Pursue Undergraduate Program in

Design

Define tomorrow’s design strategies while training at the intersection of information design, human-computer interaction and computation. You will learn to manage and communicate complex information through an interdisciplinary curriculum for meaningful human experiences in our increasingly visual world. Experience small class sizes, state-of-the-art facilities and placements with leading design firms, technology start-ups and cultural institutions like Facebook, Google, IBM, and more. 

The AMPD Advantage: 

  • Small class size promotes a personalized studio learning experience. 
  • Award-winning reputation with top employers like Facebook, Google, IBM, and Yelp, seeking AMPD design students for internships and new graduate employment.  
  • A global network of alumni leading the industry in companies like Shopify, Airbnb, Uber, LinkedIn, Wikimedia, Bruce Mau Design, IDEO, The New York Times Magazine, The Toronto Star, and Pentagram. 

Program Overview  

The Design (BDes) program provides a comprehensive design education. After completing a two-year common core, students can concentrate on one of three pathways: (1) Interaction Design (UX/Ul); (2) Information Design; (3) Visual Communication Design; or create a personalized blend. The curriculum is further enhanced by design history, theory, and criticism courses.   

Interaction Design (UX/Ul) Stream 

The Interaction Design stream is for students excited to explore a human-centred and systems thinking approach to design physical, digital and mixed reality interfaces. They will learn to use design processes to discover the connections between people, objects, technologies, and environments.   

Through hands-on creation, students will design and evaluate engaging user experiences (UX) and user interactions (UI) for mobile applications, tangible products, and digital services. Students graduate with the skills to investigate and apply speculative design as a cultural practice to design for future societal implications.  

Information Design Stream 

Discover how information design makes data meaningful, visualizes processes, reveals connections and enhances user understanding with Information Design. Students will graduate with the in-demand knowledge of applying data visualization as a powerful tool to increase audience understanding in an increasingly data-driven world. Students will also develop interpretive expertise and experiment with conceptual approaches to data-driven design. 

Visual Communication Design Stream 

Students in the Visual Communication Design stream will create branding systems, signage, packaging, magazine and book designs, and motion graphics. The program encourages exploration of how meaning is shaped and interpreted with text, images, and symbols. The curriculum engages new techniques and experiments with methods of image-making, 2D composition, aesthetics, and typography. Graduates will enter the industry prepared to develop new graphic forms and visual systems that communicate to audiences.  


Program Details


Offered By

School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design

Degrees Offered

BDes

Fall Entry

First year only

Winter Entry

No

Summer Entry

No

Ways to Study

Full-Time

Possible Career Paths

  • UI/UX designer
  • graphic designer
  • usability researcher
  • information design specialist
  • product designer
  • creative director
Explore what you can do with your degree
School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design

BDes

Requirements for admission:
  • Alberta High School Diploma
  • ELA30-1 or English 30
  • And four additional academic courses numbered 30 or 31
    • A supplementary evaluation is required after you apply for admission. Submit the online component by February 3, 2021 for guaranteed consideration to the program.
    • To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the mid-80s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 75.
      School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design

      BDes

      Requirements for admission:
    • British Columbia Secondary School Graduation Diploma
    • English 12 or English 12 First Peoples
    • And four additional Grade 12 Academic subjects
      • A supplementary evaluation is required after you apply for admission. Submit the online component by February 3, 2021 for guaranteed consideration to the program.
      • To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the mid-80s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 75.
        School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design

        BDes

        Requirements for admission:
      • Baccalauréat Général
        • A supplementary evaluation is required after you apply for admission. Submit the online component by February 3, 2021 for guaranteed consideration to the program.
          • A maximum of 30 possible transferable credits may be granted for successful completion of the Baccalauréat Général. Please click here, then click “Transfer Credit Requirements” for details.
          To gain admission to this program, the Baccalauréat Général with a minimum overall score of 14 is required.To gain admission to this program, the Baccalauréat Général with a minimum overall score of 14 is required.
          The overall average required for admission is determined each year on a program specific basis. Some programs have limited enrolment. Admission is not guaranteed, and all requirements are subject to change.
          School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design

