# Faculty of Design
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## About the Faculty of Design
Designers of everything from products and advertisements to buildings and apps impart their perspective in each of the designs they create, whether consciously or unconsciously. As such, designers must reflect on the potential impact of their designs. At OCAD U, emerging designers learn to design innovative and creative solutions that nurture community, harmonize technology, meet market needs and empower individuals.
As producers of objects, communications and environments, our students define, enhance and transform the world around them. Students choose from six programs: Advertising, Environmental Design, Graphic Design, Illustration, Industrial Design, or Material Art and Design.
In the Faculty of Design, this means using a variety of creative approaches to:
- Design innovative and sustainable solutions that solve problems and meet market needs.
- Centre the voices of those most affected by designs.
- Value different cultures and ways of knowing and making.
- Embed Indigenous learning and principles into the design process including our relationship to the land.
The Faculty of Design also works closely with OCAD U's [graduate design-based programs](/academics/school-graduate-studies) including Inclusive Design and Design for Health.
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## Undergraduate programs
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### Advertising, BDes
We foster creative thinkers as changemakers, focusing on critical thinking, alternative design approaches, strategy, copywriting and the art of visual imagery. The power of advertising communication is balanced with the sense of accountability and responsibility towards broader communities.
](https://admissions.ocadu.ca/program/advertising)
[ 
### Environmental Design, BDes
Students learn the disciplines of architecture, landscape architecture, interior design and urban design. The program focuses on various approaches to designing and planning our build environments through a critical social, cultural and ecological lens.
](https://admissions.ocadu.ca/program/environmental-design)
[ 
### Environmental Design: Interior Design Specialization
In this specialization, students not only take Environmental Design courses but also complete four specific courses that are tailored to the field of interior design. The curriculum is designed to prepare graduates for their entry into the interior design profession.
](https://admissions.ocadu.ca/program/environmental-design-interior-design-specialization)
[ 
### Graphic Design, BDes
Students gain a foundational understanding that graphic design is rooted in communication, cultural contexts and technological advancements. We prioritize type, image and various design practices and methods including motion, interaction and information coupled with critical thinking skills development.
](https://admissions.ocadu.ca/program/graphic-design)
[ 
### Illustration, BDes
Students develop individual artistic expressions to critically reflect on society. The program is centred on building knowledge and skills that create effective, communicative and artful images that function as a complement to the written word.
](https://admissions.ocadu.ca/program/illustration)
[ 
### Industrial Design, BDes
Students learn to design products, processes, services and systems that consider impacts on future generations. Areas of student include furniture, interactive and experience design and strategic foresight.
](https://admissions.ocadu.ca/program/industrial-design)
[ 
### Material Art & Design, BDes/BFA
In this program, relationships to the materials that connect us to the craft of making are deepened. Concentrations are offered in Jewellery and Textiles, allowing students to work from either an art or design perspective.
](https://admissions.ocadu.ca/program/material-art-design)
Image credits [Jessica Sanchez Martinez](https://eportfolio.ocadu.ca/exhibitor/details/6dd98f86-ca7d-47ad-b515-5ac0511dd79d), [Batoll Nassery](https://eportfolio.ocadu.ca/exhibitor/details/5769ff7a-a50f-4f06-a595-8ef521dc5ae0), Chieng Luphuyong, Yigit Toprak, [Nik Clydesdale](https://eportfolio.ocadu.ca/exhibitor/details/fad25ced-aebb-4929-9ecc-29aa53d41a46), [Victor Kosic](https://eportfolio.ocadu.ca/exhibitor/details/872af08f-b95a-465a-b8d7-c925370d79e1), Kayla Bullen.
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## Minors
### Black Studies Design & Art Minor
The multidisciplinary Black Studies in Design and Art (minor) comprises core courses in Black art and design practices, culture, history, and critical theory to enrich exploration of decolonized futures by bringing in the voices of Black designers and artists. Students from Faculty of Design, Faculty of Art and Faculty of Arts and Science may enroll.
