of "design for good", this course introduces a variety of creative briefs, research methods, leadership skills, and tools that model best practices. Students work in groups to deconstruct the briefs, build on the research, identify tasks, map workflow, explore and define problem-solving strategies, and build solutions and case studies. Students concentrate on illustration for project deliverables.

Thematically structured around the concept of "design for good", this course introduces a variety of creative briefs, research methods, leadership skills, and tools that model best practices. Students work in groups to deconstruct the briefs, build on the research, identify tasks, map workflow, explore and define problem-solving strategies, and build solutions and case studies. Students concentrate on branding for project deliverables.

Thematically structured around the concept of "design for good", this course introduces a variety of creative briefs, research methods, leadership skills, and tools that model best practices. Students work in groups to deconstruct the briefs, build on the research, identify tasks, map workflow, explore and define problem-solving strategies, and build solutions and case studies. Students concentrate on interactive design for project deliverables.

Using the process modeled in Visual Communication Studio I, students collaborate to identify areas of research that could benefit from design thinking expertise. The entire design process from problem identification to final solution is followed and recorded in case studies. Group work is complemented with focused individual study in a choice of visual communication subjects. The course is supported by research conducted in Design Thinking and Research II.

Using the process modeled in Visual Communication Studio I, students collaborate to identify areas of research that could benefit from design thinking expertise. The entire design process from problem identification to final solution is followed and recorded in case studies. Group work is complemented with focused individual study in illustration. The course is supported by research conducted in Design Thinking and Research II.

Using the process modeled in Visual Communication Studio I, students collaborate to identify areas of research that could benefit from design thinking expertise. The entire design process from problem identification to final solution is followed and recorded in case studies. Group work is complemented with focused individual study in branding. The course is supported by research conducted in Design Thinking and Research II.

Using the process modeled in Visual Communication Studio I, students collaborate to identify areas of research that could benefit from design thinking expertise. The entire design process from problem identification to final solution is followed and recorded in case studies. Group work is complemented with focused individual study in interactive design. The course is supported by research conducted in Design Thinking and Research II.

This course provides students with the opportunity to engage in professional development through the completion of a digital portfolio. Through hands-on guidance, students will curate and refine their best work to showcase their unique talents and creativity. With a focus on industry best practices for portfolio presentation, this course empowers participants to craft a polished, impactful portfolio that opens doors to rewarding opportunities in the visual communications field.

This work-integrated learning course provides an opportunity for students to apply classroom theory to employment practices. Students will gain visual communication related work experience through one or a combination of experiences including practicum placement, professional development (PD), or completion of special projects. Students are responsible for securing their own practicum placement, prior to the first week of the course, with the support, consultation, and approval of the assigned faculty supervisor/Instructor.