Ontario's 1st Honours Bachelor of Design (BDes) Program Perfect, Seamless Fit for Students, Industry and Economy; York University/Sheridan College "Partners in Design"

TORONTO, Feb. 22, 1999 -- York University and Sheridan College launched an innovative, joint program today that will lead to Ontario's first honours Bachelor of Design -- matching growing student interest in design with the growing demand for new professionals in a key economic industry implementing new standards.

"The announcement of a joint Sheridan-York program in Design, leading to a York University honours Bachelor of Design degree, reflects the best of what is happening in post-secondary education today," York University President Lorna Marsden said during the public launch this morning at Toronto's Design Exchange.

"Creative, talented students with degrees to earn and careers to consider want flexibility and choice as well as excellence in what they study and how and where they learn. And with goodwill and imagination, we are delivering that while showing that universities and colleges can work together to meet students' needs," said Marsden, adding that York is a leader in forging innovative educational partnerships with institutions such as Sheridan College.

Sheridan College President Sheldon Levy concurred: "This program offers students rich learning experiences, built on the resident expertise and outstanding facilities of both institutions. It's one of the many quality partnerships that Sheridan has developed as we anticipate and prepare for changes in the global economy and job market. Design has proven itself to be of fundamental importance in the business world, indeed in every facet of life, and it makes sense to provide the best possible learning opportunities in this field."

Over the past 25 years, design has gained recognition for its economic importance and acceptance as an academic discipline. Half of all the communications designers and nearly half of the digital media businesses in Canada are located in Ontario. Digital media now employ some 8,000 highly skilled people in Ontario, 70 per cent of them in Toronto, which has rapidly become an industry leader. By the fall of 1999, digital media revenues are expected to surpass those of broadcast and cable media.

And that's also when about 100 first-year students, from an expected pool of 2,000 applicants, will be accepted into the four-year honours Bachelor of Design (BDes) program. They will be co-enrolled at both institutions, taking design practicum and design studies courses on both campuses. The program will be taught jointly by the Department of Design (formerly part of the Visual Arts Department) at York University's Faculty of Fine Arts and the Department of Design in the School of Animation, Arts and Design at Sheridan College.

With more than 30 years' experience in teaching design, both York and Sheridan are recognized leaders in information design, interactive multimedia and design research. Drawing on these strengths, the new Bachelor of Design program will provide students with comprehensive, intensive, professional training in communications design within a rich, multi-disciplinary academic environment. The practicum components will offer expertise in such areas as visual identity programs, website design, institutional/corporate publications, book design, exhibitions/maps, diagrams, signage systems. Design studies will provide an integrated approach to design history, research, theory, design management, critical issues and contemporary problems in design.

The joint program follows on the passage in April 1996 of provincial legislation formalizing the accreditation of graphic designers in Ontario. A newly created board is establishing more extensive professional standards and is calling for the creation of richer and higher quality design education programs in Ontario.

Said Albert Ng, Founding President of the Association of Registered Graphic Designers of Ontario: "York and Sheridan are already leaders in the design education field, and faculty from both institutions have played a significant role in accreditation and the development of the first professional examination, to be held next year. By working together on this unique new program you will make a further, very valuable contribution to the practice of design in Ontario. The program will strengthen the ability of the design business to compete, at home and internationally, creating opportunities for young designers and contributing to the economy of the province."

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For more information, please contact:

Sine MacKinnon
Senior Advisor, Media Relations
York University
(416) 736-2100, ext. 22087

Susan Atkinson, Manager
Public and Media Relations
Sheridan College
(905) 845-9430, ext. 2096