OCAD University (OCAD U), formally known as the Ontario College of Art & Design University, stands as Canada’s oldest and most specialized institution dedicated exclusively to art, design, digital media, and interdisciplinary creativity, offering innovative undergraduate, graduate, and continuing studies programs across disciplines like Industrial Design, Digital Futures, Advertising, Illustration, Environmental Design, and Inclusive Design at its urban-integrated campus in downtown Toronto.

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Historical Evolution

Established in 1876 as the Ontario School of Art, OCAD U has evolved through pivotal milestones: renamed the Ontario College of Art (1890), it gained degree-granting authority (2002) and full university status (2010). The institution’s heritage includes pioneering initiatives such as the First Nations Visual Culture program (1992) and the Digital Futures hub (2011), reflecting its adaptive vision. The iconic Sharp Centre for Design—a black-and-white tabletop structure suspended on colored pillars—designed by Will Alsop (2004), symbolizes its bold architectural identity.

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Academic Structure & Programs

OCAD U’s curriculum merges studio-based practice with critical theory through seven faculties:

• Faculty of Art: Offers Drawing & Painting, Sculpture/Installation, Printmaking & Publications, Photography.
• Faculty of Design: Covers Industrial Design, Graphic Design, Material Art & Design, Environmental Design.
• Faculty of Arts & Science: Integrates liberal arts with creative disciplines.
• Graduate Studies: Features 10 MFA, MA, MDes, and MPS programs including Digital Futures, Design for Health, and Criticism & Curatorial Practice.
• Emerging Fields: Programs like Creative Writing (BFA) and Indigenous Visual Culture (BFA) address contemporary cultural dialogues.

Unique offerings include the Inclusive Design Institute (Canada’s first) and the Imagination Catalyst startup incubator for creative entrepreneurs.

Campus & Facilities

The university spans 3.2 hectares in Toronto’s cultural corridor, adjacent to the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO). Key facilities include:

• Workshops & Labs: Digital fabrication (3D printing, laser cutting), BioArt lab, wearable technology studio, and traditional darkrooms.
• Learning Zones: The Dorothy H. Hoover Library (90,000+ specialized volumes), Onsite Gallery for public exhibitions, and 24/7 accessible studio spaces.
• Sustainability Features: Green Roof Innovation Testing Laboratory (GRIT Lab) and energy-efficient retrofits across campus buildings.

Research & Innovation

OCAD U prioritizes interdisciplinary research through 20+ dedicated centers:

• Social Impact Focus: Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers, Visual Analytics Lab.
• Technology Integration: BEAR (Biomedical Engineering and Assistive Robotics) research group.
• Indigenous Leadership: Indigenous Visual Culture Research Centre, supporting decolonized methodologies.

Partnerships with SickKids Hospital, Mozilla Foundation, and Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) enable applied projects tackling urban mobility, health interfaces, and digital ethics.

Student Experience

With 4,500+ students (18% international from 60+ countries), OCAD U fosters community via:

• Creative Community: 50+ clubs like the Game Development Association and OCAD U Zine Collective.
• Support Services: Writing & Learning Centre, Health & Wellness Centre, and dedicated Indigenous Student Services.
• Industry Exposure: Annual GradEx showcase (attracting 40,000+ visitors) and paid internships through the Career Development office.

Notable Alumni & Impact

Distinguished graduates include:

• Kenojuak Ashevak (Inuk artist, Order of Canada recipient).
• David Bromley (industrial designer for Umbra).
• Floria Sigismondi (filmmaker for David Bowie, Marilyn Manson).
• Bruce Mau (founder of Massive Change Network).

Alumni contributions span Oscar-winning animation (Chris Williams, Big Hero 6), Guggenheim exhibits, and social advocacy projects worldwide.

Global Partnerships & Vision

OCAD U collaborates with 75+ institutions globally, including exchanges with Berlin University of the Arts (UdK) and Aalto University (Finland). Its strategic plan, Transforming Imagination, emphasizes:

• Decolonization, sustainability, and technology ethics frameworks.
• Expansion of online learning and micro-credentials.
• Enhanced partnerships with Toronto’s tech/creative sectors (e.g., Waterfront Innovation Centre).

Admissions & Financial Information

Admission emphasizes portfolio strength (60-70% weight) alongside academic records. Domestic undergraduate tuition averages $7,300 CAD/year; international fees range from $28,000–$32,000 CAD/year. The university allocates $4 million+ annually to scholarships, including the President’s Scholarship ($20,000) and 40+ awards for Indigenous learners.

Governance & Values

Guided by Chancellor Jaime Watt (public affairs strategist) and President Ana Serrano (digital media innovator), OCAD U champions values of inclusivity, critical inquiry, and risk-taking. Its Academic Plan prioritizes anti-racism, accessibility, and climate action, embedding these principles in pedagogy and campus operations.

OCAD U continues to redefine art and design education through its fusion of heritage and futurism, positioning itself as a catalyst for creative solutions in an evolving global landscape.

Undergraduate Degree Programs

Advertising (BDes)

• Description: Trains students in strategic brand communication across digital, print, and experiential media with emphasis on creative concept development, consumer research, and campaign execution.
• Key Focus Areas: Copywriting, art direction, media planning, account management, digital marketing analytics.
• Outcomes: Graduates become art directors, brand strategists, media planners, and digital marketing specialists at agencies like Leo Burnett or Cossette.
• Duration/Structure: 4-year program with mandatory co-op placement; culminates in agency-style capstone project.

