Bachelor of Design (Honours)
Program details
Credential: 4-Year Bachelor of Design (Honours)This unique four-year Bachelor degree program prepares graduates with both the creative and visual acuity, and the knowledge of business strategy that are necessary to create design solutions for today's market needs.
The inter-professional perspective blends graphic design, entrepreneurship, marketing and management. As a comprehensive design program, students take courses in typography, visual design, colour theory, design studio, drawing and illustration, photography, interactive design, as well as branding, marketing, business management, writing and presentation skills, and group dynamics.
Students develop the business acumen needed to manage issues, plan events, develop campaigns and lead communication projects in areas such as employee communication, media relations, investor relations, marketing communication and other specialized communication functions in corporate, not-for-profit and agency environments.
The program employs a project-based learning approach that addresses design and entrepreneurship skills, as well as a variety of emerging issues including accessibility, sustainability, and corporate and social responsibility through dynamic studio projects for both in-class and live clients.
Graduates are well-prepared for positions involving design research, conceptual development, design implementation, and strategy and management.
Student availability & wage data
Conestoga College facilitates recruitment on an ongoing basis - there are no hard deadlines. Typical time frames for work terms are listed below.
Postings are accepted beginning four months before the start of a term until all students have secured employment provided the minimum 12 consecutive weeks of full-time work is met.
Work/Study Sequence
| Year | Fall (Sept - Dec) | Winter (Jan - Apr) | Spring (May - Aug) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | Classes | Classes | |
| Year 2 | Classes | Classes | |
| Year 3 | Classes | Classes | Work Term 1: $17.20-30 |
| Year 4 | Work Term 2: $17.20-36 | Classes | Classes |
Conestoga College collects data on hourly wages of co-operative education students and offers suggested ranges as a service to employers for the purpose of establishing fair and competitive compensation.
Our experience has been that employers increase wages as skills increase, particularly when employing students for more advanced work terms. The Co-operative Education Office can provide assistance to employers in establishing appropriate wage rates.
Work term capabilities
Work terms 1 and 2
- Prepare effective and persuasive communications through written, oral, and visual media in the development of research reports, rationales, final design projects and presentations
- Apply professional, ethical and legal codes of practice and comply with labour and environmental legislation
- Integrate marketing, advertising, consumer research, universal design principles, environmental sensitivity and sustainability into the development of visual design solutions
- Communicate and collaborate effectively as a team member or leader, with other team members, clients, employers, and other visual design service practitioners through the application of principles of human relations and organizational behaviour
- Assess cultural diversity in the development and execution of design solutions
- Create plans for lifelong learning, professional development, and the maintenance of technological currency
- Utilize critical thinking skills in the development of research, design elements, strategies, and techniques for design problems and projects
- Evaluate information and content through the use of research techniques in all aspects of design exploration, development, and execution
- Develop and present effective and professional visual design solutions based upon clients' needs and parameters
- Discuss the theoretical, historical and cultural context within which contemporary graphic design has developed
- Apply financial, entrepreneurial and business management principles and practices in the development and operation of visual design services and projects
- Select appropriate media, both traditional and emergent, and interaction methods for design projects
- Plan and implement design solutions that meet industry production and workflow practices within budget and time-frame goals
- Design a portfolio of creative visual, written, and interactive elements
Sample job titles
- Graphic Designer
- Visual Designer
- Creative Services Assistant
- Studio/Project Coordinator
- Multi-Disciplinary Designer
- User Experience (UX) Designer
- Interaction Designer
- Product Designer
- Junior Designer
Program courses
To see a typical course list for this program, see the current program course information.
Post a co-op job now
Setup an account or login to Conestoga's MyCareer to post a job.
Contact information
Do you need help developing a recruitment plan or job posting, accessing wage information, or connecting with a talented co-op student? Contact:
Bailey Binns-Franchetto
Employer Relations Consultant
bbinnsfranchetto@conestogac.on.ca
226-988-0718