Through hands-on experience, the Graphic and Web Design program helps you develop the creativity and communications skills to grow as a designer for print, web, and multimedia. In your first year of studies, you will gain the skills to work in an entry-level design co-op position, understand how to manage your time, and efficiently deal with both creative and administrative projects. After two years of study, your skillset will have improved and you will qualify for more advanced co-op positions. In addition, you will also have gained the basic skills needed to work in an entry-level multimedia position. After your third year of study, you will have all the skills needed to succeed, along with a prepared design portfolio, making you ready to enter into the fields of web, print, and multimedia.
Physical activity and health is an introductory course that combines a variety of physical activities in order to promote an active and healthy lifestyle. Stress management, motivational factors, designing an exercise program, healthy eating habits and nutrition are some of the topics that complement the weekly activities. Students are expected to participate to the best of their ability in a fun-filled environment. The following activities may be offered: Soccer, Ultimate, Volleyball, Hockey, Ringette, Basketball, Snowshoeing, Hiking, Cross country running, Weight training, Circuit training, Yoga, Badminton, Flexibility, and Relaxation, and others.
This course is directed toward improving English language skills by extensive written work based on literary texts. It uses the same textbooks as the Introduction to College English: Literature, but because of the emphasis on writing skills has a reduced list of readings.
Drawing and Vector Graphics (Prerequisite: None) Drawing is a core skill for any designer. This course introduces students to key drawing techniques and concepts using traditional media. Students then learn to adapt these drawing skills to create digital media with dynamic, resolution-independent vector graphics, using industry-standard applications such as Adobe Illustrator.
Digital Photography (Prerequisite: None) This course teaches students how to see the world through the eyes of a photographer. This hands-on class explores the basics of using a digital Single-Lens Reflex (SLR) camera including an introduction to shutter speed, aperture, and lighting. Students learn about photographic composition, light and shadow, and how to manipulate their images using industry-standard software such as Adobe Lightroom.
Introduction to Design and Layout (Prerequisite: None) This first of five publication design courses introduces students to the design process where they research, sketch, and explore solutions to creating professional products such as posters, flyers, and menus. Students are introduced to the elements and principles of design and typography and begin to work with page layout software such as Adobe InDesign.
Introduction to Web Design (Prerequisite: None) This first of five web design courses introduces students to basic web design concepts and coding. Students will use HTML and CSS to hand-code accessible and responsive websites optimized for all screen sizes. Students will build and launch websites by planning, designing, and coding using clean and organized code. Students will also learn to tailor their designs for performance and search engine optimization (SEO).
(Prerequisite: None) In this course, students explore the movements and trends in Graphic Design throughout history. Students will also be introduced to the principles of colour theory exploring the properties of colour, colour relationships, and the psychology of colour. The historical movements and colour theory will be put to practice through a series of hands-on projects to build the student’s knowledge and skill.
This course’s emphasis is on how knowledge is defined, acquired, transmitted and applied. Students examine both messages and media to identify the strengths and limitations of each. Students learn to situate knowledge in a social, historical and personal context, a skill they will need in order to become lifelong learners.
Photo Editing (Prerequisite: None) In this course, students begin to explore photo manipulation and editing using Photoshop. Students will learn the art of fine editing and compositing using layers, masking, styles, and more, incorporating professional terminology, file handling and formats. A key goal of this course is to create effective and functional graphics that clearly communicate a client’s message for a wide variety of publications.
Advanced Design and Layout (Prerequisite: Publication Design I) In this course, students further develop the skills acquired in Publication Design I, focusing on more advanced page layout and design techniques. Students will explore the use of interesting and appropriate typography within grid systems while working on projects such as corporate stationery, brochures, and newsletters.
Introduction to Interactive Web Design (Prerequisite: Web Design I) In this course, students continue to develop their skills in the production of user-friendly, easily navigated, and accessible websites. Students explore the latest CSS techniques to enhance their designs to reflect the current design trends in web. To incorporate user interactivity, students will be introduced to JavaScript.
