If you've decided that a four-year bachelor's degree is your calling, put Simon Fraser University (SFU) and the Emily Carr University of Art and Design on your shortlist. At SFU, you'll have the opportunity to collaborate with technologists, artists and design theorists. Choose a major based on your career goals. If you're interested in interactive and interface design, consider the design major. If you love games and multimedia, try the media arts concentration on for size. You can also participate in the co-op program at SFU, and get real-world design experience as you learn.
Emily Carr offers a four-year bachelor of design degree with a communication design major. You can specialize in high-demand, technology-focused areas of graphic design, including interactivity and motion graphics. If you're more interested in designing for traditional print media, Emily Carr has the courses for you.
Contact SFU:
School of Interactive Arts + Technology (SIAT)
Simon Fraser University Surrey
250 -13450 102 Avenue
Surrey, British Columbia, Canada V3T 0A3
Tel: 778-782-7474
Fax: 778-782-7488
www.siat.sfu.ca/undergrad
Contact Emily Carr:
Emily Carr University of Art + Design
1399 Johnston Street, Granville Island
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6H 3R9
Tel (local): 604-844-3800
Tel (toll free): 1-800-832-7788
Fax: 604-844-3801
www.ecuad.ca/programs/undergrad/bdesign/communications
If you're interested in getting a three-year diploma, take a look at Kwantlen Polytechnic University and Capilano University. Kwantlen will hone your design skills and help you understand the business of marketing that guides a graphic designer's work. Best of all, if you think you might want a degree and you're undecided, Kwantlen gives you some wiggle room. Study for three years and earn a diploma, or hang in for an extra year and get your degree.
Capilano's Illustration and Design (IDEA) program offers a practical, demanding education that requires 10-12 hours of work a day from its students. You'll learn design theory and technological skills, as well as project management. If you're adventurous, you can participate in a student exchange with Japan in your final year of study.
Contact Kwantlen:
Kwantlen Polytechnic University
12666 - 72nd Ave
Surrey, British Columbia, Canada V3W 2M8
Tel: 604-599-2000
www.kwantlen.ca/design/
Contact Capilano:
IDEA Program
Capilano University
Arbutus Building, Room 106
2055 Purcell Way
North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V7J 3H5
Tel: 604-990-7820
Fax: 604-984-4985
www.capilanou.ca/programs/idea/
The Centre for Arts and Technology focuses on the technical skills and knowledge you'll need to succeed in graphic design. Specifically, you'll learn Web design software and receive animation training. In just 18 months, you'll earn a graphic design diploma.
BC's Pacific Design Academy exposes students to a variety of graphic design sub-topics. Learn typography, copywriting, art history and other theory-based concepts in your first year; move on to learning specific software and technologies in your second year. After just two years, you'll have a college diploma and a portfolio of work to show potential employers.
Surrey College's diploma program will take you only about a year to complete, and will give you an overview of the software commonly used in the design industry. You won't get the more theoretical knowledge offered by other programs and you won't cover programming or digital media, but this short program might be enough to help you get your foot in the door, especially if you're interested in designing for traditional print media.
Selkirk College's Digital Arts and New Media program is also a two-year program, focusing on digital design for new media. Get your Selkirk diploma and start your career as a creative, digital designer.
Contact the Centre for Arts and Technology:
Landmark Technology Centre 3
Suite 100 - 1632 Dickson Ave
Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada V1Y 7T2
Tel (local): 250-860-2787
Tel (toll free): 1-866-860-2787
www.digitalartschool.com/programs/graphic_digital_media_design
Contact the Pacific Design Academy:
Pacific Design Academy
1252 Wharf Street
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada V8W 1T8
Tel: 250-383-3631
Fax: 250-382-3632
www.pacificdesignacademy.com
Contact Surrey College:
Surrey College
Building 700
9250-140 St.
Surrey, British Columbia, Canada V3V 5Z4
Tel: 604-583-4040
Fax: 604-583-5600
www.surreycollege.sd36.bc.ca/
Contact Selkirk College:
Selkirk College
301 Frank Beinder Way
Castlegar, British Columbia, Canada V1N 4L3?
Tel (toll-free): 888-953-1133?
selkirk.ca/programs/dmm/