Partner Programs

RGD works with post-secondary institutions across Canada to offer automatic Student Membership and other programs and services to students enrolled in graphic design and related programs. Below is a list of institutions currently working with RGD.

 

  • Algonquin College

    3 Year Graphic Design Diploma

    Ottawa, ON

    The Graphic Design program at Algonquin College is designed for individuals who are interested in applying their creativity to communicating ideas and concepts in both print and digital media. Students develop the expertise required to become graphic designers through strong practical and theoretical training in typography, the basic fundamentals of creativity, design, image, form, colour and production skills.


    Website: https://www.algonquincollege.com/graphic-design
     

    Contact: Alain Paradis RGD, Program Coordinator
    Email:

  • Cambrian College

    3 Year Graphic Design Diploma

    Sudbury, Ontario

    From their website: Cambrian’s award-winning Graphic Design faculty will challenge you through course work and diverse projects to help you develop your creative talents and become an excellent visual communicator. You’ll also graduate with a professional-grade portfolio that will be invaluable as you meet with potential employers and/or freelance clients.

    Website: www.ccgraphicdesign.ca

    Contact: Sean Grant RGD, Coordinator

    Email:

  • Canadore College

    3 Year Graphic Design Diploma

    North Bay, Ontario

    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, digital content and websites. In the program you will learn and develop specific skills and techniques, compile an extensive portfolio, and gain invaluable work-related experience working with real clients.

    Website: www.canadorecollege.ca

    Contact: Shirley Mondoux RGD, Coordinator

    Email:

  • Capilano University

    4 Year Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication

    North Vancouver, BC

    Want to be part of the next generation of creative professionals? Develop your skill in branding, illustration and interactive design in the 4-year Bachelor of Design at CapU.

    In the Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication degree program, we make it our business to keep up with industry trends, innovations in technology and stay responsive to cultural change.

    You’ll be prepared for a career doing what you love, whether that’s illustration, branding, graphic design, visual design, art direction, character design, typography and storyboarding, interactive design, UI (user interface) and UX (user experience), editorial design, publishing, digital media, environmental design and more.

    Prior to graduation, you'll take part in an eight-week industry practicum placement to help you transition into your new career. You'll also showcase your portfolio at our annual Grad Show, which is attended by Vancouver's top agencies and art directors.

     

    Website: http://capilanou.ca/idea

    Contact: Christina Lee Kim Koon, Co-Coordinator, Bachelor of Design & Interaction Design Diploma

    Email: 

     

  • Capilano University

    2 year Interaction Design Diploma

    North Vancouver, BC

    The two-year Interaction Design diploma at CapU connects design and technology to prepare you for an exciting career in tech. 

    As an interaction designer, your combination of creativity, design thinking and problem-solving skills help you thrive in the constantly evolving world of digital products.

    Your training will focus on areas such as UX/UI design, user research, visual design, motion design, coding, branding, web/app design and working with new technologies and how to manage digital environments and workflows.

    You'll learn in project-based, hands-on experiential environment. Courses are taught by faculty from the local design community and apply the same programs and tools working professionals use.

    Prior to graduation, you'll complete an Interaction Design Capstone project, an opportunity to combine research, theory and technical skills that will make industry employers take notice.

    Website: http://capilanou.ca/idea

     

    Contact: Christina Lee Kim Koon, Co-Coordinator, Bachelor of Design & Interaction Design Diploma

    Email: 

     

  • Centennial College Centre for Creative Communications

    3 Year Graphic Design Diploma

    Toronto, ON

    With a graduate employment rate that exceeds 80%, Centennial College’s Graphic Design program will prepare you for a multi-disciplinary design career. Facilitated at the Story Arts Centre, Centennial College’s School of Communications, Media and Design - you will learn by working hands-on in an intimate studio environment, rather than sitting passively in large lecture halls. With small class sizes you will have lots of opportunities to work one-on-one with your professors. And as of September 2020, Centennial’s Graphic Design program is also available in a fully asynchronous, online format. A more flexible option for students who may find it difficult to come to the Story Arts Centre, this program mirrors the content of the on-campus program, including a design thesis project and an 8-week field placement in the final semester.


