Foundational Courses in Art and Design in Canada

A post-secondary art and design foundation studies program is a preparatory program for a college diploma or degree-level art and design program. It is designed for those high school graduates who wish to study and build careers in fine arts studio, digital animation, game design, interactive digital media, graphic design media and product and industrial design but do not fulfill the admission requirements for these courses.

Typically it is a one-year preparatory course which carefully blends theory and practical and prepares students for university or college-level courses. Most of the times, students who qualify this course are directly accepted into a diploma or degree program at the college. A notable feature of design and art foundation course is that it is carried in a college-like setting and offers a broad-based knowledge of both traditional and digital media.

In order to be eligible for this program, students will need a secondary school diploma certificate or equivalent and required minimum scores in English Grade 12 C or University or equivalent. If they are not able to fulfill English language requirements, they will need to take English skills assessment by the college.

What Do Students Study?

Centennial College’s design and art foundation program covers creativity in context, portfolio development, digital imaging, colour studio, communications, visual culture, visual design fundamentals, drawing, digital art and design studio, time-based art and design and 3D art and design studio.

The art design college opens up doors to new career paths, by helping students obtaining the eligibility for numerous design, animation, fine arts, digital media and game design programs. The diploma earned reflects high learning standards and students can also apply their credits towards a professional arts degree at Athabasca University Canada.

Benefits of an Art and Design Foundation Program

This one year program will help students in:

• Gaining current and practical and hands-on education in design and art-related fields
• Developing a comprehensive portfolio of artwork required for admission to the specialized art and design programs
• Developing creative and practical skills in studio
• Developing a familiarity with digital media, colour theory, 3D art and design and drawing
• Gaining critical basics for a career in art and design
• Exploring various career options associated with art and design courses
• Exploring their specific interests and career goals

Current Status

The foundational studies program in art and design have been a major source of acquiring knowledge in art and design subjects and obtaining eligibility for animation, fine arts and architectural design courses for high school students in Canada. High school graduates can’t directly apply to this program. But an admission to this course is granted as an alternate offer to those who have applied to, but don’t meet admission requirements for diploma or degree programs like Digital Animation, Fine Arts Studio, Game Art and Design and Graphic Design Media.

Centennial’s design and art foundation course has been created by industry leaders. Therefore the education is current and hands-on. Plus students develop the skills that are needed in an evolving workplace.

Why Should You Consider an Art and Design Foundation Program?

Centennial College’s one-year certification program in art and design foundation prepares you for undergraduate programs in products and industrial design, digital animation, fine arts studio, graphic design media, interactive digital media, graphic design media and game design. The program is carried out in a higher education setting, helping you gain eligibility for more advanced programs in art and design.

The program curriculum is fast-paced and helps you develop both the conceptual and practical skills needed for the next level of education. This is a unique blend of traditional and digital art subjects and helps you build critical basics for a career in art and design. You will not only nurture your artistic talents but will also build new creative and practical designing skills. In addition to this, you will:

• Explore education options available in the areas of art and design
• Build fundamentals in visual design
• Develop a familiarity with digital media
• Develop a practical understanding of 3D art and design, colour theory and drawing
• Gain creative and practical skills in studio
• Develop an understanding in time-based art and design
• Build a comprehensive portfolio required to seek admission in college-level art and design programs
• Explore various career paths that art and design programs offer graduates
  
  

The certificate program at Centennial runs through two semesters and covers a wide range of subjects, including creativity in context, colour studio, portfolio development, visual culture, visual design fundamentals, digital imaging, drawing, digital art and design studio, 3D art and design studio and time-based art and design.

The program has been crafted by industry leaders; and thus, it helps you develop skills that are needed in the evolving workplace. It also ensures that you education is current, practical and hands-on. However, you must remember that the curriculum is broadly-based and helps you build art and design fundamentals only.

The college’s Centre for Creative Communications located in Canada’s cultural and artistic centre and thus, offers extensive facilities. Moreover, the art design college also has agreements with other colleges, in order to provide graduates with greater access to specialized programs upon graduation.