(Recommendation: Student should have completed all first semester program specific courses) In this course, students are introduced to job search techniques and exploration of career opportunities in the graphic and web design field. Students create self-marketing tools including an online and print portfolio and explore the topics of self-assessment of personal and workplace competencies, resume and cover letter design, behavioral interviewing techniques and development of a self-directed job search.
(Prerequisite: None) In this course, students will be introduced to the fundamental principles of typography and the application of type for various types of publication. Students will learn the terminology of type and text layout and the anatomy of letterforms. Students discover the power of type as a design element, and as a means of communication and expression. Exploring the history and classification of type, students will learn how to select, combine, and compose type to clearly communicate in a wide range of media.
The course focuses on how individuals, groups, societies or nations organize ideas, perceptions and values into explanatory patterns. Students explore major ideas and value systems by which diverse individuals, groups, societies or nations seek to explain the world and their place in it.
The purpose of the second set is to encourage students to use a goal-oriented approach to improve the effectiveness of a physical activity whether it is a sport, corporal expression or an outdoor activity. After an initial assessment, students evaluate the physical activity in terms of their ability and attitudes; they set goals and try an approach aimed at improving their motor skills, their technique or their mastery of complex strategies. Finally, students are called upon to assess their progress.
involves the introduction of skills including serving, underhand and overhead strokes, rules and etiquette of the game and basic strategies of singles and doubles play.
This course provides a great opportunity to work out with a group in a friendly setting, where everyone works to their own capacity. Workouts will consist of different training approaches based on the five fitness components. The resistance used will be of personal choice of weights and/or body weight. Ultimately all workouts will provide both cardiovascular and muscular strength/endurance benefits, resulting in a very functional form of fitness
Students will experience a blend of activities such as yoga, meditation and stress management techniques. The course aims to increase flexibility, cardiovascular endurance, and muscular strength through a variety of workoutswhile developing awareness of mind and body.
involves learning the skills and strategies to comfortably use the winter environment to travel over snow and ice. Snow sports will include cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and skating in the Gatineau Park and surrounding facilities. Exercising in cold weather conditions requires an understanding of proper nutrition, safety management, cold weather injuries, and dressing techniques; all topics that are covered in the course.
This course is condensed into the first seven weeks of the winter semester.
This is a true Canadian experience.
will allow students to experience the health advantages and adventure of outdoor based activities. Students will learn skills important to safely adventure in the outdoors including navigational skills, wilderness first aid, risk management and basic survival skills while engaging in a range of outdoor activities that will build their muscular and cardiovascular endurance. This course is condensed into the first seven weeks of the fall semester.
focuses on the progression of fundamental skills,. Team Sports is comprised of three different activities each lasting five weeks, to be determined by the individual teacher. Three of the following sports could be offered: Soccer, Hockey, Volleyball, Basketball, Ultimate Frisbee or others.
is a practice that has evolved over a period of approximately 5,000 years dealing with all aspects of health. The term yoga literally means union of mind and body. Throughout the semester, students will be introduced to the many different styles of yoga, focusing on a variety of forward bends, back bending and balancing postures.
Digital Illustration (Prerequisite: Illustration I, Digital Photo II) Students explore more advanced illustration techniques using both vector and raster graphics applications. Students create more complex illustrations concentrating on clear communication and narrative for use in a wide range of publications and design projects.
Introduction to Publication Design (Prerequisite: Publication Design II) This course focuses on designing, editing, and producing more complex and creative solutions for real-world projects such as book jackets, restaurant menus, and catalogues. Students develop style guides publications to ensure consistent design and best practices. Projects are designed for both print and electronic media.
