Bachelor Of Design In Graphic Design

Are you a visual communicator and think you would enjoy a creative career? The four-year Graphic Design degree program at VIU is taught by professors who are graphic designers, artists and photographers themselves, and is a hands-on program taught in studios using industry-leading technologies.

Why a graphic design degree? Every company, organization and product needs a designer. Bachelor of Design in Graphic Design students graduate industry-ready with a killer portfolio to add to their resume. Are you ready to start creating?

The Bachelor of Design in Graphic Design Program

The Bachelor of Design in Graphic Design is intended for students who wish to pursue a professional career in the creative discipline of digital and print Graphic Design. "Graphic Design is an interdisciplinary problem-solving activity that combines visual sensitivity with skill and knowledge in areas of communication, technology and business. A Graphic Designer specializes in the structuring and organizing of visual information and to aid communication and orientation. They provide clients with the following: research, costing, planning, coordination, project management, quality control, design and aesthetic judgment, advertising and art direction." (Ashworth, Hilary ed. The Business of Graphic Design, A Professional's Handbook. Toronto: Association of Registered Graphic Designers of Ontario, 2001).

Graphic designers work in new media and web design, packaging, illustration, animation, production and prepress, advertising, marketing communications design, art and creative direction, corporate identity, broadcast design, corporate communications, information design, editorial design, education, experiential and exhibit design, signage, and related occupations. Graphic designers develop skills that are in demand in today's economy and that can be applied to nearly any career, including creative problem solving and design thinking.

This degree program is hands-on and rich in applied elements and experiential learning to prepare students for the evolving requirements of the graphic design and visual communication industry in today's knowledge and information-based culture. The degree also promotes the skills associated with Bachelor of Arts programs, including analytical and critical thinking skills, solid oral and written communication skills, and general flexibility and adaptability. Students will develop awareness of social responsibility, ethics, cultural contexts and global communications considerations. The program features lectures, studio classes, computer lab instruction, critiques, project work, portfolio development and a graduation show. A rigorous work ethic and time-management skills are required for all courses. As in the profession, students juggle multiple projects and deadlines, undertake projects as teams, research, report, cooperate, communicate and present their work.

The program builds on a solid foundation of general skills at the first-year level. Second-year courses require students to apply and expand upon foundational skills in more detailed and specific sub-fields. Upper-level courses in the degree explore problem-solving, research, creative exploration, innovation and cultural and contextual issues at a deeper and more complex level and include an industry-related summer internship. Students must take 18 credits of electives and select various employment-oriented and academic electives.

Students are required to purchase industry standard laptop computers and software (as specified by the program), as well as supplies and textbooks for classes.

Year 1    
Credits

Artg 110 - (professional Practice 1)    3
Artg 120 - (Core Studio 1)    3
Artg 124 - (Technology 1)    3
Artg 130 - (Technology 2)    3
Artg 140 - (Core Studio 2)    3
Artg 150 - (Core Studio 3)    3
Artg 160 - (Core Studio 4)    3
Engl 115 - (University Writing And Research)    3
Two Non-artg Electives    6
Total Credits

Year 2    
Credits

Artg 210 - (Professional practice 2)    3
Artg 211 - (Design culture)    3
Artg 237 - (Technology 3)    3
Artg 241 - (Core studio 5)    3
Artg 251 - (Core studio 6)    3
Artg 261 - (Core studio 7)    3
Artg 271 - (Technology 4)    3
Artg 272 - (Technology 5)    3
Artg 273 - (User interface/user experience design i)    3
Ttotal credits    30

Year 3    
Credits

Artg 310 - (Professional practice 3)    3
Artg 345 - (Core studio 8)    3
Artg 351 - (Design studio 1)    3
Artg 371 - (Core studio 9)    3
Artg 373 - (User interface/user experience design ii)    3
Artg 374 - (Core studio 10)    3
Intp 300 - (Planning for upper-level internship)    3
Itrn 303 - (Third-year internship)    3
Two non-artg electives    6
Total credits    30

Year 4    
Credits

Artg 410 - (Professional practice 4)    3
Artg 472 - (Design studio 2)    3
Artg 473 - (User interface/user experience design iii)    3
Artg 474 - (User interface/user experience design iv)    3
Artg 475 - (Design studio 3)

Artg 476 - (Core studio 11)    3
Artg 480 - (Core studio 12)    3
Artg 482 - (Design studio 4)    3
Two non-artg electives    6
Total credits