Course Updates

In today's digital landscape, user experience (UX) plays a crucial role in determining the success of a digital product. It directly impacts user satisfaction and engagement. Students learn the fundamental principles of user experience (UX) and UX research and the process of creating products that provide meaningful and relevant experiences for users. While exploring various tools and techniques, they identify user needs and preferences, structure key features, conduct analyses, and establish design requirements for an interactive product.

Prerequisite(s): A minimum "C" grade in DSGN 1300.

The foundational elements of visual and communication design form the basis of effective visual storytelling. Students learn the language of design by using elements and principles to communicate powerful ideas and engage with compelling stories. Engaging problems as designers, students investigate tools such as typography, colour theory, and imagery to invoke meaning and message. Through hands-on experience with the design process, students demonstrate the skills taught by building their own body of work.

Corequisite(s): DGMD 1175.

Design software is essential for visual communication professionals. Students learn to use the digital tools integral to the generation and manipulation of images, illustrations, typography, and brand assets. Through hands-on projects, they apply advanced techniques, including file management, non-destructive editing workflows, and export and optimization methods. Students acquire the technical foundation needed to execute their creative vision effectively while meeting current industry demands.

Corequisite(s): DGMD 1155.

Designers need to understand the functionality of the web to create their own basic websites or modify existing structures and to participate in and contribute to discussions during the development phase of a website. Students learn the fundamentals of HTML & CSS, learning to code designs that incorporate high-resolution graphics, videos, grid systems, and modern typographic approaches—creating bandwidth-friendly websites that adapt to any device they are viewed on. Through hands-on activities, students learn to convert a visual design (prototype) into an interactive product.

Web designers increasingly encounter JavaScript in modern projects, yet many lack confidence in understanding and modifying scripts. This course bridges the gap by equipping designers with essential JavaScript literacy, ensuring they can integrate and manipulate scripts effectively without needing deep programming expertise. Students use JavaScript as a tool for enhancing web design, focusing on modifying and troubleshooting existing scripts rather than writing full applications from scratch. They learn how JavaScript interacts with HTML and CSS through the Document Object Model (DOM), handle events, debug scripts, and integrate JavaScript effectively into modern web projects. By the end of the course, students confidently interpret and tweak JavaScript code to enhance interactivity and user experience in their designs.

Prerequisite(s): A minimum "C" grade in: CPSC 1030 or DGMD 1415.

Social media marketing empowers brands and creators to connect directly with their target audience, building authentic relationships while sharing their story through engaging content. Students learn the terminology and strategies involved in planning online and social media marketing campaigns and explore various tools used to create, optimize, and manage content while establishing brand consistency. They learn to measure the efficiency of a campaign and to adjust it, to increase visibility and improve user engagement, in this dynamic field.

Prerequisite(s): A minimum "C" grade in DGMD 1155, 2255, or 2400.

Students apply the user experience strategies acquired in User Experience I and expand their toolkit with additional methods and approaches. Using the design process, they guide their projects through multiple stages, from initial concept to final implementation. They research and analyze the user's behaviors and experience while exploring various tools and techniques to find efficient and creative solutions to a specific problem. They use information architecture tools to organize and structure the content. Through experimental approaches and problem-solving, they learn to apply UX design principles to promotional and e-commerce products.

Prerequisite(s): A minimum "C" grade DGMD 1125.

Building on the foundations laid in Visual Storytelling I, students dig deeper into the art and science of visual communication, expanding their skills and exploring advanced techniques in graphic storytelling. Students refine their ability to create compelling narratives, applying elements and principles to digital platforms, including web design and multimedia projects. Building soft skills in teamwork, they collaborate to construct visual narratives that engage audiences.

Prerequisite(s): A minimum "C" grade in DGMD 1155.

Students explore the core features of industry-standard UI design tools, applying fundamental design principles to develop user-friendly interfaces for websites and mobile apps. Through hands-on projects and interactive prototyping exercises, students gain practical experience and build confidence in their design abilities. This course lays the groundwork for students to seamlessly blend creativity with technical expertise.

Prerequisite(s): A minimum "C" grade in DGMD 1125.

AI is transforming the way we study, work, and create, influencing nearly every facet of our lives. This course is designed for students from diverse backgrounds to gain a foundational understanding of modern AI models and systems, enabling them to fully utilize its potential regardless of background and experience level. Whether exploring AI for the first time or building on existing coding skills, students will engage in hands-on experimentation and project-based learning tailored to their skill set. Topics include how AI systems learn, effective prompting strategies, ethical considerations, and the latest tools, including large language models and multimodal AI. The course ensures accessibility for all while providing opportunities for deeper technical exploration.

Prerequisite(s): A minimum "C" grade in nine credits of first-year CPSC, or DGMD courses.

Millions of commercial websites are built using Content Management Systems (CMS). Through project work, students learn to manage common content management systems, install and customize themes, and add content. Additional topics addressed include installing security patches, managing plugins and updating themes to optimize CMS efficiency. Students also apply advanced CMS features including user role management, workflow customization, and integration with third-party services to create comprehensive digital experiences that meet modern business requirements.

Prerequisite(s): A minimum "C" grade in DGMD 1425.

In this culminating experience in the Digital Media and Design Diploma, students design and develop digital products such as websites, apps, and interactive touchscreens in response to real-world challenges. Working in teams, students engage in the entire project lifecycle, from initiation and planning to execution and evaluation. They apply project management methodologies, conduct user research, and implement design revisions based on testing. Through hands-on experience, students demonstrate their technical, creative, and professional competencies while developing a portfolio-ready project that incorporates reflection on learning on Indigenization and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.

Registration in this course is restricted to students admitted to the Diploma in Digital Media and Design.

Prerequisite(s): One of the following prerequisite combinations: A minimum "C" grade in all of the following: DGMD 1125, 1155, 1175, 2225, 2275, and 2400; or a minimum "C" grade in all of the following: DGMD 1125, 1155, 1415, 2400, and 2425.