Graphic Design program graduates find lucrative positions with design and advertising companies, magazine design firms, packaging design studios, marketing and communications agencies, publishing companies, newspaper departments and TV production facilities. One of these graphic design courses  is offered at Centennial College in the form of a two-year program that sees you: develop your visual design skills for print, emphasizing visual fundamentals, creative problem solving skills and the ability to deliver effective communication solutions for corporate clients including motion design; emerge with multidisciplinary creative skills for today’s diverse and demanding industry; work directly with internal and external clients on projects, simulating the workplace demands of the industry in a practical and hands-on approach. “Graduates that possess strong practical knowledge and good design skills coupled with emphasis on producing high work are always sought after in the graphics industry,” says Jim Jackson, Graphic Design Specialist, Marketing Department, AXA Insurance.

To apply for Centennial College’s offering, you must be able to present an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent or being 19 years of age or older. In addition, you should have completed the compulsory English 12C or U credit, or skills assessment, or equivalent. Lastly you are required to submit a portfolio that contains up to 15 pieces of original work in art and design. It must demonstrate an ability and interest in graphic design, colour integrated designs created in digital illustration and digital imaging applications, and a short research paper about your design philosophy and field of interest.

Formally recognized by the Association of Registered Graphic Designers of Ontario (RGD Ontario), which represents more than 3,000 graphic designers, managers, educators and students across Ontario, this graphic design diploma program covers business and creative topics. Specific courses within the Graphic Design course include: Design Process (you will research content of virtual and client-oriented projects introduced during the program, generate ideas for these projects and develop them into strong graphic images through concept, multiple solution and refinement); Design & Imaging (introduces three major software applications used throughout the Graphic Media Design program: digital illustration, imaging and layout application); Packaging (you will analyze the structure and meaning of graphics in packaging and develop an understanding of environmental implications), and many others such as Motion Graphics, Web Design, and Illustration Workshop.

The combination of multidisciplinary design skills and practical experience sets graduates apart from the competition. Centennial graduates are more flexible and their design solutions therefore offer more effective solutions those without this experience.