Cambrian’s award-winning Graphic Design faculty will challenge you through course work and diverse, real-world projects to help you develop your creative talents and become a professional visual communication designer. The Graphic Design curriculum is career-focused and rigorous, with attention given to both traditional skills and new technologies. In addition, you will develop skills in critical thinking, creativity and concept driven work, allowing you to be agile in the evolving and demanding industry of professional communication.

Using current industry software in the College's state-of-the-art graphic design labs, you will learn how to creatively develop ideas and manipulate space, type, images, and colour to take your work from concept sketch to strategically-designed printed, web-based, or digital form. Projects provide you with applied experience in branding, identity (logos & trademarks) and environmental design, website design/development, print- and package-production, advertising design, illustration, photography, typography and much more. 

You’ll also graduate with a professional-grade portfolio that will be invaluable as you meet with potential employers and/or freelance clients.

Program Highlights

• 3 years – 6 semesters
• 5-week placement in fifth semester
• Multiple opportunities for paid design-related work through our close relationship with Cambrian's Research and Development
• Strong focus on digital design, including web design, UI design, and mobile application design 
• Annual three-day field trip to attend the DesignThinkers Conference in Toronto and a comprehensive Studio Tour
• Students are automatically registered as student members of the Registered Graphic Designers of Ontario (RGD Ontario) and can participate in professional seminars, studio tours, and networking events
• Access to a variety of classrooms and labs along with the industry standard technology and software, including:
• Multiple iMac studios featuring 27” iMac computers, running Mac OSX and Adobe Creative Cloud, and an extensive Font Library 
• Professional photo and video studio with boom lighting
• Full fine-art studio with student lounge and natural lighting 

4D Learning Opportunities
Students will have opportunities to work directly with practising professionals and community clients. These opportunities are provided through Work Placement and Cambrian R&D and are based on the student's ability to demonstrate professionalism and performance. 

Students will have the opportunity to participate in Portfolio Review Day. Each student can discuss their portfolio with practicing professionals. This highly efficient review allows each student to get ample feedback for improving their portfolio, prior to graduating and their employment search. 

A fifth-semester work placement allows students to work side-by-side with industry professionals. Students are encouraged to seek out industry leaders. Graduates have been accepted to work placement opportunities in Amsterdam, Chicago, Toronto, Victoria, and many other competitive locations around the world. Many graduates have been offered full-time work at the host organization, after they graduate.

Each year, students will have the opportunity to join their classmates and teachers on a trip to Toronto to attend the RGD DesignThinkers conference (please note: students are responsible for covering costs of accommodation).

Sustainability Initiatives – Students have the opportunity to participate in various environmental activities that support the program’s dedication to sustainable design education, such as the annual tree planting excursion that to date added over 14,000 trees to Sudbury to help offset the carbon footprint of the graphic design program.

Throughout the year, students will be able to participate is a variety of extra-curricular events hosted by the Sudbury Design Society and The Association of Registered Graphic Designers.These events range from Sudbury & Toronto Studio Tours, Webinars, Design-a-thons, and many other networking/learning opportunities.