Getting into This Program

This program is offered as an alternate to you, if you apply to the college’s graphic design media, game art and design, fine arts studio or digital animation program and do not meet the admission requirements. However, in order to be eligible for admission to this program, you must have completed secondary school education and possess required scores in English Grade 12 C or University. You will need to take college’s English Skills Assessment, in case you don’t meet English language skills requirement.

Why Art and Design Foundation Program?

Game design, interactive digital media, fine arts studio and graphic design media open doors to a wide range of career opportunities. And this design and art foundation course is the first step towards building a rewarding career in this field. as a qualified student, you will be able to seek admission in full-time diploma or degree program in art and design by applying your academic credits at associated colleges, universities or professional institutions.

Art and Design Foundation Studies Offer Groundwork in Traditional and Modern Art Forms

Among the wide array of programs offered at Centennial College is a group of programs called College and University Preparation programs. Students who attend these programs are seeking a pathway to prepare for further post-secondary education at university or college with the college’s small classes, experienced faculty and overview experience.

The Art and Design Foundation Studies is one such offering. It is intended for those who would like to take their artistic talents and hone them in in order to launch creative careers. In fact, at the conclusion of the program, students compile a portfolio and are prepared to apply for programs in Digital Animation, Interactive Digital Media, Fine Arts Studio, Game Design, Graphic Design - Media, and Product & Industrial Design.

To get them fully prepared are two semesters worth of courses that combine traditional and modern art forms such as life drawing and design, digital imaging and interactive design. In large studios based at the Story Arts Centre (Centennial College’s hub for all things creative), students also develop a familiarity with digital media that is complemented with a practical understanding of drawing, colour theory and 3D art and design.

Here is a look at select courses within this art design college program.

Visual Design Fundamentals: Fine arts, design and illustration design basics are all covered in this offering. The class uses projects, written assignments and critiques, to teach students to design original artwork using principles of design, colour, and typography; apply all stages of design process, focusing on research, multiple solution, constructive criticism, and presentation skills; and become experts in issues pertaining to the historical and cultural context of design.

Digital Imaging: Digital imaging is a part of not just photography careers but also many others including journalism and book and magazine publishing. In this course, learn to use the Macintosh operating system and Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator to manipulate images they themselves have produced using films and digital cameras. Successful student will leave the course with a portfolio of imagery.

Digital Art and Design Studio: To understand both the creative potential and practical application of digital media, students apply design fundamentals to computer application, extending their use of image editing, illustration and page layout techniques, web-design and animation and multimedia design. Hands-on experience is provided through teamwork that addresses realistic design and communication problems. Analysis and constructive criticism of design work are also incorporated.

Portfolio Development: Each class in this offering includes a portfolio-building component and in this course students compile all of their portfolios into one. This is then used as a personal development and communication tool. Instruction in this class includes seminars, presentations, interviews and critiques.

Why Should You Consider a Course in Art and Design Foundation Studies?

The one-year program in art and design foundation studies is ideal for students who wish to nurture their artistic talents and build critical basics for careers in art and design. The course offers an invaluable opportunity to explore an array of interactive design, digital media and arts courses, allowing you to develop a familiarity with the diverse career paths that these disciplines have to offer you.

An art and design foundation program is considered as an ideal route of entry for most post-secondary diploma or degree courses, such as life drawing and design, graphic media design, game design, interactive digital media, fine arts studio, digital animation, interactive digital media, product and industrial design, digital imaging, and 3D art and design. This broad-based program covers both traditional and digital media, allowing you to build essential skills before you enter into a more advanced diploma or degree program.

The biggest benefit of the program is that you get to explore all possible art and design disciplines, so that you can make an informed decision about what you want to study and what program you want to take in higher education. It helps you in choosing a course that interests you and will lead you on the right career path.

Who Should Take This Program?

This program makes the right choice for you, if you:

• Wish to accumulate critical knowledge and skills before entering an advanced art and design diploma or degree program
• Want to explore various career options that art and design disciplines have to offer
• Want to gain more clarity about the direction you want to take in higher education
• Want to obtain eligibility for a digital art, graphic media or a life drawing course
• Are looking to create an exciting portfolio of artwork required for admission to specialized programs

What Will You Study?