          BDes

          Requirements for admission:
        • Successful completion of the final year of senior studies
          • Minimum overall result of “Bien/Buena/Bueno/Good” on all academic courses.
          • Some programs require a higher GPA.
          • A supplementary evaluation is required after you apply for admission. Submit the online component by February 3, 2021 for guaranteed consideration to the program.
          • School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design

            BDes

            Requirements for admission:
          • Diploma with a total of at least six units, including prerequisites, and grades of 1, 2 or 3 in each unit.
            • A minimum overall average of 3 out of 7 is required. Higher grades required for certain programs.
            • A supplementary evaluation is required after you apply for admission. Submit the online component by February 3, 2021 for guaranteed consideration to the program.
              • CAPE 2-unit courses, with results of 3 or better, are eligible for transfer credit, up to a maximum of 18 credits. Please click here, then click “Transfer Credit Requirements” for details.
              School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design

              BDes

              Requirements for admission:
            • One year of CEGEP
            • 2 semesters of English (code 603) / Français (code 601)
            • And ten additional academic courses (high-school equivalent courses not accepted)
              • A supplementary evaluation is required after you apply for admission. Submit the online component by February 3, 2021 for guaranteed consideration to the program.
                • Extra courses will be assessed for transfer credit. Applicants with the DEC may be awarded up to one full year of transfer credit.
                To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the mid-80s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 75.
                School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design

                BDes

                Requirements for admission:
              • Senior Secondary School Graduation Certificate
                • A supplementary evaluation is required after you apply for admission. Submit the online component by February 3, 2021 for guaranteed consideration to the program.
                • To gain admission to this program, successful completion of the final year of Senior 3/Grade 12 level of study with a minimum overall average of 85% on all academic courses.To gain admission to this program, successful completion of the final year of Senior 3/Grade 12 level of study with a minimum overall average of 85% on all academic courses.
                  The overall average required for admission is determined each year on a program specific basis. Some programs have limited enrolment. Admission is not guaranteed, and all requirements are subject to change.
                  School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design

                  BDes

                  Requirements for admission:
                • Lise Diplomasi
                  • A supplementary evaluation is required after you apply for admission. Submit the online component by February 3, 2021 for guaranteed consideration to the program.
                  • To gain admission to this program, minimum 4.5 or 80% average is required in the final year of senior studies.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires minimum 4.5 or 80% average in the final year of senior studies.
                    The overall average required for admission is determined each year on a program specific basis. Some programs have limited enrolment. Admission is not guaranteed, and all requirements are subject to change.
                    School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design

                    BDes

                    Requirements for admission:
                  • General Certificate of Education (GCE) Examinations
                    • A supplementary evaluation is required after you apply for admission. Submit the online component by February 3, 2021 for guaranteed consideration to the program.
                      • GCE A2 examinations with results of "C" or better, are eligible for transfer credit, up to a maximum of 18 credits. Please click here, then click “Transfer Credit Requirements” for details.
                      To gain admission to this program, minimum average of B is required.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of B.
                      The overall average required for admission is determined each year on a program specific basis. Some programs have limited enrolment. Admission is not guaranteed, and all requirements are subject to change.
                      School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design

                      BDes

                      Requirements for admission:
                    • Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE)
                      • A supplementary evaluation is required after you apply for admission. Submit the online component by February 3, 2021 for guaranteed consideration to the program.
                      • To gain admission to this program, successful completion of the Twelfth Year of senior studies with a minimum overall average of 4.5/5.0 required. To gain admission to this program, successful completion of the Twelfth Year of senior studies with a minimum overall average of 4.5/5.0 required.
                        The overall average required for admission is determined each year on a program specific basis. Some programs have limited enrolment. Admission is not guaranteed, and all requirements are subject to change.
                        School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design