[ View all Minors
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## Faculty of Design events
[### COL LAB
October 13, 2026 - October 25, 2026Main Building & Rosalie Sharp Centre for Design (MCA)Event ](/index%2Ephp/events-and-exhibitions/col-lab)
[### ILLU 150 CELEBRATION \| Opening Reception, Website Launch & Fundraiser
October 29, 2026 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.Ada Slaight Student GalleryEvent ](/index%2Ephp/events-and-exhibitions/illu-150-celebration-opening-reception-website-launch-fundraiser)
[### DesignMeets: Redefining the Design Practice
October 29, 2026 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.Main Building & Rosalie Sharp Centre for Design (MCA)Talk ](/index%2Ephp/events-and-exhibitions/designmeets-redefining-design-practice)
[### Storytime: Comic & Picture Book Alumni Artist Panel
October 30, 2026Learning ZoneTalk ](/index%2Ephp/events-and-exhibitions/storytime-comic-picture-book-alumni-artist-panel)
#### Pagination
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- [ Next page ›› ](/index%2Ephp/markdownify/node/45?page=1 "Go to next page")
## Faculty of Design news
[  
### OCAD U alum team named Canadian winner of 2026 James Dyson Award for smart vest to help people manage stress
Industrial Design graduates Marzuq Vohra and Vienna Pighin are Canada’s national winners for their invention, Proactive Project.
September 23, 2026
](/news/ocad-u-alum-team-named-canadian-winner-2026-james-dyson-award-smart-vest-help-people-manage)
[  
### Faculty of Design Used Book Sale
Faculty of Design’s Used Book Sale offered students affordable access to donated art and design books. Date/Time: Wednesday, October 7, 2026, from 10am – 6pm Location: 100 McCaul St. - OCAD University, Lobby, Ground Floor
September 2, 2026
](/news/faculty-design-used-book-sale)
[  
### Assistant Professor Parantap Bhatt Incorporates AI in his Teaching Methods
With more students experimenting with AI tools and integrating AI into their workflows, OCAD U faculty members are incorporating these tools into studio and classroom settings.
April 14, 2026
](/news/assistant-professor-parantap-bhatt-incorporates-ai-his-teaching-methods)
[  
### FoD: Senate Election Updates
Senate Election Updates
April 14, 2026
](/news/fod-senate-election-updates)
[  
### Gary Taxali - Ridley College Mural
Professor Taxali has created a mural for Ridley College!
April 13, 2026
](/news/gary-taxali-ridley-college-mural)
[  
### Ranee Lee - Blend Conference at University of Waterloo
Ranee Lee gives a talk at Blend Conference at University of Waterloo in Kitchener.
April 8, 2026
](/news/ranee-lee-blend-conference-university-waterloo)
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### **Lesley-Ann Noel**
*Dean of Design*
Lesley-Ann Noel is a designer, researcher, and educator, the author of Design Social Change, and a co-editor of The Black Experience in Design. She has created several design tools for critical reflection, such as The Designer’s Critical Alphabet and the Positionality Wheel. She has a bachelor’s in Industrial Design from Universidade Federal do Paraná in Brazil, a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of the West Indies in Trinidad and Tobago, and a PhD in Design from North Carolina State University. She was awarded honorary doctorates by the University of the Arts London and the Pacific Northwest College of Art for service to the field of design. She is the Dean of Design at OCAD University. Before OCAD-U, she taught at North Carolina State University, Tulane University, Stanford University, and the University of the West Indies.
