Channel your artistry into a fulfilling career in graphic design. Draw on your creativity and utilize state-of-the-art software to help organizations visually communicate their brand messaging.
Get a solid foundation in design and colour theories, typography, and communications with this 69-week Graphic Design program. Upon graduation, you will have completed a career-ready portfolio that can help you land your dream job or give you the confidence you need to start your own graphic design business.
Career Opportunities
After completing our graphic design courses, you can find employment in the following organizatons:
advertising agencies
design studios
direct mail agencies
environmental/signage companies
digital marketing firms
social media platforms
printing companies
online graphics companies
multimedia companies
You will also have the choice to become self-employed and run your own business.
Salary
$31
Average Wage/HR**
$43
High Wage/HR**
Source: workingincanada.gc.ca
NOC Code: 52120 - **Wage data rounded down to the nearest dollar. Average wage doesn't reflect the starting salary but represents the middle value between lowest to highest wages. Local (or regional) income may vary. Last updated in Jan 2024.
Program Details
Start employing your passion for design to make a difference by enrolling in triOS College’s Graphic Design diploma program.
Through our graphic designing courses, you will learn to develop a complete brand identity, short animation, and video storyboard. Using cutting-edge Mac applications and Adobe programs such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, you will implement visual concepts on brand collaterals such as magazine covers, article layouts, and logos for both print and digital platforms. You will also learn industry practices and standards, so you can work either independently or with different types of organizations. Not only will you take graphic designer courses such as design theory and history, illustration, motion graphics, typography, and interactive web design, but you will also attend classes that can help you plan and prepare for your career.
Let our seasoned instructors take advantage of their diverse work experiences to teach you how to effectively communicate your ideas while keeping the aesthetics and function balanced.
As a graduate of this graphic designer program, you will receive:
a registered diploma
career services
job search assistance
alumni program benefits
Course Listings
Advanced Design Theory
In this course, you will explore additional theories and methods for increasing the visual appeal of your work, with an emphasis on “must know” type and colour basics (as supplemental content for this program's specific modules on these subjects.) You will learn the basics of storyboarding to help you visualize and present your concepts to clients, and you will learn about the design theory behind infographics and information design. The hands-on focus of this module provides plenty of practice activities to ensure competence.
Colour Theory
In this course, you will explore the guiding principles, harmony, and cultural implication of colour, including colour rules, colour systems, and colour models. You will explore these topics by examining case studies as well as design examples and processes. In applying the theory and techniques learned in this class, you will select and develop appropriate colour palettes and systems for enhancing the message of your designs.
Career Planning & Preparation - Level 1
This module introduces tools for planning and preparing for a successful job search, so that students can maintain a career-focused approach throughout their education program. Students will learn how to research opportunities and network for industry contacts, and use appropriate etiquette when communicating with prospective employers. Students will identify their personal skills, values and preferences for the workplace, begin preparation of a professional resume, cover letter, thank you note and references. Class discussions on various self-management topics introduced in Student Success Strategies will round out this module, which is a pre-requisite for Career Planning and Preparation – Level 2.
Career Planning & Preparation - Level 2
This module continues to build on the concepts and skills introduced in Career Planning and Preparation - Level I. Students will learn how to conduct an effective job search and identify various methods of applying for work with today’s technology. Students will create a personal list of “Top Employers” and target current industry opportunities, while finalizing their professional resume, portfolio and career correspondence. Students will learn to identify the different types and forms of interviews, practice responding to typical questions, and practice follow-up, evaluation and negotiation techniques they can use to ensure success. Self-management topics from Career Planning and Preparation - Level I will be reviewed, with a focus towards on-the-job success in both learner placements and post-graduate employment.
Creativity
Using paper-based techniques as well as online inspiration, you will exercise free thinking and observation while developing an efficient work process for future projects. You will be immersed in real-life scenarios and explore procedures for meeting design deadlines. This course also provides an exploration of brainstorming techniques and builds fundamental design and work discipline skills. The competencies developed in this class will prepare you to meet the demanding challenges of exercising creativity while meeting time-sensitive deadlines.
Digital Literacy for Professionals
This course introduces students to the fundamental concepts and principles of learning and working in a digital environment. This course will cover the following elements: using devices and handling information, creating and editing information, communicating and collaborating, and being safe and responsible online.
Design Theory 1
In this course, you will learn to apply the rules of basic design theory, design analysis, and inspirational collections techniques to become a better designer. You will explore a range of media and design applications with emphasis on the creative process, including research, brainstorming, and conceptual development. During this course, you will also identify methods for arranging your personal workspace for optimum working conditions, while adhering to time limits for the various stages of project completion. These techniques will be repeated and used throughout the rest of the program.