    Website: www.centennialcollege.ca


    Contact: Lisa Rebnord, Coordinator

    Email:

  • Conestoga College

    3 Year Graphic Design Diploma

    Kitchener, ON

    The Graphic Design advanced diploma program has an exceptional reputation for graduating talented designers and is recognized as one of the top design programs in the province. Industry professionals consistently acknowledge the excellence of Conestoga's graphic design students for their creative and practical design skills. Many students win regional, national, and international awards for their design work including RGD regional awards and category awards, ADCC, Applied Arts, Print, HOW and many others.

    Conestoga's graphic design students are prepared to assume junior-level positions and related responsibilities in the graphic design industry. They will use their knowledge of design industry trends to plan and create purposeful visual communications, in collaboration with colleagues, supervisors, art or creative directors, project managers, and clients.


    Website: www.conestogac.on.ca
     

    Contact: Mike Powell, RGD, Interim Coordinator 
    Email:
     

  • Conestoga College

    4 Year Bachelor of Design

    Kitchener, ON

    The Bachelor of Design is a four-year degree in graphic design with a complement of courses in entrepreneurship, marketing and management. The program will ensure graduates have both the creative and visual acuity and the knowledge of business strategy, that are necessary to create design solutions for current market needs.

    Conestoga's graphic design students are prepared to assume junior-level positions and related responsibilities in the graphic design industry. They will use their knowledge of design industry trends to plan and create purposeful visual communications, in collaboration with colleagues, supervisors, art or creative directors, project managers and clients.


    Phone: 519.748.5220
    Website: www.conestogac.on.ca
     

    Contact: Josh Peressotti, Coordinator  

    Email:
     

  • Fanshawe College Logo

    Fanshawe College of Applied Arts & Technology

    3 Year Graphic Design Diploma

    London, ON

    The Three-Year Advanced Diploma provides comprehensive training to students wanting to enter the professional industry of Graphic Design. The program ranges from industry standard software training, the fundamentals of basic design skills to creative concept development, traditional illustration and photography. We offer comprehensive training in interactive design, web and multimedia, digital illustration, motion graphics as well as courses covering theories of creativity, visual thinking, typography and design history. Besides the traditional aspects of design, we initiate new courses on an ongoing basis as well as update and refresh present courses each term to ensure students remain current with trends in the graphic design industry. Click here for full details.


    Website: www.fanshawec.ca

    Contact: Lee-Ann Sandford, Program Coordinator
    Email:

  • George Brown College

    3 Year Graphic Design Diploma

    Toronto, ON

    The School of Design at George Brown College is located in the heart of Canada's largest concentration of design businesses and in one of North America's four top centres for design. The City of Toronto's economic development division has identified design and innovation as being one of the key drivers in the city's evolution towards a knowledge economy.


    The School of Design reflects this context by developing programs and projects that foster excellence in design thinking, design culture and design business.
     

    Website: georgebrown.ca/programs/graphic-design-program-g102/

     

    Contact: Nicole Dimson RGD, Coordinator

    Email:

    Phone: 416.415.5000

  • George Brown College

    3 Year Interaction Design and Development Diploma

    Toronto, ON

    Interaction Design is an interdisciplinary field merging design skills such as user experience, interface development and graphic design with coding fundamentals to create meaningful experiences between the user and digital platforms such as social media, websites, wearables and mobile devices.

     

    Modified by the psychological, social, economic and cultural factors that shape our present and future world, this ever-evolving field envisions new ways of human-computer interaction within systems, services, products and spaces across multiple industries.

     

    Throughout the Interaction Design and Development program, students will be expected to address such topics as mixed realities, immersive environments, usability, spatial relations and human factors. Students will engage in research, design, testing and group work to create original interactions in a way that is meaningful and practical.

     

    Website: georgebrown.ca/programs/interaction-design-program-g113/

     

    Contact: Xavier Massé, Co-ordinator

    Email:

    Phone: 416-415-5000, ext. 3281

     

  • George Brown College

    1 Year Interactive Media Management Program (postgraduate)

    Toronto, ON

    The Interactive Media Management graduate certificate program responds to a growing need within the design industry for a new skill set – one that crosses the traditional disciplinary boundaries of advertising, industrial, graphic and new media design.

