Graphic Design
3 years – Ontario College Advanced Diploma
Work with real clients, build your portfolio and participate in the media showcase
Overview
Upcoming Intake: Fall 2025: College Drive – North Bay
Prepare for a creative and dynamic career. You can’t launch a new business, product or service without a visual element. As a graphic designer you could be creating logos, advertisements, animations, branding, ad images, online content and websites. In the program you will learn and develop design specific skills and techniques, learn commercial photography trends including product styling, compile an extensive portfolio, and gain invaluable work-related experience working with real clients.
Note: Laptop Computer (Current Mac or PC with Adobe Creative Cloud - required for the first day of class). See "What you need" section for more details!
Your Future Career
- Advertising and marketing firms
- Multimedia and web design companies
- Television and film production
- Printing houses
- Design agencies and studios
- Packaging firms
- Freelance
What You Learn
- Corporate identity and branding
- Photography for advertising and design
- Illustration – traditional and digital
- ePublishing and print production
- Typography and page layout
- Design and advertising
- Online content, motion graphics and animation
Note: A three-year Canadore College Graphic Design diploma fulfills the educational component criteria necessary to become a Registered Graphic Designer (R.G.D.), a provincially-legislated designation.
Admissions Requirements
Admissions Requirements
Curriculum
Curriculum
Semester 1
| CMM125 | College Communications I |
| GRD110 | Graphic Design - Visual Elements |
| GRD111 | Typography - Introduction |
| GRD112 | Illustration - Communicating Ideas |
| GRD113 | Digital Publishing Foundations |
| GRD114 | Digital Imaging |
| GRD118 | Appreciation of Media Design |
Semester 2
| GENED | General Education Elective - Online (GRD Sem2) |
| GRD120 | Graphic Design - Entertainment Design |
| GRD121 | Typography - Creative |
| GRD122 | Illustration - Techniques |
| GRD123 | Media Prep - Production Procedures |
| GRD124 | Photography - Fundamentals |
| GRD126 | Digital Illustration |
Semester 3
| GENED | General Education Elective - Online (GRD Sem3) |
| GRD230 | Graphic Design - Corporate |
| GRD232 | Illustration - Digital |
| GRD233 | Media Prep - Project Control |
| GRD234 | Photography - Techniques |
| GRD238 | UX/UI Design |
| GRD257 | Interactive Design |
Semester 4
| GENED | General Education Elective - Online (GRD Sem4) |
| GRD240 | Graphic Design - Information Graphics |
| GRD242 | Blended Media |
| GRD244 | Visual Storytelling |
| GRD245 | UX/UI Design II |
| GRD248 | Social Media Management |
| GRD359 | Motion Graphics |
Semester 5
| GRD350 | Graphic Design - Advertising |
| GRD352 | Illustration - Advanced |
| GRD353 | Media Prep - Multi Page Publications |
| GRD354 | Photography - Advanced |
| GRD367 | Business to Graphic Design |
| GRD362 | UX/UI Design III |
Semester 6
| GRD360 | Graphic Design - 3 Dimensional Design |
| GRD365 | Animation |
| GRD366 | Portfolio Preparation |
| GRD368 | Field Work Training |
| GRD369 | Writing for Advertising |
| GRD370 | Videography |
Tuition Fees
Tuition Fees
2025-26 – 3 years – Ontario College Advanced Diploma
College Drive Campus – Domestic| Year | Tuition | Ancillary Fees | Material Fee | Trip Fee | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2720.24 | $1587 | $100 | - | $4407.24 |
| 2 | $2720.24 | $1423 | $100 | $650 | $4893.24 |
| 3 | $1423 | $1231.5 | $100 | $650 | $4893.24 |
2025-26 – 3 years – Ontario College Advanced Diploma
College Drive Campus – International| Year | Tuition | Ancillary Fees | Material Fee | Trip Fee | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $15547.54 | $1975.5 | $100 | - | $17623.04 |
| 2 | $15547.54 | $1811.5 | $100 | $650 | $18109.04 |
| 3 | $15547.54 | $1811.5 | $100 | $650 | $18109.04 |
What You Need
What You Need
Textbooks:
Check out the Campus Bookstore to not only purchase your textbooks but also view your book list before the semester starts.
Technology/Devices:
Canadore College has implemented Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) to enhance your learning experience in and out of the classroom while ensuring flexibility in learning.
To learn more about BYOD and to find out what is required for your program, please visit https://www.canadorecollege.ca/BYOD
You will also need:
- Adobe Creative Cloud Software for students
- A list of additional art supplies will be made by the professor at the beginning of each course as needed
Recommended (but not required):
- Digital DSLR Camera
- Drawing Tablet or iPad Pro
Certification/Accreditation
Certification/Accreditation
Ontario College Advanced Diploma.
Students are registered as RGD student members until graduation at which point they are eligible to be Provisional RGD for a year until qualifying for an Affiliate Member or Certified RGD.
Learning Outcomes
Learning Outcomes
Learning outcomes represent culminating demonstrations of learning and achievement. In addition, learning outcomes are interrelated and cannot be viewed in isolation of one another. As such, they should be viewed as a comprehensive whole. They describe performances that demonstrate that significant integrated learning by graduates of the program has been achieved.
View Program Vocational Learning Outcomes
Find out more about General Education program requirements here.
Further Your Education
Further Your Education
There are many options available to students who already have some postsecondary education.
Whether you are looking to study at Canadore from another school, continue your education at Canadore, or looking to pursue further education elsewhere, we can help find the right path for you!
Whether you want to Transfer TO Canadore, Transfer WITHIN Canadore, or prepare to Transfer FROM Canadore, we've got you covered!
Learn more about Credit Transfer and Pathway opportunities here.