Advanced Interactive Web Design (Prerequisite: Web Design II) The third web design course focuses on JavaScript, a popular programming language, and one of the core technologies of the World Wide Web, alongside HTML and CSS. JavaScript will allow the students to improve the interactivity of their web pages by incorporating user triggered events. Students continue to expand on the importance of proper UX/UI design to optimize user experience.
Information Design (Prerequisite: None) This course uses the student’s design and illustration skills to explore the art of information visualization and semiotics. Students will learn to clearly communicate complex ideas and information to a target audience by designing easier to understand visual representations. Students will research and design a variety of communication projects such as icons, maps, technical illustrations, and infographics for both print and electronic distribution.
(Prerequisite: Typography I) In this course students will continue their exploration of typography, expanding their conceptual thinking and practical skills with more creative and experimental applications of typography through hands-on projects. This course explores type as a tool for creative visual expression, helping students to see and use type as a graphical element to enhance communication in their designs.
This course aims to apply different ethical theories, principles, and values to the areas of work and business. The focus is on the requirements for making capitalism more ethically appealing as well as the relation of corporations to other entities such as consumers and the natural environment. Values and virtues like cooperation and fairness are discussed along with the application of an ethical decision-making model to relevant case studies.
(Recommendation: Students should have completed all first semester program specific courses before taking this course.) In today’s marketplace the ability to navigate and manage social media is a key skill. In this course, students will learn the strategic business use of social media for marketing. Topics covered include a basic overview of the principles of branding and marketing, an introduction to the strengths, weaknesses and basic functionality of the major social networks and platforms, effective content creation, community management, and how to design and evaluate a social media campaign.
(Recommendation: Students should have completed all first semester program specific courses before taking this course.) In today’s marketplace the ability to navigate and manage social media is a key skill. In this course, students will learn the strategic business use of social media for marketing. Topics covered include a basic overview of the principles of branding and marketing, an introduction to the strengths, weaknesses and basic functionality of the major social networks and platforms, effective content creation, community management, and how to design and evaluate a social media campaign.
Branding and Advertising (Prerequisite: None) Students combine their creative abilities, design skills and software knowledge to create larger, more complex design solutions including targeted design briefs, and products for advertising and branding campaigns. Through the process of research, concept development, thumbnail sketches and mockups, the students will design branding and advertising campaigns for existing products. Students will also learn to develop style guides to create consistent campaigns for a target audience.
(Recommendation: Students should have completed Digital Photo I before taking this course.) This course introduces the fundamentals of digital video production. Students will learn how to plan, shoot, and edit creative video projects. Students develop skills in camera operation, composition, audio recording, basic directing, lighting, and editing using industry-standard software. Throughout the course, students complete a series of hands-on video portfolio projects.
Multipage Publication Design (Prerequisite: Publication Design III) Students refine their design and typography skills as they create multi-page documents such as instruction manuals, playbills, and corporate annual reports for both print and electronic publications, using Adobe InDesign. Emphasis will be placed on developing strong, innovative design solutions that meet the client’s needs with consistency and attention to detail.
Content Management Systems (Prerequisite: Web Design III) This course focuses on Content Management Systems. Students develop websites using WordPress. The students learn to build and edit websites within development environments and experience the process of website migration. Throughout the course, students will work with theme frameworks, plugins and learn to create backups and restore systems.
(Prerequisite: None) This course introduces students to the basics of computer-based 3D modelling and animation. Students will learn to generate 3D models and wireframes for graphics, printing, and animation. Using some of the latest applications students will explore how to work within virtual 3D space and create and manipulate objects within it. This course will cover a variety of topics including modelling and sculpting using 3D tools, creating 3D environments, working with 3D lighting and cameras, and rigging a skeleton for a 3D model.
(Recommendation: Students should have completed all first-year program specific courses before taking this course.) More and more design professionals are building a career through a combination of part-time, contract and freelance work. Working with real clients, students learn to set up a business, enter into agreements, navigate intellectual properties, manage, and design projects, explore becoming a freelance designer, including self-employment and self-promotion, and invoice their work.
