I was interested in coupling my experience at the Alberta College of Art and Design with something practical and after living abroad for a couple of years, thought that it would be a good idea to do a post-graduate certificate.
I explored different programs that centered around advertising, design, multimedia and museum management. While exploring schools that offered this I came across an article in the Globe and Mail that outlined Sheridan’s Interactive Multimedia program and also noted that it had an approximately 97% employment rate, which caught my attention.
I attended the Sheridan open house and was originally interested in the Film and Television program, but after having done more research, I found that Interactive Multimedia looked more promising.
A Focus On Programming
From the outline and what I understood from the website, the program was divided into three sections; programming, project management and design. However, the instructor who usually taught the design component was on sabbatical and the other two primary instructors were heavy into programming, which, as I would learn, is not where my interests lie.
In retrospect, I feel that I probably took the wrong program as it was heavily programming based.
In retrospect, I feel that I probably took the wrong program as it was heavily programming based. And one of our instructors was a very personable and compassionate instructor, but seemed to want to challenge students to do something ‘out of the norm’ when really, it would have benefited students to learn the ‘tricks and trade’. It would have been beneficial to have deconstructed websites, be it Flash or otherwise and see how they worked and why people thought some websites were better than others. The lessons that we went over were not really practical and I think that did a large disservice to students.
However, having said that, if you were a student coming to the program with a strong background in programming, you would have probably learned quite a bit more about emerging technologies, such as creating mobile phone applications. There were a lot of students that were very successful and found employment very quickly afterward.
From what previous students had said and implied, it appeared it was still possible to take the program and be able to find employment on the design side. However, after graduating and applying to a copious amount of potential positions, I found that it was quite challenging and that any design positions that were available favoured people with more experience, those graduating from a 3 or 4-year design program for example.
But I stayed with it, graduated and found work in a temporary position that led to a full-time position that is working out well for now.
For myself, I think I would have fared better in the design program, which they now call ‘Web Design’.
The Verdict
For myself, I think I would have fared better in the design program, which they now call “Web Design“. From speaking to students in this program and knowing some that graduated from it, this program prepares students how to do basic coding, which is practical for finding employment and also supports their design interests.
Sheridan is a good school. The workload in the program is intensive and really could be a two-year program, but it is what it is. Oakville’s a nice city, very expensive to live in, but all par for the course.. The school is picturesque, it has a great reputation, it’s like anything, you get out of it what you put in. I would suggest meeting faculty in the program to answer questions and provide any advice before going into it.
I would recommend this program for those that have a lot experience and interest in programming.
If you don’t, I wouldn’t do this program.
(3 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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