                        BDes

                        Requirements for admission:
                      • International Baccalaureate Diploma
                        • IB Diploma with passes in six subjects: three passes at the Standard-level and three passes at the Higher-level, or two passes at the Standard-level and four passes at the Higher-level
                        • A supplementary evaluation is required after you apply for admission. Submit the online component by February 3, 2021 for guaranteed consideration to the program.
                          • Transfer credit is granted for IB courses with Higher-level final grades of 5 or better, to a maximum of 30 credits. Please click here, then click “Transfer Credit Requirements” for details.
                          To gain admission to this program, minimum IB diploma point scores of 30 is required.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires minimum IB diploma point scores of 30.
                          The overall average required for admission is determined each year on a program specific basis. Some programs have limited enrolment. Admission is not guaranteed, and all requirements are subject to change.
                          School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design

                          BDes

                          Requirements for admission:
                        • Completion of one of the following:
                          • All-India Senior School Certificate (AISSCE)
                          • Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC)
                          • Indian School Certificate (ISC)
                          • Intermediate Examination Certificate
                          • Pre-University Examination Certificate
                          • A supplementary evaluation is required after you apply for admission. Submit the online component by February 3, 2021 for guaranteed consideration to the program.
                          • To gain admission to this program, minimum 70% average in XII is required.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires minimum 70% average in XII.
                            The overall average required for admission is determined each year on a program specific basis. Some programs have limited enrolment. Admission is not guaranteed, and all requirements are subject to change.
                            School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design

                            BDes

                            Requirements for admission:
                          • Manitoba High School Diploma
                          • English 40S
                          • And four additional 40S level academic subjects (no more than one at the 40G level)
                            • A supplementary evaluation is required after you apply for admission. Submit the online component by February 3, 2021 for guaranteed consideration to the program.
                            • To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the mid-80s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 75.
                              School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design

                              BDes

                              Requirements for admission:
                            • New Brunswick High School Graduation Diploma
                            • English 120, 121 or 122
                            • And five additional Grade 12 academic subjects (college preparatory 120, 121 or 122)
                              • A supplementary evaluation is required after you apply for admission. Submit the online component by February 3, 2021 for guaranteed consideration to the program.
                              • To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the mid-80s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 75.
                                School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design

                                BDes

                                Requirements for admission:
                              • Newfoundland and Labrador High School Graduation Diploma
                              • English 3201
                              • And nine additional credits at the 3000 level
                                • A supplementary evaluation is required after you apply for admission. Submit the online component by February 3, 2021 for guaranteed consideration to the program.
                                • To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the mid-80s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 75.
                                  School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design

                                  BDes

                                  Requirements for admission:
                                • Nova Scotia High School Graduation Diploma
                                • English 12
                                • And four additional Grade 12 academic subjects (university preparatory academic or advanced)
                                  • A supplementary evaluation is required after you apply for admission. Submit the online component by February 3, 2021 for guaranteed consideration to the program.
                                  • To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the mid-80s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 75.
                                    School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design

                                    BDes

                                    Requirements for admission:
                                  • Nunavut High School Graduation Diploma
                                  • ELA30-1 or English 30
                                  • And four additional academic courses numbered 30 or 31
                                    • A supplementary evaluation is required after you apply for admission. Submit the online component by February 3, 2021 for guaranteed consideration to the program.
                                    • To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the mid-80s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 75.
                                      School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design

                                      BDes

                                      Requirements for admission:
                                    • Northwest Territories High School Graduation Diploma
                                    • ELA30-1 or English 30
                                    • And four additional academic courses numbered 30 or 31
                                      • A supplementary evaluation is required after you apply for admission. Submit the online component by February 3, 2021 for guaranteed consideration to the program.
                                      • To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the mid-80s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 75.
                                        School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design

                                        BDes

                                        Requirements for admission:
                                      • Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)
                                      • ENG4U
                                      • And five additional 4U or M courses
                                        • A supplementary evaluation is required after you apply for admission. Submit the online component by February 3, 2021 for guaranteed consideration to the program.
                                        • To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the mid-80s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 75.
                                          OUAC code YD
                                          School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design

                                          BDes

                                          Requirements for admission:
                                        • Completion of a diploma program or at least two full semesters or one year of full-time academic study at an accredited college
                                        • Overall average of 3.3 or better on a 4-point scale (or equivalent)
                                        • A supplementary evaluation is required after you apply for admission. Submit the online component by June 15, 2021 for guaranteed consideration to the program.
                                        • School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design

