Education Partners
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.
Questions?
Email Heidi@rgd.ca
Algonquin College
Ottawa, ON
Graphic Design Diploma Program
Students enrolled in their second and third years of the program have Student RGD Memberships.
In this program, you will embark on an educational experience that blends theoretical knowledge with practical, hands-on learning. Develop expert skills in design, typography, image manipulation, colour theory, coding, motion graphics, interaction design, and production processes. Become a creative problem-solver who can manage and execute visually effective projects from concept to completion.
Contact: Alain Paradis RGD, Program Coordinator
Cambrian College
Sudbury, ON
Graphic Design Diploma Program
Students enrolled in their second and third years of the program have Student RGD Memberships.
Cambrian challenges you to ramp up your creative talents with real-world projects and gain the graphic design skills to go pro. Our curriculum covers all aspects of a compelling career as a professional visual designer, delivered by experienced faculty who are practicing graphic designers. Career-focused, with attention to both traditional methods and new technology, you’ll sharpen your concept development skills with strategic and critical thinking. You’ll graduate with a professional-grade portfolio prized by potential employers and freelance clients.
Contact: Sean Grant RGD, Coordinator
Canadore College
North Bay, ON
Graphic Design Diploma Program
Students enrolled in all three years of the program have Student RGD Memberships.
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, online content and websites. In the program you will learn and develop design specific skills and techniques, learn commercial photography trends including product styling, compile an extensive portfolio, and gain invaluable work-related experience working with real clients.
Contact: Shirley Mondoux RGD, Coordinator
Capilano University
North Vancouver, BC
Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication Program
Students enrolled in all four years of the program have Student RGD Memberships.
In this program, 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.
Contact: Christina Lee Kim Koon, Co-Coordinator, Bachelor of Design & Interaction Design Diploma
Capilano University
North Vancouver, BC
Interaction Design Diploma Program
Students enrolled in both years of the program have Student RGD Memberships.
The two-year Interaction Design diploma at CapU connects design and technology to prepare you for an exciting career in tech. Your training focuses on areas such as user experience (UX) design and user interface (UI) design, user research, visual design, motion design, coding, branding, web/app design, and how to manage digital environments and workflows. You will explore emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and learn how AI can be an amplifier rather than a substitute. We also cover the importance of maintaining critical thinking skills while integrating AI tools.
Contact: Christina Lee Kim Koon, Co-Coordinator, Bachelor of Design & Interaction Design Diploma
Centennial College
Toronto, ON
Graphic Design Diploma Program
Students enrolled in all three years of the program have Student RGD Memberships.
Centennial College's Graphic Design programs will prepare you for a multidisciplinary design career whether you choose to learn online or in-person, full-time or part-time. Our programs will help you master the essential skills and critical software to become a successful graphic designer. All students learn in a hands-on environment, combining design theory, technical skills, and professional practices, preparing them for a successful creative future. All full-time students participate in an eight-week field placement in their final semester, providing them with a real-world learning experience.
Contact: Lisa Rebnord, Coordinator
Conestoga College
Kitchener, ON
Graphic Design Diploma Program
Students enrolled in all three years of the program have Student RGD Memberships.
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. 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.
Contact: Mike Powell RGD, Interim Coordinator
Conestoga College
Kitchener, ON
Bachelor of Design Program
Students enrolled in all four years of the program have Student RGD Memberships.
The Bachelor of Design is a four-year degree in graphic design with a complement of courses in entrepreneurship, marketing and management. The program ensures 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.
Contact: Josh Peressotti, Coordinator
Fanshawe College of Applied Arts & Technology
London, ON
Graphic Design Diploma Program
Students enrolled in their second and third year of the program have Student RGD Memberships.
Fanshawe's three-year advanced diploma program in Graphic Design prepares students to become versatile designers with the technical expertise, creative problem-solving skills, and strategic thinking needed to excel in today’s evolving design industry. Taught by industry professionals, this program combines design theory, hands-on training and real-world applications to prepare students for diverse careers. It covers key disciplines such as branding, publication design, print and production, digital and interactive media, motion graphics, web and mobile design, packaging and information design.
Contact: Lee-Ann Sandford, Program Coordinator
George Brown College
Toronto, ON
Graphic Design Diploma Program
Students enrolled in all three years of the program have Student RGD Memberships.