Comunications
In this course, you will explore the many forms of communication vital to a graphic design career, including reports and emails, sales pitches, client interviews, and creative meetings. You will also develop familiarity with visual communication media, such as presentations, infographics, and charts for professional projects.
Adobe InDesign
In this course, you will learn to use Adobe InDesign: the industry software used to produce printable, professional-quality, full-colour documents. After being introduced to the basic functions of this software, you will complete a module-length design project, which ensures that you have a running canvas for practicing the complex techniques included in InDesign’s suite of features.
Adobe Illustrator
In this course, you will learn to use Adobe Illustrator, the industry-leading vector illustration software. Learning and applying design principles, you will explore this software through the completion of design-specific projects and tasks that will enhance your creative portfolios. Going beyond the software, you will also learn tips and techniques for using and upgrading to the latest tools and keeping up with cloud-based software.
Adobe Photoshop
In this course, you will learn the fundamental features of Adobe Photoshop, the industry benchmark for digital imaging excellence among graphic designers. Once a good foundation is established, you will also learn advanced features, including tips and techniques in photo manipulation, layer control, masking, selection, and preparing images for print.
Typography
In this course, you will explore methods of creating beautiful type settings for pleasant and legible reading experiences. You will cover fundamental aspects of typography, including style, colour, size, shape, and background. This course teaches you the necessary skills for designing visual communications and enhancing your personal creativity through visual collecting.
Identity Design
In this course, you will learn the design process for producing effective, creative branding. As an extension of logo design, a brand tells a customer what they can expect from products and services, and it differentiates clients from their competitors. During this module, you will be introduced to creative briefs, design briefs, conceptions generation, major graphic design, and advertising applications. Case studies on design planning and the ethics of branding will help you devise solutions to branding problems.
Logo Design
In this course, you will learn to create great logos, from inspiration to execution. The content of this module covers three stages that can be used to get logo projects off to an efficient and well-targeted start, including how to gather information from clients, generate ideas, and develop and prepare visuals for a presentation. By the end of the course, you will have sketched, developed, and polished dozens of logos, symbols, wordmarks, emblems, and other logo elements.
Portfolio Design and OHS
In this course, you will learn skills and techniques for designing and creating professional creative portfolios. This module covers important topics in portfolio design, including planning, setup, organization, file management, and layout. In completing this course, you will prepare your own professional portfolio, an essential asset for your professional development and career management in the field of graphic design.
Presentation Design
In this course, you will develop the ability to design and deliver audience-specific messages using media and presentation software. By practicing these applications, you will learn to communicate effectively in academic, business, and social situations. This course also emphasizes the preparation and delivery of formal speeches and gives you the skills you need to pitch designs to your clients.
Print Design
In this course, you will learn about the effective use of type in print, through advanced typographic treatments, technical illustrations, imaging techniques, proper formats, and preparing design projects for final output. You will use these skills to create and use page formats, work with grids to achieve interesting page compositions, and successfully combine type and imagery for print solutions. By completing the objectives of this module, you will learn to produce well-designed, professional projects.
Student Success Strategies
This course stresses the importance of developing non-technical skills to enhance personal, academic and career success. This includes understanding learning styles and honing practical study skills, such as memory, reading, note- and test-taking techniques. Personal exercises will focus on teamwork, decision making and problem solving skills, setting goals and maintaining a positive attitude techniques for managing change, stress and conflict will also be explored.
Designing for the Web
In this course, you will learn the essentials of visual communication related to web design — from getting finicky web fonts and web colours under your control to navigating intuitively and creating a GUI. You will also learn to use a content management system (CMS) and template to create a well-designed website for a mock company with a unique brand identity. Through this process, you will design an appealing design plan and prepare a portfolio for presentation.
Admission Requirements
You must:
have an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent OR
be at least 18 years old on or before the program begins AND pass a qualifying test that has been approved by the Superintendent
The approved qualifying test for this program is the Wonderlic test with a required passing score of 16.
If you’re applying from other Canadian provinces, you must:
be at least 19 years old,
be out of high school for at least 1 year by the program start date, and
successfully pass an academic achievement test
If you’re an international student, please contact us for more details.
Career Quiz
Take a quick and easy quiz to find out more about yourself, your goals, and identify your strengths and social style. This quiz gives you suggestions for what career areas you might consider based on your likes and preferences. Give it a try now!
