You’ll focus on making your own designs and will learn the critical and business skills you’ll need to succeed.
In this program, you can choose to focus on textiles or jewellery/metalsmithing. You can also take electives in ceramics, wearable form, and wearable technology. Program instructors are top textile, jewellery and ceramics artists and designers.
Our studios are equipped with the traditional tools and new technology needed to prepare you for work as an artist, designer or craftsperson.
If you focus on textiles, you’ll create your own printed, woven and experimental textiles for sculpture, clothing and surface design. You’ll use traditional methods and new technology such as digital printing, embroidery and knitting.
If you focus on jewellery and metalsmithing, you’ll create your own fine jewellery and sculptures with metals and other materials. You will also learn to use traditional methods of fabrication and casting alongside computer-aided design and manufacturing.
Program Highlights
At the End of this Program...
At the end of this four-year program, you will earn your choice of a Bachelor of Design (BDes) or Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree.
Admissions Requirements
- For Ontario high school students, a minimum overall average of 70%
- Portfolio
- Statement of Intent
- Official transcripts
- See detailed academic requirements here
Jobs You Can Get
Graduates of the program work as:
- Textile artists and designers
- Jewellers
- Ceramists
Some students use their skills in fashion, costume and interior design. Others pursue graduate studies in art, craft, design, ceramics, fashion, jewellery, textiles and museum studies.
Internships & Experiential learning
OCAD U offers so much more than co-ops because creative careers take many forms. Our career services help you build a professional community, valuable experience and skills you need for a meaningful career. Get access to:
- Short experiential learning placements from among hundreds of organizations
- Creative in-class projects with real-world industry partners
- Exclusive summer internships
- Gallery exhibitions of your work
- Freelance creative opportunities
- Jobs after graduation
What You'll Do in the Program
In first year, you’ll take intro classes in topics such as:
- Colour and 2D design
- 3D design, fabrication and digital modeling
- Drawing
- Art and Design history
- Jewellery
- Textiles
In second year, you will have more choices of classes that interest you and will study:
- Drawing
- Material art history
- Jewellery 3D digital design
- Jewellery casting
- Jewellery fabrication
- Textiles dyeing and printing
- Textiles stitching
- Textiles weaving and knitting
- Silversmithing
- Courses in liberal studies
Third year will feature an open electives and more advanced courses, such as:
- Jewellery or textiles drawing and rendering
- Jewellery or textiles professional practice
- Jewellery structure and gem setting
- Jewellery or Textiles history
- Textiles weaving, knitting and printing
- Jewellery or Textiles concepts
- Electives such as liberal studies, ceramics and wearable form
In fourth year, you will focus your study on your area of interest. You’ll spend the year working on your thesis project and will showcase your work at GradEx ̶ OCAD U’s Graduate Exhibition, the biggest free art and design exhibition in Toronto with more than 40,000 visitors.
Minors
In all undergraduate programs you can choose to take a minor alongside your major to explore and expand your practice. Minors give you the opportunity to pursue a focused secondary field of study in addition to or sometimes instead of taking electives in your program and can help you look better for employers or in grants or grad school applications. You don’t need to choose a minor on your application – rather once you start at OCAD U, you’ll be able to choose from over 90 electives that can build towards one of our 25 focused minors. Learn more about Minor Programs here.
Take the Next Step