Elevate your design prowess with our dynamic three-year Graphic Design advanced diploma program. This immersive journey allows you to master core design principles while choosing to specialize in either Communication or Advertising Design. With a wide array of engaging electives, you'll have the chance to explore illustration, motion graphics, interaction design, web design, editorial design and environmental design. This program is your gateway to a well-rounded and innovative education, designed to ignite your creativity and prepare you for a vibrant career in the design industry. Join us and transform your passion into professional excellence.
Contact: Nicole Dimson RGD, Coordinator
George Brown College
Toronto, ON
Interaction Design and Development Diploma Program
Students enrolled in all three years of the program have Student RGD Memberships.
Join our cutting-edge three-year Interaction Design advanced diploma program and enter the dynamic world of experiential and interactive design. This interdisciplinary field blends design expertise in user experience, interface development, essential coding and artificial intelligence skills. You'll master the art of creating meaningful and engaging experiences across digital platforms such as mobile devices, websites, wearables and social media. Embark on a journey that combines creativity and technology to shape the future of digital and immersive interaction.
Contact: Nastaran Dadashi & Toni Allen, Coordinators
George Brown College
Toronto, ON
Four Year Honours Bachelor of Digital Experience Design
Students enrolled in all four years of the program have Student RGD Memberships.
Embark on a transformative journey with our Honours Bachelor of Digital Experience Design, a four-year degree program that equips you with the skills to create human-centred, socially conscious and economically viable digital solutions. This program covers diverse fields, including service design, user experience design, experiential and interactive design, and artificial intelligence. You'll gain hands-on experience through a co-op and engage with cutting-edge technologies in state-of-the-art facilities on campus. Graduates are prepared to lead in various sectors, ready to tackle future challenges and pursue advanced studies. Join us and shape the future of digital experiences.
Contact: Nastaran Dadashi, Coordinator
George Brown College
Toronto, ON
Four Year Honours Bachelor of Brand Design
Students enrolled in all four years of the program have Student RGD Memberships.
Unlock your potential with the Honours Bachelor of Brand Design, a four-year degree program that equips you with the skills to thrive as a brand designer. Immerse yourself in a dynamic curriculum that emphasizes technical design execution, collaboration, research, strategic thinking and compelling brand storytelling. This program is designed for creative minds eager to shape impactful and innovative brand experiences. Join us to master the art of brand design and set yourself apart in the competitive world of branding.
Contact: Kristine Do, Coordinator
Georgian College
Barrie, ON
Three Year Graphic Design Diploma Program
Students enrolled in all three years of the program have Student RGD Memberships.
This program is designed provide students with an education in the principles and practices of visual communication design. Students learn the skills and knowledge necessary to create effective designs for a wide range of both traditional and digital applications, including branding, editorial, advertising, information design, user interfaces, web and social media, and motion graphics. Throughout the program, students explore a variety of design topics, including layout, typography, composition, colour theory, and production. They develop skills in industry-standard software and tools while working in a hands-on, project-based learning environment. The depth and breadth of instruction in design and technology is reflected in the portfolio developed in this three-year program, preparing students to take on more creative and independent roles once they enter the workplace.
Contact: Tristan Quesnelle RGD, Coordinator
Georgian College
Barrie, ON
Graphic Design Production Diploma Program
Students enrolled in both years of the program have Student RGD Memberships.
This program is designed to provide students with an education in the principles and practices of visual communication design. Students learn the skills and knowledge necessary to create effective designs for a wide range of both traditional and digital applications, including branding, editorial, advertising, information design, user interfaces, web and social media, and motion graphics. Throughout the program, students explore a variety of design topics, including layout, typography, composition, colour theory, and production. They develop skills in industry-standard software and tools while working in a hands-on, project-based learning environment.
Contact: Tristan Quesnelle RGD, Coordinator
Holland College
Charlottetown, PE
Graphic Design Diploma Program
Students enrolled in their second year of the program have Student RGD Memberships.
The Graphic Design program prepares you for the many creative opportunities a career in design can bring. Through exposure to various ideas, projects, and client work, you will be guided and encouraged as you work to build your creative point of view and style. You'll be introduced to creative problem solving, illustration, digital painting, expressive typography, history of graphic design, prepress, UI/UX, print production, web design and project management. You will study the latest software applications that will help bring your ideas to life. We emphasize the establishment of strong visual problem-solving skills.
Contact: April Condon, Graphic Design Instructor
Humber College
Toronto, ON
Bachelor of Design - User Experience Program
Students enrolled in their second, third and fourth year of the program have Student RGD Memberships.
