After graduating high school, it was time to figure out life and jump into the ‘real world’ headfirst. I had to figure out exactly where I would fit, before I could decide what kind of post secondary education I would pursue.
I started with what I knew about myself; what I was good at, what school subjects I excelled at, and what kind of job I wanted to end up with. I loved art and I was creative. The only problem was that I knew the life of an artist was often a difficult one; generally speaking, nothing was stable and that wasn’t exactly the life for me.
I couldn’t imagine myself in a cubicle doing someone’s taxes, while ignoring my creative itch.
I knew I wanted a secure career; in high school I took physics, calculus, math, history, English, and business classes so that I could pursue a ‘stable job’. I graduated and started to apply to Universities for business, I must confess, with slight hesitation. I wanted a solid job, but I couldn’t imagine myself in a cubicle doing someone’s taxes, while ignoring my creative itch.
When I stumbled across the Graphic Design for Marketing bachelor degree at Kwantlen Polytechnic University my heart skipped a beat. I knew what graphic design meant; it meant artistic, creative, and fun, but to fuse that with the business world was…basically…sheer genius. In later years, I would learn that combining the two worlds was a natural marriage, but at the time it was too good to be true.
The GDMA Program
Admission:
The program required a portfolio review, an interview, and a short exercise period in which they presented the applicant with a design problem and asked them to solve it in the allotted time. Being fresh out of high school I had no prior expertise, needless to say I was rather nervous. My portfolio was an eyesore, and my interview was borderline terrible, but the design problem was where I really shined. I would later learn that everyone in the class had different strengths; some excelled in the interview, others in the portfolio, etc. What mattered was that our potential came across in some aspect of the process. Only 20 students are accepted each year to the program, and let me say I was ecstatic to be one of them.
The Structure:
The program is broken down into two semesters a year, over the course of four years. Each year is completed with the same 20 students and the same professors, give or take a few changes. The career being one with an artistic flare, it is important that one gets to know their professors and fellow classmates very well over the four years; it creates a sense of security and comfort, which allows the student to explore their creativity and expand as a designer.
In the final year of the program a full course is dedicated to internships.
Each semester consists of five classes, where a student learns everything from design principles and theories, design/art history, marketing, business essentials, print design, web design, videography, and other essential technology relating to the industry. Another important aspect of the program is how much attention the importance of networking receives, not to mention the opportunities the program provides with regards to it. In the final year of the program a full course is dedicated to internships. It is required that the student complete a mentorship within the industry, which is an unbelievable opportunity to learn in the field and meet important industry related people. Many students are hired by their mentors and continue to work there as soon as they graduate.
Best/Worst Parts of the Program:
I couldn’t begin to describe all the best parts of the program; it was overwhelmingly amazing. The experience gained, the exploration of the exciting world of design, the expertise passed down, it was all pretty astounding.
It was great to have the same 20 people and same professors; they all became life-long friends, but at the same time imagine taking the same ten classes for four years with the same people. Egos inflate, tempers flare, and it becomes rather difficult at times. It was excruciatingly hard to plan the graduating grad show too, we had a real-life budget, and none of us had planned something of that caliber before. It put all our skills and friendships to the test, but it bonded us all together at the end. Ultimately the hardest part of the program was leaving.
I would definitely recommend GDMA to others, in fact I already have!
The Verdict
Going in, I had no expectations of Kwantlen itself. All in all, I would have to say that the school was decent, but I probably wouldn’t have attended it if the distinguished GMDA program hadn’t been offered there. The program made it amazing for me, not the school. I would definitely recommend GDMA to others, in fact I already have! Two fellow high school students are currently enrolled in the second year of the program.
In my third year of the program I was offered a position at a web design company and worked there until after I graduated, upon which time I was offered another position at a media company, where I now currently work. All of the skills I learned in the program are accessed on a daily basis, it certainly covers all essentials, and the marketing and business aspect gives me an edge in the industry.
If I could go back and do anything different I wouldn’t, but if I were offered the opportunity to go back and do it again I would. Just to soak up more information. The amount of information the program provides is mind-blowing. If you attend, make sure you apply yourself, pay attention at all times, and soak up as much information as possible. It’s all relevant and extremely helpful in the long run. And have fun, you’ll soon look back fondly on the GDMA years as some of the best moments of your life.
(7 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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Besides Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign, can you tell me what other computer applications are covered in this program (eg. XML, SQL, PHP & ASP, Cold Fusion, Flash, Final Cut Pro, DVD Studio Pro, Reason, etc.)? Thanks!