Environmental Design (BDes)

• Description: Focuses on sustainable spatial design integrating architecture, landscape, and urban systems with emphasis on ecological responsibility and community engagement.
• Key Focus Areas: Spatial programming, materials innovation, biophilic design, wayfinding systems, public space activation.
• Outcomes: Careers in exhibition design, urban planning, sustainable architecture, and public installation design.
• Duration/Structure: 4 years with intensive studio courses; includes municipal partnership projects and ecological site studies.

Digital Futures (BDes/BFA)

• Description: Interdisciplinary program merging art, design, and technology with focus on emerging interfaces like AR/VR, AI, and interactive installations.
• Key Focus Areas: Creative coding, physical computing, game design, data visualization, wearable technology.
• Outcomes: Graduates work as UX architects, creative technologists, game developers, and immersive experience designers.
• Duration/Structure: 4-year dual-degree path with access to motion capture labs and industry-sponsored hackathons.

Industrial Design (BDes)

• Description: Develops products and systems through human-centered design processes, from medical devices to consumer electronics.
• Key Focus Areas: Ergonomics, material science, prototyping, manufacturing processes, sustainable product lifecycle.
• Outcomes: Roles in product development, furniture design, automotive design, and design research at firms like Umbra or Tesla.
• Duration/Structure: 4 years with mandatory workshop training; features international exchange options with design schools in Denmark and Japan.

Indigenous Visual Culture (BFA)

• Description: Centers Indigenous knowledge systems through studio practice and critical theory, blending traditional artforms with contemporary media.
• Key Focus Areas: Beadwork, carving, digital storytelling, land-based practices, decolonial methodologies.
• Outcomes: Graduates work as cultural practitioners, museum curators, community arts organizers, and visual historians.
• Duration/Structure: 4-year program with land-based learning components and mentorship from Indigenous elders.

Graduate Degree Programs

Design for Health (MDes)

• Description: Advanced research in healthcare systems design, medical devices, and patient experience innovation.
• Key Focus Areas: Service design for hospitals, assistive technologies, health policy visualization, therapeutic environments.
• Outcomes: Careers in health innovation labs, medical equipment design, and public health consultancy.
• Duration/Structure: 2-year thesis-based program with clinical rotations at partner hospitals like SickKids.

Inclusive Design (MDes)

• Description: Pioneering program developing accessible technologies and systems for diverse abilities and neurodiversity.
• Key Focus Areas: Adaptive interfaces, universal design standards, policy frameworks, assistive technology prototyping.
• Outcomes: Leadership roles in accessibility consulting, inclusive service design, and public sector innovation.
• Duration/Structure: 20-month cohort model with placements at organizations like CNIB or Microsoft Inclusive Lab.

Interdisciplinary Master’s in Art, Media & Design (MA/MFA/MDes)

• Description: Customizable research program where students create hybrid practices across disciplinary boundaries.
• Key Focus Areas: Bio-art, social practice, experimental publishing, critical making, performative technologies.
• Outcomes: Independent artists, research directors, cross-disciplinary designers, and PhD candidates.
• Duration/Structure: 2-year program with individual studio spaces and option for international field research.

Strategic Foresight & Innovation (MDes)

• Description: Trains change-makers in systemic transformation using design-led foresight methods and business innovation.
• Key Focus Areas: Scenario planning, transition design, organizational change, sustainable business models.
• Outcomes: Innovation directors, policy designers, sustainability officers, and entrepreneurial leaders.
• Duration/Structure: 20-month intensive with live consulting projects for Fortune 500 companies and NGOs.

Continuing & Professional Studies

Certificate in Digital Media Design

• Description: Part-time professional training in UX/UI design, front-end development, and interactive prototyping.
• Key Focus Areas: Figma workflows, HTML/CSS, user testing methodologies, responsive design principles.
• Outcomes: Portfolio-ready projects for career transition into digital design roles.
• Duration/Structure: 240-hour flexible evening/weekend format over 8 months; includes industry mentorship.

Design Thinking Certificate

• Description: Applied human-centered design training for professionals seeking innovation skills.
• Key Focus Areas: Empathy mapping, rapid prototyping, facilitation techniques, organizational implementation.
• Outcomes: Enhanced problem-solving capabilities for education, healthcare, and corporate sectors.
• Duration/Structure: 12-week intensive with corporate team projects; available online or hybrid.

Fine Art Studio Certificate

• Description: Foundational training in traditional and contemporary art practices for career development.
• Key Focus Areas: Painting techniques, sculptural methods, digital photography, professional practice.
• Outcomes: Portfolio development for exhibition opportunities or further academic study.
• Duration/Structure: Self-paced modular courses with 24/7 studio access; includes gallery exhibition.

Indigenous Visual Culture Courses

• Description: Specialized workshops in traditional and contemporary Indigenous artforms taught by knowledge keepers.
• Key Focus Areas: Beadwork pedagogy, hide tanning, woodland art styles, Indigenous curation methods.
• Outcomes: Cultural skill development for educators, artists, and community workers.
• Duration/Structure: Weekend intensives and week-long land-based learning experiences.

Creative Entrepreneurship Program

• Description: Business development incubator for artists and designers launching creative ventures.
• Key Focus Areas: Business modeling, intellectual property, grant writing, e-commerce strategies.
• Outcomes: Launch-ready creative businesses with access to seed funding networks.
• Duration/Structure: 6-month mentorship program through OCAD U’s Imagination Catalyst incubator.

CONTACT OCAD U:

Address:

100 McCaul Street, Toronto, ON M5T 1W1

Tel: 416-977-6000
Fax: 416-977-6006

Admissions toll-free: 1-800-382-6516

For a full list of Contact Details, please visit:  https://www.ocadu.ca/contact-us