This program focuses on UX design, meeting an increasing demand for designers who are prepared to design for the ways people use technology every day. Blending design thinking with practical UX process and deliverables, the program develops designers who can critically engage with our rapidly changing technological world. This innovative program of interdisciplinary, collaborative and project-based learning prepares students to join the challenging world of design for the experience economy. Courses are developed in collaboration with industry partners to develop advanced capabilities in design tools and methods, communications, user interface design (UI), visual literacy, digital technology, qualitative research, creativity and innovation, interaction design and service design. The program applies evidence-based design and research methods to services and digital projects, including websites, apps, VR/AR/MR, Voice UI and other emerging interfaces. Projects extend across corporate, not-for-profit and civic environments.
Contact: Ahmed (Am) Sagarwala, Associate Dean, Interactive Design
Humber College
Toronto, ON
Graphic Design Diploma Program
Students enrolled in their third (and final) year of the program have Student RGD Memberships.
Humber’s Graphic Design advanced diploma program develops creative and strategic designers who wish to execute a wide range of visual communication strategies through interactive media such as web and screen, user interaction, motion design, and traditional print-based media.
Through a mix of theory and hands-on practical training, you will combine art and design to produce unique visual communication solutions. Our program will allow you to explore creative strategy and design process, typography, editorial and publication design, package design, user experience (UX), user interface (UI), web design, information design, and motion design. Additionally, our program will prepare you for your career through professional practice and entrepreneurship to round-out a comprehensive skillset to attain employment or freelance work.
As part of the interaction and design common platform cluster, you will be trained on industry-based skills, technology, and current design software techniques. Your first semester is shared with the Multimedia Design and Development program. Your exposure to different types of design work and common programming elements will enable you to investigate your options and choose a focus prior to your second year of study.
Contact: Ahmed (Am) Sagarwala, Associate Dean, Interactive Design
Humber College
Toronto, ON
Multimedia Design & Development Diploma Program
Students enrolled in their second (and final) year of the program have Student RGD Memberships.
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.
Contact: Ahmed (Am) Sagarwala, Associate Dean, Interactive Design
Humber College
Toronto, ON
Advertising & Graphic Design Diploma Program
Students enrolled in both years of the program have Student RGD Memberships.
This program is designed to meet industry demand for advertising art directors and graphic designers with solid strategic, visual, conceptual, typographical and technical skills. Classes focus on the study of advertising while emphasizing the development of important skills like creative thinking, problem solving, teamwork and presentation skills. This program will guide you through the many facets of visual communication including colour theory, conceptual process, typography, design, marketing strategies, interactive media and digital technology through the use of industry standard tools. You will also have the unique opportunity to apply these skills on briefs for real clients through NEXT (formerly known as BuildingF), our in-house advertising and communications agency. As you learn fundamental advertising and marketing concepts, hands-on projects will connect you with students in related programs. These projects will help you hone collaborative and teamwork skills, preparing you for the workplace. Your first semester is shared with the Public Relations advanced diploma, Journalism advanced diploma, Advertising and Marketing Communications diploma, and Media Communications diploma programs, giving you the freedom to change your area of study in the second semester. Students enrolling in the program in January will experience four semesters consecutively with a shortened summer break. The common first semesters are with Media Communications and Advertising and Marketing Communications, and students may transfer between these two programs for the second semester should they choose.
Contact: Dr. Moriba Baker, Associate Design, Social Media and Communications
Humber College
Toronto, ON
Interaction Design Media Management - Creative Technologies Program
Students enrolled in the one-year program have Student RGD Memberships.
Are you curious? Are you interested in how technology shapes the ways we live, create and work? Interactive Media Management – Creative Technologies brings together students from diverse academic disciplines to leverage technology for creative outcomes. In this one-year graduate certificate program, you’ll study emerging human-centred technology through multi-disciplinary projects and rapid proof-of-concept prototypes. You’ll develop a solid foundation in innovation theory and ethics, and explore and critique all aspects of experiential technology, including spatial, visual, sound, haptic, intelligence and reason, empathy and simulated features. In your first semester, you’ll collaborate with your professors and classmates to explore a broad range of technologies before focusing your attention on a specific project in your second semester. You’ll build toward a large capstone project, so you are encouraged to enter the program with a major project idea or area of interest that is compatible with the general human-centred technologies explored in the program.
Contact: Ahmed (Am) Sagarwala, Associate Dean, Interactive Design
John Abbott College
Montreal, QC
Graphic & Web Design Program
Students enrolled in their third year of the program have Student RGD Memberships.