The program typically runs for one year through two semesters. During the first stage, you acquire familiarity with creativity in context, digital imaging, colour studio, visual design fundamentals, drawing and visual culture, and communications. This is the exploratory phase that introduces you to core elements of art and design courses.

The second phase introduces you to more advanced courses, such as digital art and design studio, time-based art and design and 3D art and design studio. In the second semester, you build critical basics and in different areas of digital art and design.

Where to Study Art and Design Foundation Course in Toronto?

Although numerous Canadian colleges offer foundational courses in art and design but Centennial College’s program ensures that your education is up to date, practical and hands-on. The program has been crafted keeping in mind the suggestions, recommendations and advises by industry leaders and employers. As the workplace is constantly evolving, the students are prepared to work in a dynamic work environment. The art design college also has agreements with other colleges and universities, which provides students with greater access to specialized programs.

Enrollment Guide

You can send your applications to the college along with required supporting, which includes a copy of secondary school diploma certificate and cores in English Grade 12 C or university or equivalent. You must note that you can’t directly apply for this program. You may receive an alternate offer to this program if you apply to, but do not meet the admission requirements for Fine Arts Studio, Game Art and Design, Graphic Design Media or Digital Animation.

Arts and Design Foundation Programs in Canada

Art and Design Foundation Studies is a foundational program that helps you build critical basics for a career in art and design, while allowing you to explore various aspects of the industry and diverse careers it offers. If you are keen in building a career in creative industries or want to hone your artistic talent, this program provides you a perfect start and prepares you for articulated programs or further studies with universities, professional associations and institutions.

The goal of the program is to help you unleash your hidden talent and nurture it, while helping you create a comprehensive portfolio of your artwork required for admission to various arts program. The best part is that it is a multidisciplinary program that covers a wide range of subjects, including digital imaging, drawing, visual design fundamentals, visual culture, colour studio, digital art and design studio, 3D art and design studio and time-based art and design.

Program Highlights

The art and design foundational program

• Is broadly-based and covers both traditional and digital media
• Helps students examine traditional and digital arts and design
• Develops a familiarity with digital media complemented with a practical understanding of 3D art and design, colour theory
• Is a comprehensive and rigorous program which is visual art studio-based
• Helps students gain new creative and practical skills
• Bridges the gap between school education and college requirements for arts and design programs
• Helps become eligible for college-level programs in interactive digital media, digital animation, game design, fine arts studio product and industrial design and graphic design-media
  
  

Program Details

The foundational program in art and design is a post-secondary program which runs for one year through two semesters. It covers a wide selection of subjects ranging from drawing and design to interactive design and digital imaging.

The program combines classroom learning and professional practice, allowing students to put their learning into practice and gain a practical understanding of art and design industry. The focus is on helping students develop a portfolio of artwork required for admission in various art and design courses at the college or university.

Who Can Take This Program?

A program in art and design is the right choice for those who:

• Do not meet eligibility requirements for specialized arts programs at the college
• Need to create an artwork portfolio for applying to college level programs in arts and design
• Need to build essential basics in arts and design to seek admission in the program of their choice
• Want to explore diverse career options that arts and design industry offer
  
  

Eligibility Criteria

Students who have completed their secondary school education are eligible to apply for this program. They need to send their applications with all the supporting required by the college, such as a copy of secondary school diploma certificate and scores of English Grade 12 C or University or equivalent.

Where to Study Arts and Design Foundation in Canada?

Centennial College Toronto offers a one-year post-secondary certificate program in arts and design foundation. The program at the art design college has been crafted by the industry leaders. This means that the program curriculum is current, practical and always hands-on. Furthermore, Centennial College graduates have greater access to specialized programs due to college’s increasing number of agreements with other colleges.

Art and Design Foundation Studies Launches Creative Educations and Careers

A love of the arts, a passion for creativity, an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, or mature student status (19 years or older); and Grade 12 English C or U, or equivalent (minimum grade required) or the willingness to take the Centennial College English Skills Assessment for Admission are all you need to hone your artistic abilities at Centennial College.

The Art and Design Foundation Studies program is designed for students who wish to prepare themselves for specialized arts-based programs (Animation, Interactive Digital Media, Fine Arts Studio, Game Design, Graphic Design-Media, and Product & Industrial Design) by developing their portfolios and creative knowledge.

