A Timeline for Grade 11 Students

Open the calendar app on your phone or grab that trusty agenda or notebook! It’s time to schedule essential dates and reminders that happen at the same time every year.

Graduating High School?

Your Future Starts Here! Discover how the Graphic Design program at Algonquin College can spark your creative future. There are myriad reasons for starting your creative future at Algonquin College’s Graphic Design program. These are a few of them.

Need for Numbers?

Think college isn’t worth it? The numbers might change your mind. You’ve probably heard the arguments against going to college: the cost, the time commitment, the uncertainty about your future. But here’s what the data actually shows.

Design Is For You

  • If you think visually, creatively and conceptually
  • If you enjoy solving visual communication problems
  • If you enjoy sketching, drawing and using computers
  • If you enjoy working with text and images to communicate ideas
  • If you are detail-oriented, organized and committed to coming up with the perfect design solution

Program Highlights

  • Students complete over 1700 hours of design and production work throughout the program
  • Low student-to-teacher ratio ensuring one-on-one time with professors
  • Program concentrates on practical application of design with an enriching theoretical background
  • Graduates enter the design field in a variety of different job opportunities

Career Opportunities

  • Creative Director
  • Art Director
  • Graphic Designer
  • Brand Developer
  • Illustrator
  • Web Designer
  • Interaction Designer
  • Mobile App Designer
  • Motion Graphics Designer
  • Freelance Designer

98% Student Satisfaction Rate

In 2019, when Graphic Design Program students were asked, “Is your program is giving you knowledge and skills that will be useful in your future career?” — 98% agreed.

—KPI Student Satisfaction Capstone Question

Concerned about A.I.?

Fieldwork

Mentorship is a crucial factor in the professional development of a junior graphic designer. For this purpose, students are coached to market themselves as valued candidates for positions in industry by presenting their portfolios in an interview scenario. The goal of this activity is for students to secure a position for their six-week internship where they will be mentored by professional designers working on real-world client projects.

Read About Fieldwork

Graduate Showcases

Our grads host a yearly public exhibition to share their work with family, friends & industry professionals.

Astro

Astro — 2026

Horticulture Building
1525 Princess Patricia Way, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5J3
Learn more ➜
  1. Brand GraphicKaleido 2025
  2. Brand GraphicZenith 2024
  3. Brand GraphicGen. A 2021
  4. Brand GraphicPathfinder 2019

Fantastic Student Designs

See a selection of our students’ amazing graphic design work.

Isometric illustration Beverage Label Design Double Exposure Route Environmental Design Flora's Door Menu SAAS Website

Featuring the Motion Graphics reel of the grads of 2025

Our Curriculum

Our ever-evolving courses keep our students employable by targeting the forefront of the graphic design industry.

  • Branding

  • Design memorable brands through research, iteration & implementation.

  • Typography

  • Learn to communicate visually with text, grids & alignment.

  • Computer Graphics

  • Create captivating graphics & layouts for the page and the screen.

  • Web Development

  • Author hand-crafted code to build sites for the Open Web.

  • Theory & History

  • Explore colour & design history to help fully express your ideas.

  • Business

  • Gain the knowledge to confidently navigate the real-world business of design.

  • Fieldwork

  • Experience the design studio environment during a six-week internship.
Explore our courses

Our Faculty

We are passionate design professionals, dedicated to imparting an industry-relevant, current & varied curriculum to eager budding designers.

  • David Bromley

    David Bromley, A.R.G.D.

    Coordinator & Professor

    Theory & branding

  • Alain Paradis

    Alain Paradis, M.A., R.G.D

    Coordinator & Professor

    Layout & Business

  • Andrea Emery

    Andrea Emery, R.G.D.

    Professor

    Typography & sketching

  • Wendy Warren

    Wendy Warren,

    Professor

    Code & problem solving

  • Angie Fahlman

    Angie Fahlman, M.A., R.G.D.

    Professor

    User Experience Design

Many more amazing practicing designers from the Ottawa community contribute their time, knowledge & expertise to help our students.

RGD Ontario

Through RGD, Canadian designers exchange ideas, educate and inspire, set professional standards and build a strong, supportive community dedicated to advocating for the value of design.

Learn more ➜

Portfolio Requirements

To be accepted into the Algonquin Design program you’ll have to submit a portfolio for faculty review.

Submit 10–15 of your best pieces which demonstrate creativity, neatness, and concept development through sketching.

Do you have questions before submitting your portfolio? Ask Alain

See the submission requirements

I’m Interested!

If you’re excited by graphic design, apply now!

Do you have questions before signing up? Ask Alain

Apply now ➜