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Art and Design Foundations

The Art and Design Foundations program student takes photograph in studio.

The Art and Design Foundations program offers drawing, painting, design, photography, digital media and 3D art. Build practical skills, discover where your interests can take you and develop a portfolio for further study in art, design and creative industries.

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Home / Learn / Programs List / Art and Design Foundations
Credential
Ontario College Certificate
Duration
Two semesters
Start Date(s)
September (Fall)
Locations
Belleville
Open to
Domestic Students
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Find your career

Explore your creative interests while building a broad foundation in art and design. The Art and Design Foundations program offers hands-on studio experiences, discover different creative disciplines and develop the skills and portfolio needed to pursue further education in areas such as animation, game development, graphic design, fine arts, photography, digital media and other creative fields.

Along the way, develop transferable skills in visual communication, creative problem-solving, concept development, collaboration and presenting your work. Whether you already know where your creativity can take you or want time to explore your options, the Art and Design Foundations program provides a foundation for your next step.

How you'll learn

In the Art and Design Foundations program, you will learn by creating. Develop practical skills through hands-on studio projects in drawing, fine arts, colour and design, photography, digital media and three-dimensional design.

 

Experiment with traditional and digital tools while learning how to develop ideas from initial concepts through to finished creative work. Through individual projects, critiques and portfolio development, strengthen your creative process, explore different areas of art and design, and identify the disciplines that best match your interests and goals.

 

The program culminates in the development of a portfolio that can support applications to further creative programs and showcase your evolving skills and creative identity.

Courses

ARTS1002 3-D Design Studio 1

Students are introduced to the principles of 3D design. Items covered include shapes, planes, volume, mass, texture and balance as well as positive and negative space. Students are exposed to a variety of materials as they execute challenges of construction and design.

ARTS1011 Art & Culture Appreciation

Through an introduction to the major periods and developments in the history of art and design, students acquire skills to research, assemble and deliver engaging presentations that cover innovations in eras, movements and key players. Students are encouraged to cover a broad range of both fine and applied art, including art, design and architecture, culture, fashion, and music.

ARTS1012 Color and Design

This course introduces students to the fundamental concepts of colour theory, along with the elements and principles of design. Students will explore topics such as the psychology of colour, the Bezold effect, simultaneous contrast, value contrast and colour mixing. Design will be explored as an applied art through the lens of design history and projects that require appropriate solutions. Topics covered include graphic design, illustration, interior design and basic drafting, using two-dimensional formats.

PHOT1000 Digital Photography

Students are introduced to the basic elements and principles of photography while learning the processes of composition, framing and lighting. Software is introduced to teach editing and manipulation techniques. Skills are developed in portraiture, nature, architectural, industrial and artistic photographs, while photographic theory is contextualized by examining the work of important contemporary and historical photographers.

ARTS1000 Fine Arts Studio 1

Students are introduced to an array of fine art and the techniques used to produce them. Items covered include the utilization of fundamental techniques in the execution of painting in watercolour and acrylics, relief printmaking and mixed media collage. Students develop critical skills in relation to their own work and that of others, as well as use basic art terminology to describe and discuss artwork.

DRAW1003 Intro to Drawing

Students are introduced to drawing as a means of creative exploration, observational awareness and technical proficiency. A wide array of practical drawing skills is developed with attention paid to the elements of line, shape, form, value and space, while employing principles such as balance, proportion and contrast. Subject matter includes perspective, still life, portraiture and an introduction to figure drawing, as a contemporary and historical discipline.

ARTS1013 Media Arts 1

A background in concept development and hands-on experience with visual production methods gives students pathways to and opportunities in many fields of study. This course will introduce students to the the skills needed in cinematography, animation, video editing, lighting and sound production utilizing industry-appropriate software. A background in concept development and hands-on experience with visual production methods gives students pathways to and opportunities in many fields of study. This course will introduce students to the the skills needed in cinematography, animation, video editing, lighting and sound production utilizing industry-appropriate software.