Packaging Design (Prerequisite: None) Students will learn basic product development and marketing using creative design solutions for in-depth graphic design projects from concept to finished deliverable. Students will be introduced to packaging design in this course, taking 2-D graphic designs and applying them to 3-D products. This course will focus on creating presentation work that will be worthy of the student’s portfolio.
(Prerequisite: Video Production I) Students continue to develop their skills and ability in storytelling, storyboarding for video, camera techniques, capturing and editing audio and video, using industry standard software. This course introduces creating work specific to an audience and/or client and the creation of stories told in a compelling and emotionally engaging manner.
Creative Publication Design (Prerequisite: None) This final publication design course follows up on material taught previously but focusses on the layout and production of both print and electronic publishing for complex and highly creative design solutions for both print and electronic distribution. Students will push their creativity and their knowledge of design and typography to produce solutions with enhanced qualities of communication and appeal to readers.
User Experience (Prerequisite: None) In this course students focus on enhancing interactivity and the user experience through the development of web applications such as online games, educational applications, and kiosk interfaces. The students will build complex user interfaces using coding with HTML and CSS and modern programming languages and platforms to better engage the audience.
(Prerequisite: None) The elements of time and motion are added to students’ design skills in this course. Students learn to apply the basic animation principles and timing, using various tools and techniques to create motion graphics that clearly communicate the client’s message. Projects may include animated logos, film title design, animated infographics and more. Students will learn to follow the motion graphics workflow to plan, script, storyboard and produce motion graphics projects.
In common with the other Block “B” English courses, this one provides training in public speaking, practical and professional writing, reading and writing across the curriculum while exposing the students to a variety of literary forms. Although the course devotes considerable attention to practical and professional writing, the focus remains solidly on literature.
The third physical education course is aimed at integrating physical activity into the student’s daily lifestyle through more effective application of related personal factors (i.e. time management, motivation, nutrition needs, designing an exercise program) that contribute to continued participation. During scheduled course hours, the student will be introduced to new skills and concepts related to the specific activity chosen. The student is also expected to maintain regular physical activity outside class hours within a personal activity program under the professor’s supervision by applying the knowledge gained while integrating new course material.
The group activity portion of this course will consist of a three day canoe camping trip on local waterways providing a quintessential Canadian experience.. Students will be involved with various organizational aspects of the trip such as purchasing food, planning and preparing meals over fires/camp stoves, preparing and maintaining fires and other responsibilities associated with building camp. The rest of the semester is completed independently, with the guidance of the teacher, focusing on the student’s personal activity program that they have designed for themselves.
No matter where you are, cycling is a great way to travel and at the same time, benefit from some fresh air and exercise. In this course we will start off with a couple preliminary outings that will take us into the Gatineau Park with a focus on bike selection, proper positioning and gear use. In addition, we will select, plan, and divide up some of the responsibilities for an overnight cycle tour in the region. Also, students will have planned and managed a personal activity of their choice in a health enhancing approach over the entire semester.
Fitness and Strength Training will allow students to develop and use personalized resistance training and cardiovascular training programs throughout the course. Classes are in two blocks that are broken down betweenworkout/application and lecture.
This course will allow students to discover the Gatineau Park through many of its hiking trails. Three to four weekend outings will take them to different areas of the park to explore the diversity that the park has to offer. Topics covered during the hikes will include ‘leave no trace’ principles, local flora and fauna, risk management, appropriate clothing and footwear, local history, and basic hiking techniques. The rest of the semester is completed independently, with the guidance of the teacher, focusing on the student’s personal activity program that they have designed for themselves.
This course will encourage students to assume more responsibility for directing and managing their own sport experience. Students will develop sport-specific techniques and fitness; appreciate and be able to execute sport-specific strategic play; share planning and administration of sport experiences; provide responsible leadership; and develop and apply knowledge about officiating, scorekeeping and training. Classes are in two hour weekly blocks.
