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The Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology Advanced Diploma in Graphic Design
The Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology

The Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology

Advanced Diploma in Graphic Design

Ottawa, Canada

Advanced Diploma

3 years

English

Full time

Sep 2026

On-Campus

Key Summary

    About: The Advanced Diploma in Graphic Design offers a comprehensive exploration of design principles, digital media, and visual storytelling skills. You'll engage in practical projects that enhance your creativity and technical abilities, preparing you for industry demands. The course emphasizes both software proficiency and conceptual thinking in design.
    Career Outcomes: Graduates can pursue various roles, including graphic designer, art director, creative director, and positions in advertising and marketing. This diploma also prepares you for freelance opportunities in the design field.

Applying your creativity to shape a career communicating ideas and concepts.

The three-year Graphic Design Ontario College Advanced Diploma program helps you apply your creativity to communicating ideas and concepts in both print and interactive media.

Using a combination of theoretical and hands-on learning, you gain skills in design, typography, image, color, coding, motion graphics, interaction, and production from industry-connected faculty. You learn to be a problem-solver who can manage and execute visual design projects.

Whether learning design for the page or for the screen, you study industry-endorsed concepts and techniques. You also become an expert at communicating ideas to a client through:

  • Sketches
  • Prototypes
  • Storyboards
  • Interactive mock-ups

There is a strong focus on hands-on training, using industry-standard software tools, which will ensure you are career-ready upon graduation. Field trips and actual client projects are offered to bring the workplace into the classroom.

From your second year on, you become a student member of the Registered Graphic Designers of Ontario. In your final semester, you embark on a six-week fieldwork placement that transitions you to industry. You work side-by-side with experienced professionals and gain networking contacts.