                                          BDes

                                          To be considered a mature student, you must:
                                        • be at least 20 years old by the end of the calendar year of admission to the University;
                                        • have been out of full-time high school studies for at least two years; and
                                        • have attempted less than one full year of studies at an accredited college or university.
                                        • A supplementary evaluation is required after you apply for admission. Submit the online component by June 15, 2021 for guaranteed consideration to the program.
                                        • School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design

                                          BDes

                                          Requirements for admission:
                                        • Completion of at least four full-year courses or one year of full-time degree studies at an accredited university
                                        • Overall average of 3.3 or better on a 4-point scale (or equivalent)
                                        • A supplementary evaluation is required after you apply for admission. Submit the online component by June 15, 2021 for guaranteed consideration to the program.
                                        • School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design

                                          BDes

                                          Requirements for admission:
                                        • Prince Edward Island Senior Secondary School Diploma
                                        • English 621
                                        • And four additional Grade 12 academic subjects (numbered 611 or 621)
                                          • A supplementary evaluation is required after you apply for admission. Submit the online component by February 3, 2021 for guaranteed consideration to the program.
                                          • To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the mid-80s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 75.
                                            School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design

                                            BDes

                                            Requirements for admission:
                                          • Quebec Grade 12 Certificate of Graduation
                                          • Grade 12 English
                                          • And five additional academic (university preparation level) subjects
                                            • A supplementary evaluation is required after you apply for admission. Submit the online component by February 3, 2021 for guaranteed consideration to the program.
                                            • To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the mid-80s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 75.
                                              School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design

                                              BDes

                                              Requirements for admission:
                                            • Transcript of Secondary Level Achievement
                                            • English A30 and English B30
                                            • And three additional Grade 12 academic subjects numbered 30
                                              • A supplementary evaluation is required after you apply for admission. Submit the online component by February 3, 2021 for guaranteed consideration to the program.
                                              • To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the mid-80s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 75.
                                                School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design

                                                BDes

                                                Requirements for admission:
                                              • General Secondary Education Certificate
                                                • A supplementary evaluation is required after you apply for admission. Submit the online component by February 3, 2021 for guaranteed consideration to the program.
                                                • School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design

                                                  BDes

                                                  Requirements for admission:
                                                • High School Diploma
                                                  • A supplementary evaluation is required after you apply for admission. Submit the online component by February 3, 2021 for guaranteed consideration to the program.
                                                    • AP College Board examinations are eligible for transfer credit, for results of 4 or 5, up to a maximum of 30 credits. Please click here, then click “Transfer Credit Requirements” for details.
                                                    To gain admission to this program, minimum A- (3.7) GPA on Grade 11 and 12 academic courses is required.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires minimum A- (3.7) GPA on Grade 11 and 12 academic courses.
                                                    The overall average required for admission is determined each year on a program specific basis. Some programs have limited enrolment. Admission is not guaranteed, and all requirements are subject to change.
                                                    School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design

                                                    BDes

                                                    Requirements for admission:
                                                  • West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) or National Examinations Council (NECO)
                                                    • A supplementary evaluation is required after you apply for admission. Submit the online component by February 3, 2021 for guaranteed consideration to the program.
                                                    • To gain admission to this program, minimum WAEC and/or NECO average of B2 is required.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires minimum 4.5 or 80% average in the final year of senior studies.
                                                      The overall average required for admission is determined each year on a program specific basis. Some programs have limited enrolment. Admission is not guaranteed, and all requirements are subject to change.
                                                      School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design

                                                      BDes

                                                      Requirements for admission:
                                                    • Yukon High School Diploma
                                                    • English 12 or English 12 First Peoples
                                                    • And three additional Grade 12 Academic subjects
                                                      • A supplementary evaluation is required after you apply for admission. Submit the online component by February 3, 2021 for guaranteed consideration to the program.
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                                                        To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the mid-80s.Maintaining your offer of admission to this program requires a final academic average of 75.