### **Diane Mikhael (She/Her), MFA, MA**
*Acting Associate Dean, Faculty of Design*
dmikhael@ocadu.ca
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### Faculty of Design office
230 Richmond Street West, Suite 910
Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4:00 pm
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###
**Angela Bains**
Chair, Advertising
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**Ali Qadeer**
Chair, Graphic Design
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**Parantap Bhatt**
Chair, Environmental Design
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**Shea Chang**
Chair, Illustration
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**Peter Coppin**
Chair, Industrial Design
[Pcoppin@ocadu.ca](mailto:pcoppin@ocadu.ca)
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**Julia Rose Sutherland**
Chair, Material Art & Design
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**Ana Maria Correa (she/her)**
Interim Manager
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**Mary Ann Lee, B.A.**
Executive Assistant to the Dean
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**Zul Gulamhusein**
Coordinator
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**Mai Noto**
Coordinator, Academic Planning
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**Aamrapali Majumdar**
Program Assistant, Students
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**Rifat Behzetoglu (he/him)**
Program Assistant, Faculty & Events
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## Meet OCAD U faculty
[ View faculty
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## Featured student work
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[ 
Diana Silla
View work »
](https://eportfolio.ocadu.ca/work/details/a402b32b-065a-4c53-a5ee-4a5627cb3dcb?eid=32be23bb-9a57-4a5a-852d-b111ba90ca81 "ACT ACCORDINGLY")
[ 
Sid Sharp
View work »
](https://eportfolio.ocadu.ca/work/details/cf0b6020-ac7a-45bd-9d1e-bad9bf0ba69f?eid=be94d855-27b9-4230-a1bc-1fd9baa2aee6 "Swan Man")
[ 
Arina Kalantar
View work »
](https://eportfolio.ocadu.ca/work/details/50aa3786-ac0e-4be0-975a-01e1bd923cd3?eid=f672f0b7-4151-4f0b-afc2-8b4c6aa8d415 "Companions of Burning")
[ 
Hala Al Hadeethi
View work »
](https://eportfolio.ocadu.ca/work/details/5078f8ee-11c8-4bc8-b437-7d6a4e39f6f3?eid=c7beb279-237e-4f20-8b1e-f95fbba3692a "Tawaf - Thesis Project")
[ 
Aleena Derohanian
View work »
](https://eportfolio.ocadu.ca/work/details/099b913e-daad-4231-bb6d-0b128a6145e3?eid=44c91987-5a69-4cd0-92dd-d132db8ffb3e "05 Something O'Clock (Featuring a Beautiful Girl Gang of Cows)")
[ 
Jinhan Guo
View work »
](https://eportfolio.ocadu.ca/work/details/3b301ea0-371a-4042-a682-e1805e61a3d6?eid=e717c4c5-3302-474e-93fc-d0000f627221 ""Heritage Horizons"-Greece")
[ 
Shamika Pierre
View work »
](https://eportfolio.ocadu.ca/work/details/48045576-edde-4510-b198-11ac83714355?eid=8a59a821-7cc9-48b5-87c2-51321c0ba663 "02 In Bloom")
[ 
Alyssa Bernardo
View work »
](https://eportfolio.ocadu.ca/work/details/59ad33b7-1003-4a3f-823c-bfdd0d78a95f?aid=df2f6bbe-8537-4a29-ac70-f607d13522b7 "kanoe")
[ 
Jihyun Moon
View work »
](https://eportfolio.ocadu.ca/work/details/fb4fee50-0f18-425c-b20e-738a19de4df3?eid=c50a77c2-09bd-4646-98cd-cbec7fa44172 "Hwatu Redesign")
[ 
Adrian Geary
View work »
](https://eportfolio.ocadu.ca/work/details/6c310116-fd70-4c9e-a635-267db9e01705?eid=41d0bf69-c5a3-4934-981d-bc4bf894c43d "RICKY")
[ 
Melody Juthamongkol
View work »
](https://eportfolio.ocadu.ca/work/details/00f9a9ab-357a-48d4-9f6b-62a977e2c12b?eid=e3ae9a02-bd97-4610-ac75-268bf85a2ade "The Rabbit Lantern - The Jade Rabbit")
[ 
Anoosh Mubashar
View work »
](https://eportfolio.ocadu.ca/work/details/5ac2be45-97a7-4d25-9323-cfd46e3b499e?eid=4395361b-5839-40a1-8fcc-aef42a112993 "Charades")