     

    This program empowers designers with the latest real-time interactive tools and technologies. With the integration of these technologies into public and commercial settings, such as museums and retail environments, as well as the education and medical sectors, designers need to be armed with key knowledge of interface design, information visualization and virtual spaces. They have a mission to create friendly systems and interfaces that dramatically improve the lives of consumers and sellers alike.

     

    The program combines design education with software instruction and hands-on workshops to configure interactive design strategies using existing and emerging display technologies. You will be exposed to best practice examples and real-world models. You are encouraged to generate a unique design strategy and test it through an applied project directed toward the development of a fully functional, interactive demonstration prototype ready for a public audience.

     

    Website: georgebrown.ca/programs/interactive-media-management-program-postgraduate-g412/

     

    Contact: Xavier Massé, Co-ordinator

    Email: 

    Phone: 416-415-5000, ext. 3281

     

     

  • George Brown College

    4 Year Honours Bachelor of Digital Experience Design

    Toronto, ON

    The Honours Bachelor of Digital Experience Design is a four-year degree that produces designers who can solve problems using human-centred, socially conscious and economically viable digital solutions.

     

    Website: georgebrown.ca/programs/honours-bachelor-of-digital-experience-design-g301/#overviewContent

     

    Contact: Nastaran Dadashi, Co-ordinator

    Email: 

     

  • George Brown College

    4 Year Honours Bachelor of Brand Design

    Toronto, ON

    This program produces designers with strengths in collaboration, research, critical and strategic thinking, technical design execution and brand storytelling.

     

    Website: georgebrown.ca/programs/honours-bachelor-of-brand-design-program-g304

     

    Contact: Ana Rita Morais

    Email: 

  • Georgian College

    3 Year Graphic Design Diploma

    Barrie, ON

    The 3-year Graphic Design program involves interdisciplinary, problem-solving activities which combine visual sensitivity with skill and knowledge in the area of communications, technology and business.


    These professions specialize in the structuring of visual information to aid communication and orientation in both print and web based format. The depth and breadth of instruction in design and technology is reflected in the portfolio developed in the 3-year program, enabling graduates to play more creative and independent roles in the workplace.
     

    Website: www.georgianc.on.ca

    Contact: Tristan Quesnelle, Coordinator

    Email:

  • Georgian College

    2 Year Graphic Design Production Diploma

    Barrie, ON

    In this program, students engage in interdisciplinary problem-solving, combining visual sensitivity with skill and knowledge in the areas of communications, technology, and business. Students learn to structure visual information to aid communication in both print and web-based formats, and employ these skills in the creation of advertising, editorial, branding, and information design.

     

    Website: georgiancollege.ca/academics/programs/graphic-design-production/

    Contact: Tristan Quesnelle, Coordinator
    Email:

  • Holland College

    2 Year Graphic Design Diploma
    Charlottetown, PE

    In the Holland College Graphic Design Program, students embark on an exciting and comprehensive journey to develop their creative and technical skills in graphic design. The program focuses on equipping students with the knowledge and practical experience necessary to succeed in the dynamic world of visual communication. Through a combination of hands-on projects and coursework, students learn to create visually compelling and effective designs for various applications, from branding and advertising to web and social media design. They gain proficiency in industry-standard software and tools while honing their conceptual thinking, problem-solving abilities, and design aesthetics. The program fosters a collaborative and innovative learning environment, ensuring that graduates are well-prepared to enter the graphic design industry with the skills and confidence to excel.

     

    Located in beautiful Charlottetown, PEI, students enjoy the benefits of living in a small town with a thriving creative community. Small class sizes and excellent facilities ensure customized support for each student.

