Graphic Design Specialist

Students complete at least 3-months of keyboarding classes. Students are required to complete the regular keyboarding speed of 30 wpm in order to graduate. Speeds are based on an average of five timings submitted close to or in the final month of the program.

To facilitate an understanding of synonyms, commonly confused words, plural nouns, and possessive nouns. In addition, students will enhance their business vocabulary.

• Understand why it is important to spell correctly and learn memory devices to enhance spelling
• Spell common business vocabulary correctly
• Complete alphabetized spelling dictations
• Understand the difference between a singular noun and a plural noun
• Apply correct plural rules
• Enhance knowledge of foreign plurals Understand the difference between singular possessive nouns and plural possessive nouns
• Apply correct possession rules Enhance knowledge of commonly confused words and understand the proper usage of these words
• Use commonly confused words correctly in sentences based on context and meaning
• Understand the meaning of a synonym
• Use a dictionary and provide synonyms for vocabulary Develop vocabulary by determining the correct spelling of a word between two or three words

This course is an introduction to managing one’s personal finances. It seeks to cover general financial knowledge, related to proper budgeting, investing, borrowing and retirement planning. Upon course completion, students will:

• Identify myths about money.
• Learn to manage personal savings, credit and debt.
• Create a budget.
• Assess their personal financial situation and make adjustments in line with their goals.
• Understand the importance of financial planning.
• Learn the difference between TFSA and RRSP and the benefits of each.

To prepare students for the employment search, assemble employment tools and skills, follow up with employment opportunities and be promoted.

Learning Outcomes:

• Create an effective and professional resume/application letter that will allow the student to obtain an interview.
• Develop confidence in the interviewing process.
• Participate in mock interviews.
• Dress for success.

Human Relations will help students become successful in predicting, understanding, and influencing the outcome of their interactions with others. The course format is highly experiential, involving the use of case studies, exercises, and class discussions to emphasize a problem-solving and critical thinking strategy to apply accumulated knowledge.

• Introduction to Human Relations
• Motivating yourself and others
• Emotional balance
• Improving communications
• Understanding your communication style
• Building high self esteem
• Attitudes can shape your life
• Team building
• Valuing diversity
• Ethical choices

Students will develop competence in Windows 10 and file management.

• Understand the important features of Windows 10.
• Demonstrate competence in working with files and folders.
• Organize a company’s files and folders.

Learning Outcomes:

• Develop proficiency in building a basic spreadsheet and a chart.
• Work with formulas, functioning and formatting.
• Work with large worksheets, charting, and what-if analysis.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will have gained knowledge of Microsoft Word 2019 functions and will be able to create a variety of business documents.

Students will also continue to build keyboarding speed and accuracy.

• Learn and apply the essentials of Word 219 commands
• Create/save, print, apply text paragraph and page formats.
• Navigate, review, and edit documents.
• Format memos, create envelopes, edit letters, and build keyboarding skills.
• Create and format tables, change table structures, create tables in documents, build speed and accuracy.
• Format reports, insert footnotes, files, find/replace texts.
• Adhere to academic reporting standards.
• Create /format documents with pictures, videos, SmartArt, borders, etc.
• Utilize OneDrive’ share folders/documents.

Upon completion of this class, students will learn to create and manipulate PDF documents. The student will work through the many important facets of the software used in the business environment. Learning outcomes include:

• Understanding the tools of Abode Acrobat
• Creating and modifying PDF documents
• Use the document navigation tools
• PDF accessibility and document security
• Document review techniques and interactive PDF forms
• PDF distribution & management

This course covers the technical and designs skills needed for the competitive digital market. The course offers creative projects, concise instructions and coverage of basic to intermediate skills, helping students to create polished, professional-looking graphic design layouts and illustrations. In-depth conceptual information informs why skills are applied through the use of professional examples. Students will also learn the history and design philosophy behind the skills so as to create more efficient and effective designs. Students are introduced to in-depth conceptual information with concise steps to help learn Illustrator. Step by step guides and lessons are used to help students create, modify and enhance design files. Areas covered include:

