Art and Design Foundation Studies Help Students Hone in Their Skills

Whether you are a student wanting to nurture your artistic talents and build new creative and practical skills to enter a specialized program in the School of Communications or Design or a professional looking to switch careers, Centennial College’s Design Foundation Studies is the program for you. “I had worked as a professional photographer for many years and wanted to expand my art experiences and theory,” says 2009 graduate Carol Rooney on her reason for taking the offering. “This program gave me hands-on exposure to all forms and levels of visual art and there was step-by-step encouragement and support from the staff and faculty throughout. The guidance in creating an exciting new portfolio and career path were invaluable skills. The knowledge I’ve taken away with me has opened up new possibilities in my job choices.”

So what exactly is this accelerated visual art studio-based program all about? Essentially, it is a stepping-stone to further education as it balances traditional and digital art lessons that familiarize students with the critical basics for a career in art and design. In fact, after completion of the two-semester’s worth of courses, students have two options. First, they are prepared for Centennial College programs such as Digital Animation, Interactive Digital Media, Fine Arts Studio, Game Design, Graphic Design-Media, and Product & Industrial Design. Secondly, they may use the credits they earn to participate in an articulated program with selected universities, institutes and professional associations. The programs educational partner is Athabasca University, where students may earn a professional arts degree.

Crafted by industry leaders, the foundation arts program is based on tips from employers who told Centennial College the skills they are looking for in the ever-evolving art and design fields. This ensures that the courses students attend are up-to-date and the hands-on practice is relevant. Because the program is broadly based, it includes traditional and digital media courses such as: Digital Imaging, Color Studio, Drawing, Time-Based Art & Design, 3D Art & Design Studio, Visual Culture and many others.

The art design college program is housed at Centennial College’s Centre for Creative Communications. It offers extensive facilities, including large arts studios and computer labs that are fully equipped with software that is relevant to art and design studies. These facilities guarantee that students graduate with much hands-on practice and, as a result, create a comprehensive portfolio of artwork required for admission to specialized arts programs.

To apply for the offering, students are required to have completed an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, or mature student status (19 years or older) as well as Grade 12 English C or U, or equivalent (minimum grade required) or take the Centennial College English Skills Assessment for Admission.