     

    Website: https://www.hollandcollege.com/programs/graphic-design.php

     

    Contact: April Condon, Graphic Design Instructor

    Email: 

    Phone: 9022132370

  • Humber College

    4 Year Bachelor of Design - User Experience
    Toronto, ON
    Bachelor of Design - User Experience

    Humber’s Bachelor of Design - User Experience program uses a holistic approach to prepare students for a professional career in the multidisciplinary field of user experience design. The program delivery is driven by research, analysis, strategy, and design to equip students with the proficiency to emerge as industry professionals. Students will acquire UX design process skills through collaborative, hands-on learning to explore design problems and gain insights regarding human experiences
     

    North Campus

    205 Humber College Blvd
    Toronto, ON M9W 5L7


    Website: Click here
    Email:
    Contact: Ahmed (Am) Sagarwala, Associate Design, Interactive Design

     

  • Humber College

    3 Year Graphic Design Diploma
    Toronto, ON
    Humber’s Graphic Design, Advanced Diploma program (GDES) offers a hybrid learning experience that prepares students for the design careers of the future. Our program develops strategic designers who wish to create visual communication strategies through a mix of cross-collaborative opportunities and hands-on training. Our program enables students to combine art, design thinking, and creative technologies to produce innovative solutions with a human-centred design approach in the areas of interactive design, branding & editorial design, user experience (UX), information design, and production art.
     

    North Campus

    205 Humber College Blvd
    Toronto, ON M9W 5L7

     


    Website: Click here
    Email:
    Contact: Ahmed (Am) Sagarwala, Associate Design, Interactive Design

     

  • Humber College

    2 Year Multimedia Design & Development Diploma
    Toronto, ON
    Humber’s award-winning Multimedia Design and Development diploma program offers the opportunity to participate in an extensive multimedia design education where students build a range of interactive digital media production skills including web design, mobile interface design, experience design, motion graphics, 2D animation, web coding, streaming, user testing, video and sound editing, user interface prototyping, digital storytelling, and interactive design. Through this hands-on learning process, students will develop the fundamental creative and technical multimedia design and development capabilities needed to pursue a career in user experience (UX) design, user interface (UI) design, product design, videography, motion graphics, and front-end development.
     

    North Campus

    205 Humber College Blvd
    Toronto, ON M9W 5L7

     


    Website: Click here
    Email:
    Contact: Ahmed (Am) Sagarwala, Associate Design, Interactive Design

     

  • McMaster University Continuing Education has inspired people to discover and achieve through lifelong learning since 1931. As one of Canada’s largest and leading providers of continuing education for adult learners, McMaster Continuing Education’s purpose is to develop and realize both individuals’ and society’s potential by providing education to thrive in today’s dynamic world.

     

    Full-Stack Development Diploma

    McMaster Continuing Education’s fully online Full-Stack Development program teaches the core knowledge and the latest the latest in-demand skills to become a full-stack developer for websites and online content. Training is provided across the three disciplines of web design and development: UX/UI design, front-end website development, as well as back-end server development and applications.

    Learn more here.

     

    Front-End Development Certificate

    McMaster Continuing Education’s flexible online Front-End Development program teaches the latest in-demand skills to become a front-end developer for websites. Through this program, you’ll learn how to develop the front-end of websites, JavaScript coding and frameworks, the role a front-end developer has as a part of the design team and more!

    Learn more here.

     

    Back-End Development Certificate

    McMaster Continuing Education’s flexible online Back-End Development program teaches in-demand skills to become a back-end server and applications developer. Through this program, you’ll learn how to apply web development principles to build functioning back-end code, how to use API software, as well as how to run queries and much more!

    Learn more here.

     

    User Experience and User Interface (UX/UI) Design Certificate

    McMaster Continuing Education’s flexible online User Experience and User Interface (UX/UI) Design program teaches the in-demand skills to become a UX/UI designer. Learn and acquire knowledge in design thinking, how to apply the design process to develop new products/designs, as well as hands-on experience with design programs such as Adobe Creative Suite to develop mock-ups/storyboards.

    Learn more here.

     

    Contact: Chris Rotolo, Program Manager, 

     

    Digital Marketing Certificate

    McMaster Continuing Education’s flexible online Digital Marketing program gives you the necessary skills to advance your digital marketing expertise and get ahead in this rapidly-growing field. Our program teaches you the latest fundamental principles and best practices of digital marketing, effective search engine marketing and digital advertising standards and strategies, content management methodologies, digital storytelling and data metrics and measurement.

    Learn more here.