This weekend course will emphasize the importance of mind and body awareness through a broad range of activities which include yoga, meditation, Qi Gong and relaxation techniques. In addition, the outings may include hiking, orienteering and ziplining in the fall or snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, indoor climbing in the winter among other adventures depending on the year. The rest of the semester is completed independently, with the guidance of the teacher, focusing on the student’s personal activity program that they have designed for themselves.
Snowshoeing is an excellent low impact, cardiovascular winter workout. Students will explore different types of terrain and visit different areas in the Gatineau Park over three weekend outings at the beginning of the winter semester. The rest of the semester is completed independently, with the guidance of the teacher, focusing on the student’s personal activity program that they have designed for themselves..
This course will encourage students to assume more responsibility for directing and managing their own fitness & health. Students will develop programs related to cardiovascular health, flexibility, muscular strength, stress management, nutrition and other lifestyle habits. Students will work in groups to prepare and present a specific component of fitness or health to the class and will participate weekly in group fitness activities or workouts. They will independently create and execute their own fitness and health program addressing all components of fitness.
This course explores a variety of outdoor paddling sports that will introduce and refine paddling skills during three weekend day outings on local rivers and lakes. The students will be introduced to Stand up Paddling, Dragon boating and Canoeing with a focus on flat water skills, equipment knowledge, and safety. The rest of the semester is completed independently, with the guidance of the teacher, focusing on the student’s personal activity program that they have designed for themselves.
(Prerequisite: Motion Graphics I) Students apply and expand their knowledge of motion graphics production by combining motion graphics techniques and tools to produce creative motion graphic solutions for a wide range of media. Projects begin to bring together audio, video, visual effects, and animation into more complex and targeted projects. A final show reel of the students’ work throughout the program is designed and developed in this course.
(Recommendation: Students should have completed all first and second-year program specific courses before taking this course.) Students gather and refine their best work into a professional graphic design portfolio, both in print and online, that will showcase their skills. Students will have the opportunity to refine their previous work and create new work for their portfolio. The goal of this course is for the student to develop a unique and diverse graphic design portfolio which will help them obtain employment or gain admission to another institution for continued studies. In this course students will also plan and produce a video portfolio presentation for the Program Exit Assessment (PEA).
Exhibition Design (Prerequisite: None) This course explores the planning, marketing, and production of an exhibition from concept to installation. Students will plan and produce proposals using models, mock-ups, and illustrations that explore design within a specific physical environment. As part of a design team, students will use their acquired skills to design and produce the print and online branding and marketing materials for an exhibition. By the end of the course the students will design and prepare the Graphic and Web Design Graduation Exhibition to showcase their work.
◉ For Certificate of Eligibility Holders who are at French level 100 or 101
◈ For Certificate of Eligibility Holders who are at French level 102 or 103
▣ For Non-certificate of Eligibility Holders
A key feature of the Graphic and Web Design program is the co-op component, where qualified students are eligible to be placed in two paid summer work terms. During your placement, you'll have the chance to improve and expand your graphic and web design skillset. Access to a professional setting provides our students with practical real-life work experience, greatly improving their employability.
The Graphic and Web Design program offers our students access to all the tools they need to succeed in their studies:
In order to graduate, you must pass a Ministerial Examination of Language. If you are an English rights holder then you must pass a Ministerial Examination of College English, otherwise you must pass a Ministerial Examination of College French.
The Program Exit Assessment (PEA) is a final evaluation activity that shows a student’s achievement throughout the program. It requires students to integrate and synthesize the knowledge and skills gained from their Diploma of College Studies (DEC), as indicated in our College’s policy on student evaluation.
Admission requirements for the Graphic and Web Design program vary depending on if you are a Quebec-resident, out-of-province applicant, or international applicant. Please review all general and program-specfic requirements before applying.
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