The work of illustrators can be seen in many places including magazines, books, newspapers, advertisements, packaging, posters, graphic novels and more. In this program, you’ll be encouraged to find and express your individual artistic voice and to create artwork that communicates to a broad audience. You will work closely with faculty and practicing illustrators who work with traditional and digital techniques. At the end of the program, you will have the business skills required to work within a variety of professional settings and with clients as an independent freelancer.
Program Highlights
At the End of this Program...
At the end of this four-year program, you will earn a Bachelor of Design (BDes) degree.
Admissions Requirements
- For Ontario high school students, a minimum overall average of 70%
- Portfolio
- Statement of Intent
- Official transcripts
- See detailed academic requirements here
Jobs You Can Get
Graduates of the program work at:
- Publishing companies
- Advertising and graphic design firms
- Digital studios
- Community organizations
- Freelance illustration
- Fine art practice
Internships & Experiential learning
OCAD U offers so much more than co-ops because creative careers take many forms. Our career services help you build a professional community, valuable experience and skills you need for a meaningful career. Get access to:
- Short experiential learning placements from among hundreds of organizations
- Creative in-class projects with real-world industry partners
- Exclusive summer internships
- Gallery exhibitions of your work
- Freelance creative opportunities
- Jobs after graduation
What You'll Do in the Program
In first year, you’ll take intro classes in topics such as:
- Observational drawing
- Design principles
- Illustrative concepts
- Observational painting
- Art and design history
In second year, in addition to your required courses you can study topics such as:
- Graphic design for illustration
- Human form and function: anatomy
- Graphic design history
- Media studio: digital
Third year will feature more advanced courses, and open electives such as:
- Graphic novel illustration
- Book illustration
- Storyboarding
- Concept art
- Animated illustration
In fourth year, you'll have the opportunity to complete a year-long thesis project, developing an original portfolio designed for self-promotion.
You can showcase your work at GradEx - OCAD U’s Graduate Exhibition, the biggest free art and design exhibition in Toronto with more than 40,000 visitors.
Minors
In all undergraduate programs, you can choose a minor to go along with your major. A minor gives you the opportunity to pursue a focused secondary field, helping you expand your practice, skills and knowledge. They can make you stand out to employers, graduate schools, or in grant applications by showing expertise in more than one field.
You don’t need to choose a minor on your application; once you start at OCAD U, you can choose from over 90 electives to build towards one of our 25 focused minors. Learn more about Minor Programs here.
Take the Next Step