This is achieved through a range of courses that balance traditional and digital art and media. As such, students develop a familiarity with digital media that is complemented with a practical understanding of drawing, colour theory and 3D art and design. In large studios and fully-equipped computer labs, students attend 15 art design college courses. Among these courses are:

Digital Imaging: In this course, students are introduced to creative photography as it is applied to digital imaging. Not only do student use both film and digital cameras to shoot but they also edit and manipulate images using the Macintosh operating system and Adobe Photoshop. There is also an introduction to incorporating images within Adobe Illustrator.

Colour Studio: To examine the practice and theory of colour, this course uses a workshop/studio approach. It consists of exercises and assignments that ultimately create a portfolio of artwork that demonstrates students’ artistic competencies and skills.

Drawing 1 and 2: The first of the two courses introduces students to drawing from the human figure. As such, they develop drawing skills in a number of media and learn to apply traditional freehand drawing techniques. Students also become familiar with figure drawing as a contemporary and historical discipline. Drawing on what they have learned in the first course, in the second course student focus shifts to design. It includes perspective drawing, illustration and basic rendering.

Digital Art and Design Studio: Design fundamentals make up this course and are applied to extend students’ use of image editing, illustration and page layout techniques. Introduction to web-design and animation and multimedia design is part of this course. Part of the hands-on application sees students team up with their peers to address realistic design and communication problems through in-class assignments.

Visual Design Fundamentals: Fine arts, design and illustration fundamentals meet in this course. As do hands-on projects, written assignments and critiques in order for students to design original artwork using principles of design, colour, and typography. Students apply all stages of design process, and focus on research, multiple solution, constructive criticism, and presentation skills.

Design Foundations program develops student’s creative skills and art portfolio

Start your artistic endeavors by honing your skills and learning about new media and technologies in the creative field. An art design college in Toronto is ideal for learners who want to design a career with wide opportunities, giving them a chance to explore their creativity and apply them in practical settings. Centennial College created a balanced curriculum in its Art and Design Foundation Studies (6409) program, where students are taught traditional and digital art techniques while applying them in realistic projects.

Animation, gaming, graphic design, photojournalism, art curation, and other areas in art all start with art and design foundations. Students enrolled in the Art and Design Foundation Studies program learn art history and theory as well as a series of techniques in different media. Students can pursue a wide list of careers in various industries, such as Design Leads, Video Games Engineers, and Content Specialists.

The one-year program helps students to develop and enhance their artistic skills while earning a college certificate. Program highlights include the following learning experiences:

• Design fundamentals will be applied to computer-based projects, involving the use of image editing, and illustration and page layout techniques.
• Students will learn the creation of art, as well as accepting and forming critiques. Additionally, the will learn to express the meaning of their art work and conduct presentations.
• By the end of the program, each student will have a full art portfolio to show potential employers. The portfolio can also be used to apply for a specialized art program. It will include different drawing techniques and digital design work.
  
  

Interested applicants can enroll in the program meeting eligibility and admission requirements. Here is what they are required to have:

• Prospective students must acquire a copy of their secondary diploma and grade transcripts, or a high school diploma equivalent. Students, who are 19 years or older, may be eligible to directly apply once mature student status is accepted.
• From the high school transcripts, a minimum grade in Grade 12 English, college or university level, is required.
• A skills assessment test may be required, which examines various areas of English.
• Attendance in the Art and Design Foundation Admission session is highly recommended. Information regarding the session will be mailed after the completion of their program application.
• Students must have a creative flair. Drawing or computer skills may be a work in progress as this program will help them develop these skills.
• A mobile computing device, such as a laptop or tablet, may be required. Students will get specific details to new students before they register for courses.
  
  

Art and Design Foundation students will graduate with the artistic competencies to continue their career path as skilled individuals, and be able to pursue opportunities in different areas. The design foundation from Centennial’s program provides an important basis of any work in the arts field, but also in job positions requiring creativity and design principles. Students who wish to continue their schooling can transfer their credits to one of Centennial’s university partners or easily be accepted in its art programs, such as Game Art and Design, Digital Animation, and Graphic Design Media.