OVERVIEW
Design
For over two decades, York University’s Bachelor of Design Honours degree (DESN) has set the bar for learning the discipline of design within a university environment. Recognized throughout North America for our standards of academic, research and professional excellence, Design at York offers students a rich, multi-disciplinary experience and pathways to careers in an exciting, ever-evolving field.
At the heart of DESN is the studio environment, where students gain essential professional and technical skills and a strong foundation in design methods and conceptual processes. Students have access to state-of-the-art resources and tools and work placement opportunities via our strong industry connections. DESN alumni often go on to contribute to top design firms and agencies worldwide, enroll in national and international graduate study programs, and succeed as entrepreneurs.
HIGHLIGHTS
Top 6 reasons to apply
Stellar reputation: Our award-winning students are sought out by companies including Facebook, Google, Wikimedia, IBM and Shopify
Personalized attention: Smaller class sizes with intimate studio learning environments
Customizable pathways: Information Design, Interaction Design, and Visual Communication, enhanced by courses in design history, theory, and criticism
Professional orientation: Applied, studio-based learning that prepares graduates for professional design practice
Strong industry connections: Recruitment visits with leading design firms
Valuable work experiences: Placement in professional design settings
YOUR CHOICE OF THREE AREAS OF CONCENTRATION OR A MIX, COMPLEMENTED BY COURSES IN DESIGN STUDIES
Create your own pathway or specialize
OVERVIEW
Interaction Design is a specialized field that intersects with visual communications, information design, human-computer interaction and computation. Students are exposed to emerging research in interface design (UI), user experience (UX) design, participatory research methods, inclusive design and usability studies. They also have the opportunity to hone their skills in systems thinking, creative problem-solving and design strategy.
Central to Interaction Design is the notion of digital connectivity, which today supports a full range of human activities within the educational, business, health, entertainment, environmental, industrial and artistic sectors. Interaction Design’s products are numerous, including mobile applications, interactive environments, web-based products, digital services, kiosk interfaces and networked devices.
Program Highlights
Sub-heading
Explore interaction design through a human centric focus such as designing for users’ experience and UI (user interface) design.
Learn to design interactive mobile applications, physical products and mixed reality interfaces.
Conceptualize, design and evaluate engaging user experiences across digital, physical and blended or mixed systems.
Develop user-centred design processes to inform the connection between people, technology and environment.
Sample courses
Prototyping and User-Centred Strategies
#
Designing for Human Interactions
#
Interactive Objects and Environments
#
Designing for Future Systems
#
- Interaction Designer.
- User Experience (UX) researcher.
- User Interface (UI) designer.
- Information architect.
- Service design specialist.
- Digital strategist.
OVERVIEW
In the field of Information Design, designers visually capture, organize and categorize quantitative and conceptual information, making it more understandable and meaningful for users. Information Design encompasses a range of practices, offering students ample opportunity to utilize cross-disciplinary approaches.
The program explores such subjects as graphical strategies for information design, design for virtual environments and large multi-user systems, human-computer interaction and the dynamic visualizations of live systems. Information Design projects include data-driven image generation (e.g., explanatory infographics), the creation of new symbols to represent data, and the development of interactive tools that facilitate users’ access to, and understanding of, information.
Highlights
Capture, organize, categorize and make meaning from visual information; translate data into usable and understandable visual displays, narratives and interfaces.
Practice visualization through mapping practices, ranging from conceptual approaches to practical applications using print and digital media.
Gain experience with data reporting and design methodologies to build engaging user experiences.
Explore how typography relates to information design in print and digital systems.
Sample courses
Information Design for Understanding
Information Mapping and Networks
Evolution of Information Design
Data Visualization Design
Typography for Information Design
- Data visualization designer.
- Design journalist.
- Environmental graphic designer.
- Information design researcher.
OVERVIEW
Visual Communication is a multidisciplinary field concerned primarily with the power and impact of visual messages to inform, instruct and persuade in today’s ever-changing world. Visual Communication designers work with diverse media, designing for both 2D and 3D print and digital applications. The field is the driving force behind the production of branding, signage and wayfinding systems, magazines, posters, print and kinetic typography, motion and broadcast graphics — to name just a few.
In Visual Communications, DESN students learn how to effectively transform complex and abstract ideas into visual forms, responding to specific contexts and audiences and creating and incorporating diverse visual languages into their work.
Highlights
Learn about branding and identity systems, signage, packaging, editorial and publication design, and time-based communication.
Study techniques and experiment with methods of image-making, 2D composition, aesthetics and typography and motion design.
Develop graphic forms and visual systems that communicate and delight for audience engagement.
BOX INFORMATION
Sample courses
Communication Design Foundation
Branding and Identity Systems
Typography: Letter and Word
Publication Design
Motion Design
- Creative director
- Graphic designer
- Motion designer
- Brand manager
OVERVIEW
Whichever DESN pathway students choose, Design Studies courses at York enhance and add breadth to their design education. Taken concurrently with one of the three areas of specialization during years three and four of the program, Design Studies courses serve to expand and deepen students’ understanding of communication theories, sociological discourse, creative strategies and design history.