     

    Contact: Chris Rotolo, Program Manager, 

  • Niagara College

    3 Year Graphic Design Diploma

    Welland, Ontario

    300 Woodlawn Road
    Welland, Ontario  L3C 7L3
    Phone: 905-735-2211 x 7611


    Website: www.niagaracollege.ca

    Contact: Jessie Demone, Coordinator
    Email:
     

  • OCAD U School of Continuing Studies offers a wide range of courses in art, design, and media. Their certificate and micro-credential programs provide the studio training, software expertise and critical skills you need to explore your creative potential and advance your career. Students can customize their studies while upgrading their skills or developing new ones.
     
    Courses emphasize design and creativity while providing in-depth technical, software, and studio training. Faculty at the School of Continuing Studies are professional artists, designers and technicians who hold an active practice in their given fields. Their courses run throughout the year and are open to everyone.
     
    Some particular courses of interest include:
     

    Digital Media Skills Certificate

    This certificate in digital media skills provides the greatest flexibility for students interested in developing their skills in graphic and web design, as well as animation and interactive media platforms. Students are able to customize their study while learning core skills in digital media. Courses emphasize design and creativity while providing in-depth technical and software training. Students will develop skills in digital content production, interaction design, and storytelling skills, while enriching their understanding of art, media, and culture.

     

    Graphic Design and Visual Communication Skills Certificate
    This certificate provides flexibility for students interested in developing graphic design and visual communication skills. Students may customize their study while learning core competencies. Courses emphasize design and creativity while providing technical studio and software training. Students gain the skills and understanding required to communicate ideas in digital and printed media through extensive and varied applied learning experiences. Students also learn creative problem-solving, while enriching their understanding of art, media, and culture. 

     

    User Experience (UX) Design and Development Skills Certificate
    This certificate is for those interested in learning the technical skills and conceptual tools required to create and manage web content. Courses eligible for this certificate provide the basic skills needed to those new to web design, as well as intermediate training in new software and online developments to keep experienced developers current. Courses cover topics such as UX principles, user research, analysis frameworks, interaction design, prototyping, and wireframing. Students also learn communication and collaboration techniques. 

     

    Beyond GLAM Land Acknowledgments: Activating Decolonization and Indigenization in Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums Micro-credential

    This micro-credential critically examines the work of the galleries, libraries, archives, and museums (GLAM) with a view to make space for new ways of being through practical and theoretical discussions of how to apply decolonizing and Indigenizing actions to these spaces.

     

    Hiring for Decolonization, Diversity, and Inclusion in the Creative Industries Micro-credential
    In this micro-credential participants will learn how to create decolonizing, diverse, and inclusive processes to hire Indigenous, Black, and People of Colour job candidates in the creative industries. Participants will be able to use human rights laws to justify their hiring programs, build relationships with communities to tap into existing pipelines, write a position description that speaks to diverse candidates, create qualification standards that account for systemic exclusion, and set up structures for achieving critical mass.

     

    For more information and to register, visit ocadu.ca/continuingstudies.

     

  • Sault College

    3 Year Graphic Design Diploma

    (accelerated 2-year timeframe)

    Sault Ste. Marie, ON

    Design training deals with creative problem solving and Sault College's Graphic Design Program will provide you with the theoretical and technical training, to give you the tools to develop innovative and creative visual communications in a vast array of technology and media. Our program will provide you with a learning environment, where your creative limits will be pushed by professional designers in a classroom loaded with current and relevant technology of a modern studio setting.

    Website: www.saultc.on.ca

    Contact: Frank Salituri

    Email:

  • Seneca College

    3 Year Graphic Design Diploma

    Toronto, ON

    Throughout the program, your studies will focus on the creative aspects of designing and producing effective graphic solutions and materials, including print, websites, epubs, apps, packaging, environmental and marketing campaigns for corporate, publishing, advertising and marketing clients.

     

    You'll learn the principles, materials and skills necessary to bring a design problem to a logical solution. In your first year, you'll concentrate on developing your understanding of design fundamentals. Your second and third years will provide you with the opportunity to apply these principles to a variety of design problems. In your third year, you’ll produce campaign materials and a portfolio and you’ll have the opportunity to participate in a field placement.