• Getting to know Illustrator
• Creating text and graphics
• Drawing & composing an illustration
• Transforming & distorting objects
• Working with layers

The course offers creative projects, concise instructions and coverage of basic to intermediate skills, helping students to create polished, professional-looking photographs layouts and illustrations. Students are introduced to in-depth conceptual information with concise steps to help learn Photoshop. Step by step guides and lessons are used to help students create, modify and enhance design files. Areas covered include:

• Getting to know Photoshop
• Learning Photoshop basics
• Making selections
• Incorporating colour techniques
• Placing type/text in an image

The course presents a practical approach to web design using a blend of traditional development guidelines with current technologies and trends, including responsive web design.

Students will:

• Develop an in-depth understanding of web design concepts and techniques that are essential to planning, creating, testing, publishing, and maintaining websites.
• Define & describe in detail the steps in developing a solid web design plan, identify web purposes /target audiences.
• Determine the web the website’s general content, select the website’s structure, & specify the website’s navigation system.
• Design the look and feel of the website and test publish and maintain the website.
• Provide an ongoing case study that promotes participation in learning about web design.

Students will be able to:

• Identify key techniques in Abode After Effects
• Create, manipulate, and optimize motion graphics for film, TV, video, DVD, the web, and mobile devices
• Gain hands-on experience animating text, images and videos and correcting colours.
• Create motion graphics templates in After Effects to enable colleagues to make specific edits in Premiere Pro without accidentally changing other critical settings.
• Create the 3D content with both After Effects and Maxon Cinema 4D Lite
• Develop a final project movie using content they have developed and created themselves

Students will be introduced to in-depth conceptual information with concise steps to help to:

• Understand the Adobe InDesign application and features
• Working with texts
• Setting up a document
• Working with frames
• Working with colours
• Create, modify & enhance finished design files

Upon completion students will:

• Understand graphic design as a creative process and recognize the required basic components
• Recognize the strong relationship of graphic design.
• Know the history and career pathway of graphic design and how it impacts social and cultural variables.
• Differentiate between ideas and concepts and see how one progresses to the other
• Apply focused analysis and problem solving skills, and demonstrate the importance of knowing their clients and audiences.
• Demonstrate an active and applied approach to the creative process with an exploration of techniques such as sketching, montaging, and word play.

Upon completion students will:

• Understand the elements and principles and forms into the basic aesthetic components turning ideas into compelling graphics.
• Develop a deep understanding of typography.
• Use type as a tool and as an element in design.
• Demystify how to build proportion system into a design and identify structural harmony to make composition work visually and conceptually.
• Review of case studies to enhance problem-solving skills.
• Explore coded messages through the study of semiotic, gestalt theory and symbols (icons and index).

Learning outcomes:

• Determine relevant software to use in design project
• Create concepts and final artwork using AI.PS & ID
• Achieve fluency & integrated software workflow
• Create a portfolio suitable for design job applications
• Develop a portfolio in three different formats; physical, shareable & online
• Confidently discuss the content of a design portfolio
• Distinguish a student by designing a personal; brand

Experiential learning component covers both soft and hard skills. Students are expected to demonstrate skills in line with the area of study. The employer provides work in line with the program of study. Facilitation, coaching and mentoring occur throughout the practicum. At the mid-point as well as end of the practicum, a performance evaluation is completed.

Major activities/evaluation:

Under the direct supervision of the schools Instructor and/or Placement Host Supervisor/designate, students will be assigned work tasks in the core competencies of graphic design. Student will gain hands-on experience in entry-level graphic design The College instructor is responsible to: be a resource for the student by offering direction regarding the competencies and expectations; monitor progress and provide constructive feedback to the student; be a positive role model to the student; and support the student in seeking out appropriate learning opportunities. Students must complete the required practicum hours. The employer will submit a performance evaluation for each student, which is submitted to the college with the attendance record. Students must pass the practicum with an overall minimum rating of fair.