ARTS1016 3D Studio 2

Students will expand upon the skills learnt in 3D Studio 1 – manipulating three-dimensional form, developing increased sensitivity to various material properties. Students will learn 3D design software and produce 3D printed artifacts using the program’s 3D printer. The pathway from concept to realization is travelled and examined via real-world applications such as public art commissions. Students will expand upon the skills learnt in 3D Studio 1 – manipulating three-dimensional form, developing increased sensitivity to various material properties. Students will learn 3D design software and produce 3D printed artifacts using the program’s 3D printer. The pathway from concept to realization is travelled and examined via real-world applications such as public art commissions.

ARTS1015 Careers & Portfolio

This course explores the many career opportunities in the fields of art and design, while also plotting a trajectory for students’ own portfolios. Students will also attend and participate in workshops that enable a particular focus on topics that extend beyond regular curricula and therefore enhance experiential learning via the designing, planning and mounting of an exhibition of work that includes their own work and student work from other disciplines within the College.

ARTS1005 Design Studio

Through various projects students explore the creative and practical aspects and processes of design. This includes typography, colour theory and the principles of design. Client challenges are the focus of the assignments; students are presented with opportunities to find creative solutions based on the briefs provided. A broad range of applied design disciplines and challenges are covered.

ARTS1014 Design Tech

Students explore and develop artistic and creative software skills. The course focuses primarily on digital art as an applied form and builds on knowledge and skills acquired in the first semester. Industry-standard applications are used to cover both raster and vector creative formats. Design theory is explored and applied to creations for assessment and evaluation.

DRAW1004 Drawing Advanced

This course builds on the skills in Intro to Drawing as students continue to apply the knowledge and essential techniques. Students will expand their understanding of free-hand drawing from observation, creating the illusion of three dimensions, advanced principles of perspective, life model, portraiture, drapery, technical/analytical drawing such as isometric/exploded view and illustration. Historical and contemporary drawing practices are investigated with importance given to the evolution of ideas through explorations using thumbnail sketches and research.

ARTS1004 Fine Arts Studio 2

Students build on the skills and knowledge introduced in Fine Art Studio 1 with learning that includes the utilization of additional techniques in the execution of painting and printmaking. Students will learn to develop their imagination by using creativity and experimentation to explore compositions and personal subject matter. Divergent thinking and critical self-analysis will help students push their ideas further.

ARTS1017 Media Arts 2

Building on skills and concepts attained in Media Arts 1, students acquire greater insight into experimental, documentary and narrative storytelling through a historical lens, theoretical research and practical experience. The collaborative nature of video production is developed, along with continued hands-on focus on a variety of equipment and software.

*Courses subject to change.

The Art and Design Foundations program student creating art. Girl wearing black headphones while focusing on art project.

Admission requirements

Required academic preparation 

  • OSSD/OSSGD or equivalent with courses at the general, advanced, (C), (U) or (M) level, AND 
  • Grade 12 English (E) level or equivalent 

OR 

Academic upgrading

Are you missing admission requirements? Discover how Career and College Prep at Loyalist can help you get started on your journey.

No portfolio is required for admission.

Costs

Approximate costs (2025 – 26, two semesters at full-time student status)* 

  • Domestic Tuition: $2,722.08 
  • Full-Time Ancillary Fees: $1,595.26 
  • Total: $4,317.34 

Additional student-purchased costs may include textbooks, supplies, software, and other resources. Additional expenses related to off-campus experiential learning activities may also be incurred.

 

*All fees are subject to change. Fees for programs shorter or longer than two semesters will be adjusted accordingly. In addition to the costs listed above, some programs also have program ancillary fees based on their specific requirements. For a detailed breakdown of tuition and ancillary fees – including any program-specific charges – please visit the Tuition and fee schedule 2025–26.

Paying for college

At Loyalist College, we believe that cost should never be a barrier to your success. We’re here to help you navigate the costs of college and connect you with a variety of financial aid programs, resources and donor-supported awards. Explore paying for college.   

The Art and Design Foundations program student draws on paper

Further study

Pathways and university transfer

What’s next? After completing the Arts and Design Foundations program, build on the knowledge and skills you learned at Loyalist by continuing your academic journey. Return to Loyalist to complete a second diploma or a post-graduate program in as little as a year, or receive credit recognition for your Loyalist studies when pursuing a degree at a university. Explore pathway opportunities.

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