    Note: This program is recommended for students interested in working as a designer within the communications industry.

     

    Website: www.senecacollege.ca/fulltime/GRA.html

     

    Contact: Kinmond Smith, Program Coordinator

    Email:
     

  • St. Lawrence College

    3 Year Graphic Design Diploma

    Kingston, ON

    For over 40 years, our acclaimed program has trained highly skilled, creative individuals for the  growing profession of Graphic Design. This three-year advanced diploma program prepares graduates for direct entry into dynamic and rewarding work environments including design studios, ad agencies, interactive web and game design studios, publishing houses, marketing firms, and film & television production studios to name a few.

    By working directly with clients throughout their final year of study, students develop their knowledge base with real-world challenges. Our students excel in creative problem-solving and the development of software skills demanded by the design profession and growing creative economy.


    Website: www.stlawrencecollege.ca

    Contact: Erin Boye RGD & Andrea Ruskin RGD, Program Co-Coordinators

    Email:

  • University of the Fraser Valley

    2 Year Graphic & Digital Design Diploma

    Mission, BC

    UFV offers a 2-year Graphic and Digital Design diploma (GDD). GDD students develop a solid foundation in communication design, brand identity, interactive design, and dynamic media. We emphasize problem solving with coursework that embraces real-world projects, issues, and contexts. Students create solutions by applying strategic processes, visual language, design thinking, and skills using the most current industry-standard digital tools in GDD’s networked studios and labs.

     

    Website: www.ufv.ca

     

    Contact: Jennifer Deon, Department Head

    Email:

     

     

  • Vancouver Island University

    4 Year Bachelor of Design in Graphic Design

    Nanaimo, BC

    This program is for students who want a professional career in the creative discipline of digital and print Graphic Design. Students work in packaging, illustration, production and prepress, advertising, marketing communications, art/creative direction, corporate identity/communications, UI/UX, information design, editorial design, and environmental/exhibition design.

    Website: viu.ca/graphicdesign


    Contact: Nancy Page, Chair, Graphic Design
    Email: 

     

  • York University

    4 Year Bachelor of Design

    Toronto, ON

    York’s Bachelor of Design program (DESN) recognizes that design is by nature an interdisciplinary endeavour. York Design draws strength from its home in a robust research university, offering students exposure and collaborative opportunities in areas such as business, engineering, technology, health and more broadly, the sciences, social sciences, and humanities.

     

    Students in the Department of Design pursue creative solutions to real-world problems involving users, their contexts and interactions; design for immersive experiences and intelligent technologies; and the discovery of new knowledge through the visual presentation of complex information.


    Website: www.design.yorku.ca


    Contact: Angela Norwood RGD, Chair, Department of Design

    Email:

    Phone: 416.736.2100

  • The York University School of Continuing Studies is a diverse community of learning united by a shared sense of purpose — achieving personal and professional growth in a world of constant change. Our ability to help students lead in the face of this change has made us the fastest-growing school in Canada. We set our students up for success by teaching them specialized knowledge and technical skills, as well as enhancing their soft skills, cultural understanding, and cross-disciplinary know-how. The School embraces a global perspective through collaborative relationships with leaders in industry and academia across Canada and around the world.

     

    Certificate in User Experience (UX) Design

    In the part-time Certificate in User Experience (UX) Design, you’ll explore UX design as a tool for optimizing user experiences, covering essentials from system design to formulating personas that mimic the target audience experience. Learn to create impactful, interactive user experiences that will engage your audience. Learn more here.

     

    Certificate in Digital Marketing

    In the part-time Certificate in Digital Marketing, you will learn how to leverage tools across digital marketing channels to target your organization’s audience for impact and growth. Learn to reach the right audience with your message and deliver impressive results with the cutting-edge digital marketing tools and tactics covered in this career-building program. Learn more here.

     

    Certificate in Content Marketing

    In this part-time Certificate in Content Marketing, you will explore the tools you need to craft messaging that accurately resonates with your audience. Learn to create engaging content and develop the expertise to tell stories you’re passionate about and leverage them to drive results. Learn more here.

     

    Contact for general inquires: