Visual Communication Design Certificate
Learn compelling skills for the diverse and comprehensive field of Visual Communication Design, with concentrations in digital illustration, digital photography or interaction design. Students will achieve a broad range of introductory and intermediate-level communication design skills including typography, software, web design, branding and data visualization, and choose an additional area of concentration through a series of elective courses. Embark on a new career path, create a web-based portfolio of work and learn to promote yourself for a dynamic personal or professional practice.
Program Goal
The Visual Communication Design Certificate provides students with introductory to intermediate level design techniques, skills, and concepts to enhance their current practice, pivot career paths, or in preparation for further education.
Students will take courses in typography, design software, data visualization, web design, branding, and publication design, as well as professional development to gain knowledge in contemporary design techniques and practices. From colour theory and drawing, to representing research in compelling visual form, students will be introduced to communication design skills to better convey ideas to a client or audience.
In addition, students of this program will focus on specialized interests via elective courses with options for digital illustration, digital photography, or user experience design. Through completion of assigned and independent projects, as well as in-class presentations and critiques, students will have the opportunity to prepare a portfolio of work and launch their online presence as an up-and-coming Visual Communication Designer.
2D DESIGN CERTIFICATE PROGRAM EQUIVALENCIES
Further Education
Students can use work from their Visual Communication Design Certificate in an admissions portfolio to apply for the following programs:
- Bachelor of Design, Communication Design
- Bachelor of Design, Interaction Design
- Bachelor of Fine Arts, Illustration
- Bachelor of Media Arts, 2D & Experimental Animation
Courses + Costs
Course Format
All Summer 2021 courses are offered online. Fall 2021 courses are offered on campus or online.
Program Completion
We strongly encourage students to complete courses in the recommended order given below to best support their learning experience to successfully meet outcomes. However, students can register in any course for which they meet the prerequisites. In the event of a conflict between the recommended course order and the prerequisites of our courses, please follow the prerequisites.
| Course No. | Core Required Courses | Tuition | Term Available | Notes |
| CECD 100 | Introductory Communication Design | $432.50 | Spring Summer Fall | |
| CECD 101 | Drawing for Designers | $432.50 | Spring Fall | |
| CECD 102 | Colour Theory for Designers | $432.50 | Summer Fall | |
| CECD 103 | Introductory Typography | $432.50 | Spring Summer | |
| CESE 103 | New Topics in Contemporary Design | $432.50 | Spring Summer Fall | |
| CEDA 100 | Introductory Web Design | $432.50 | Spring Summer Fall | |
| CECS 120* | Adobe CC for Design + Production | $649 | Spring Summer Fall | |
| CECS 110* | Introductory Adobe Photoshop | $216.50 | Spring Summer Fall | |
| CECS 111* | Introductory Adobe Illustrator | $216.50 | Spring Summer Fall | |
| CECS 112* | Introductory Adobe InDesign | $216.50 | Spring Summer | |
| CEDA 200 | Intermediate Web Design | $432.50 | Spring Summer Fall | |
| CECD 200 | Branding + Identity Design | $432.50 | Spring | |
| CECD 201 | Visualizing Information | $432.50 | Fall | |
| CECD 202 | Publication Design | $432.50 | Summer | |
| CECD 203 | Intermediate Typography | $432.50 | Fall | |
| CEPD 201 | Professional Practices for Designers | $432.50 | Spring Summer | |
| Elective Courses (minimum of 72 hours in one of the following streams) | ||||
| Illustration (Choose 3 out of the 4 following courses) | ||||
CEIL 100 | Introductory Illustration | $432.50 | Spring Summer Fall | |
| CEIL 101 | Introductory Digital Illustration: Photoshop | $432.50 | Spring Summer | |
| CEIL 102 | Introductory Digital Illustration: Illustrator | $432.50 | Spring Summer | |
| CEIL 203 | Commercial Illustration | $432.50 | Spring | |
| Photography | ||||
| CEPH 100** | Introductory Digital Photography | $432.50 | Spring Summer Fall | |
| CEPH 201 | Studio Lighting | $432.50 | TBD | |
| CEPH 203 | Commercial Photography | $432.50 | TBD | |
| UX/UI Design | ||||
| CEDA 150 | Introductory WordPress | $216.50 | Summer Fall | |
| CEDA 700 | Introduction to UI and UX Design | $503 | Summer | In partnership with OCAD University |
| CEDA 710 | Introduction to Web Analytics | $390 | TBA | In partnership with OCAD University |
| CEDA 720 | Intermediate UI and UX Design | $503 | Summer | In partnership with OCAD University |
| Approximate Total Program Tuition | $7,786 | |||
| Approximate Total Supply Cost | $1,000 |
*students can take either CECS 120 (36 hours), or each of CECS 110, CECS 111 and CECS 112 (12 hour workshops)
**students with a strong background in digital photography may opt to pursue CEPH 200 Intermediate Digital Photography in lieu.
Admissions
No previous experience in Visual Communication, Graphic Design, Illustration or other Design practice is required to begin the Visual Communication Design Certificate, but basic computer skills are recommended. To register in the required courses, students must be over the age of 18 at the start of their course, have proficiency in spoken and written English and should have completed Grade 12 or equivalent education.
As a guideline, we expect applicants to have an IELTS score of 4.0-5.0 for studio courses and 6.0 for lecture courses.
See each course listing for specific prerequisites.
No application is required - register online for courses now!