Our Graphic & Web Design (GWD) program offers students the opportunity to develop skills in website interface design and integration, graphic design and publication production – skills needed by today’s businesses. In their final semester, students apply the knowledge and skills they have acquired by entering the workplace for a three-week fieldwork placement.
Contact: Belinda Gare, Stage Coordinator, Ian Roger, Co-Chair
LaSalle College Vancouver
Vancouver, BC
Bachelor of Applied Design in Graphic Design Program
Students enrolled in the second and third years of the program have Student RGD Memberships.
Get expert mentorship on industry-current tech and tools. Create a market-ready portfolio. Kickstart your career as a visual storyteller with LaSalle College Vancouver's Bachelor of Applied Design in Graphic Design.
Contact: Sylvia van Ruyan, Program Director
Niagara College
Welland, ON
Graphic Design Diploma Program
Students enrolled in all three years of the program have Student RGD Memberships.
Do you enjoy working with the latest technology to create eye-catching, original designs? As a Graphic Designer, you are an integral part of the communications team who thrives on transforming a concept or idea into an organization’s identity, brand or visual language.
Contact: Jessie Demone, Coordinator
OCAD University
Toronto, ON
Four Year Bachelor of Design (Honours) (BDes) - Graphic Design Program
Students enrolled in all four years of the program have Student RGD Memberships.
In the Graphic Design program, you will learn the process of visual communication. You will learn how to combine images, photography, and text to convey ideas and messages effectively. At OCAD U’s Graphic Design program, you will be equipped with the technical skills you need to succeed in commercial work, while also being encouraged to use graphic design as an art form to challenge barriers and create work for social good. You will learn how graphic design impacts society and generates dialogue, engaging in hands-on training, as well as theory courses that explore design as a form of expression.
Contact: Ali Shamas Qadeer, Associate Professor & Chair, Graphic Design
Sault College
Sault Ste. Marie, ON
Graphic Design (Digital Media) Diploma Program
Students enrolled in both years of the program have Student RGD Memberships.
As part of this program, you’ll discover the outer edge of your creativity while you explore the creative process alongside professional designers - many who are currently working in the field. That means connecting you with the creatives who are in the industry, setting the latest trends in brand development, user experience and design while gaining real-world experience and getting a head start on your epic portfolio. Through your program, you will work with a non-profit agency as a design consultant. You'll create logos, brand strategies, and design creative assets for local organizations to better the community.
Contact: Frank Salituri
St. Lawrence College
Kingston, ON
Graphic Design Diploma Program
Students enrolled in all three years of the program have Student RGD Memberships.
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.
Contact: Erin Boye RGD & Andrea Ruskin RGD, Program Coordinators
University of the Fraser Valley
Abbotsford, BC
Graphic & Digital Design Diploma Program
Students enrolled in both years of the program have Student RGD Memberships.
To prepare you for today's multi-disciplinary creative industry, UFV's Graphic and Digital Design diploma program (GDD) provides a solid foundation in four fields of professional practice: brand identity, graphic/communication design, dynamic media, and interactive design. Students are immersed in design practice through project-based learning in collaborative Mac studio spaces. You’ll build a strong foundation in design process, resourcefulness, and conceptual development, as well as skills in critical thinking, typography, image making, content creation, and industry standard Adobe software.
Contact: Jennifer Deon, Department Head
Vancouver Island University
Nanaimo, BC
Bachelor of Design in Graphic Design Program
Students enrolled in all four years of the program have Student RGD Memberships.
The Graphic Design Program at VIU is a 4-year program leading to a Bachelor’s of Design degree. We start with the fundamentals and advance to the bleeding edge of visual communication and design thinking. We create stuff. Because thats what designers do. You should, too.
Contact: Nancy Page, Chair, Graphic Design
York University
Toronto, ON
Bachelor of Design Program
Students enrolled in their third and fourth year have Student RGD Memberships.
Ready to shape the future of design? York’s Bachelor of Design Honours degree gives you hands-on experience in everything from UX/UI to visual communication and information design. Learn in small classes with access to cutting-edge facilities, like our Fabrication Lab and 24/7 studio spaces. With personalized course options and real-world placements at top companies in Canada and around the world, you’ll build a strong portfolio and connect with industry leaders. Start your journey in a creative, supportive environment where you can explore your passions and build a career in the ever-evolving design world.