Projects and coursework in Design Studies allow students to learn and practice a range of design research methods, supported by the program’s location in a large research university. Courses that investigate historical and culturally specific modes of design, contemporary design theory and criticism provide myriad opportunities for students to consider the deep histories, dynamic futures and current professional practices in design.
Highlights
Do you want to develop a deeper understanding of design discourse, expand your theoretical understanding and augment your learning across all three DESN pathways?
Learn design research skills that foster deeper engagement with the practice of design across all areas of specialization.
Deepen understanding of specific design histories, cultures and movements and their global social and political contexts.
Critically examine the role that design and designers play in addressing complex visual and cultural problems.
All of this is augmented by six electives taken from courses offered across York University in the humanities, social and natural sciences.
Sample courses
Design of the 20th Century: Icons, Movements and Contexts
Design Advocacy
East Asian Design History and Material Culture in Transnational Perspectives
Design for Creative Entrepreneurship
- Design educator
- Design researcher
- Design critic/writer
Professional Accreditation
REGISTERED GRAPHIC DESIGNERS (RGD)
We are a partner program with the Association of Registered Graphic Designers (RGD), a Canadian association that offers York Design students automatic membership. We encourage design students to participate in the student awards, conferences, mentorship, Designathon and scholarships offered through RGD.
YEAR BY YEAR OVERVIEW
Learning Outcomes
APPLICATION PROCESS
How to Apply
STEP
1Choose a program that opens my mind.
Please note that the supplementary application procedures may change due to Covid-19. Please check back to learn about interim measures. If you have any questions please contact ampd@yorku.ca.
- Make note of the deadlines.
- Check to make sure your program is still accepting applications.
- Ensure you’ve met all admission requirements.
- Make sure you have all the required documents.
- Ready to apply? Move to Step 3.
Use this application if:
- You want to apply to degree studies for any session (Ontario high-school students should see their guidance office). Fee Information.
- You’re a mature or university/college applicant (if you’re applying to more than one university). Fee Information.
Apply Now
B. York University ApplicationUse this application if:
- You are a mature, international or university/college transfer applicant (if you’re only applying to York), OR
- You want to take courses as a Visiting Student, OR
- You want to apply to a certificate, OR
- You are currently taking a York pre-University/”Bridging” course or YUELI course
Fees: $130, payable by Visa, Visa Debit or MasterCard (non-refundable)
Apply Now
Once you have submitted your application, you will receive an email containing your York reference ID. This email will be sent approximately 5-10 business days after you submit your application. Please complete step 4 once you have your York Reference ID.
Once you have submitted your application, you will receive an email containing your York reference ID. This email will be sent approximately 5-10 business days after you submit your application. Please complete step 4 once you have your York Reference ID.
- Make sure you have your York Reference ID on hand.
- Complete the questionnaire and upload at least one (ideally two) letter/s of recommendation. This will help us get to know you a little better.
- Pay the administration fee of: $60 CAD. You will then be able to proceed with booking the portfolio interview.
- Read through the instructions below on Assembling Your Portfolio.
- Book a date to complete your in-person interview.
Good luck!
Assembling Your PortfolioYour portfolio should contain samples of your original work that demonstrate a wide range of ideas and competency with different media and tools. In addition to the types of work listed below, a sketchbook or concept/idea book is required. At least one piece in your portfolio should include an example of word(s) and image(s) that communicate a message. Knowledge of computer software is an asset but not required. Typically, an applicant’s portfolio contains their best work from at least 3 of the following areas: Areas 1 to 5 are highly recommended for inclusion in the portfolio.
- Two-dimensional design work e.g. designs for posters, logos, letterheads, book/magazine covers and interior page spreads, CD/DVD inserts.
- Typography e.g. poetry or words using an expressive font or page layout, typeface designs, expressive lettering, projects with text settings designed for clear communication. Drawings and experiments with typographic form.
- Interactive media e.g. web site design and/or other interactive work.
- Motion graphics e.g. video or animation using images and typography. Short pieces with a strong message are preferred.
- Sketchbook or concept/idea book e.g. studies and examples of your media/tools experiments, process explorations. Your sketchbook or idea/concept book should contain “notational drawings,” i.e. quick line drawings done to explore layouts and visual concepts.
- Drawing & Illustration e.g. direct observational drawings are preferred (not drawn from photographs). Imaginative drawing is also welcome. It is good to demonstrate the use of a wide variety of media (pen & ink, charcoal, pastel, coloured pencil, marker pen, collage, digital drawings).
- Photography e.g. B&W prints, colour prints, hand-tinted prints, digitally manipulated.
- Painting e.g. representative and/or non-representative in oil, acrylic, watercolour, gouache.
- 3D Design/Sculpture e.g. scale models from plan drawings, craft and fibre experiments.
Have questions about the portfolio interview for this program? Ask us at evalampd@yorku.ca.
- Make sure all your documents arrive before the deadline.
- If you haven’t already, book a tour.
- Check out our public events and performances* taking place throughout the season.
- Check your application status.
- Be prepared to apply for scholarships, awards & bursaries after you’ve been accepted.
- Take a look at info on Financial Aid.
*During the coronavirus pandemic public events on campus have been cancelled.
Have Questions?
WE HAVE ANSWERS
