Environmental Design at OCAD University is a broad-based studio program where interiors, architecture, landscape and urban design approaches synthesize to develop creative and responsive spatial design where human interaction and the utilization of constructed environments is focal. With an emphasis on expressiveness and habitability, students work towards designing environments that shape and qualify our experience and interaction with space. Students learn to integrate interior and architectural design, film and theatre, exhibition and landscape in order to create emotive and poetic aspects of space, structure, form and texture.
The program integrates courses in design theory, colour, interior and architectural materials, technology and construction, drawing and graphic presentation techniques, and professional practice. Expansion studios provide the opportunity to deepen skills in specific design disciplines and to select courses in a number of related disciplines. Core design studios develop a design methodology for research, analysis, design and presentation with a strong emphasis on conceptual development. The senior studio culminates in a focused body of thesis work within an area of the student’s choice.
Our students explore a range of projects from the uses and applications of recycled materials, the revisioning of architectural environments to the critical analysis and design of urban space and relationships. Their vision incorporates present and future evolving ideas, sustainable responsibilities, ethics, technologies and changing cultural values as an expression of their own personality, creativity, craft and culture.
Graduates of the Environmental Design program are recognized by the Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario and find career placement in interior design studios, environmental, architecture, or landscape firms and product design companies. Many continue to graduate studies in architecture, environmental sciences, urban planning, sustainability studies or specific interdisciplinary studies at other institutions.
We encourage our students to utilize their design education to create new opportunities and to become the creative designers of our future.
Please refer to the Design Programs: Introduction.
It is highly recommended that all students interested in practicing Interior Design, and being recognized by ARIDO (Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario), include in their program the courses listed below. All students interested in practicing Interior Design and graduating in 2015 or later must include the following courses in their program:
ENVR 3B18 Building Systems & Interior Materials: Residential
ENVR 3B19 Building Systems & Interior Materials: Commercial
GDES 3B14 Interior Design Studio: Office
GDES 3B24 Interior Design Studio: Residential
It is recommended that students interested in continuing their education with a postgraduate degree in Architecture at another institution include in their program the following courses:
ENVR 3B18 Building Systems & Interior Materials: Residential
ENVR 3B19 Building Systems & Interior Materials: Commercial
GDES 4B05 Architecture Design Studio 1
GDES 3B47 Design for Dwelling
All Faculty of Design programs are developed as semester groupings of related courses. In order to be best prepared to meet course expectations, students are normally required to complete all core courses in one semester before carrying on to courses in the next semester.
To meet graduation requirements, students must attain an overall average of 65% or higher for all designated core courses. After the first semester of first year, the minimum pass grade for core courses is 60%.
Note: Students in this major Program or accessing any of these courses through a inor are included in the Laptop Program, and are required to pay the associated fees for software and support.
All students should refer to Liberal Arts & Sciences for a general outline of the liberal studies degree requirements. For specific liberal studies requirements for your program and year of entry, please refer to "What are liberal studies courses?"
Students who have declared a minor, may use undesignated liberal studies distribution courses and up to 1.5 credits of expansion studios to fulfill minor course requirements and major course requirements at the same time.
| COURSE CODE | COURSE TITLE | CREDIT |
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100 LEVEL: FALL SEMESTER PLEASE PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO COURSE DESCRIPTIONS FOR SPECIFIC CONDITIONS REGARDING ADVANCEMENT TO FUTURE COURSES. |
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| ENVR 1B01 | Environmental Design 1 (core) | 0.5 |
| GDES 1B13 | Solid and Void: Drawing Form and Space | 0.5 |
| GDES 1B24 | Colour and Two-dimensional Design | 0.5 |
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Please note, when registering, that sections 10 and 11 of this course are delivered entirely online and will not be scheduled in a classroom on a specific day and time. |
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(If English is not your first language, consider enrolling in English Language Pathway, a special offering attached to section 7 of GDES 1B16 Colour in Context which would be considered equivalent to GDES 1B24 for ESL students in First Year Design.) |
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| Must take VISC 1B02 (and one of ENGL 1B04 or ENGL 1B05 if you don't take one in the winter) | ||
| VISC 1B02 |
Global Visual and Material Culture: Beginnings to 1800 (LST)
|
0.5 |
|
(If all sections of VISC 1B02 in the fall are full, you may take it in the winter.) |
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| ENGL 1B04 | The Essay and the Argument: Mechanics (LST) | 0.5 |
| or ENGL 1B05 | The Essay and the Argument: ESL (English as a Second Language) (LST) | |
|
100 LEVEL: WINTER SEMESTER PLEASE PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO COURSE DESCRIPTIONS FOR SPECIFIC CONDITIONS REGARDING ADVANCEMENT TO FUTURE COURSES. |
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| ENVR 1B02 | Environmental Design 2 (core) | 0.5 |
| GDES 1B21 | Experience Design | 0.5 |
| ENVR 1B04 | Materials and Methods | 0.5 |
| ENVR 1B05 | Concept Drawing | 0.5 |
| Must take VISC 1B07 (and one of ENGL 1B04 or ENGL 1B05 if you didn't take one in the fall) | ||
| VISC 1B07 |
Global Visual and Material Culture: 1800 to the Present (LST)
|
0.5 |
|
(if all sections of VISC 1B07 in the winter are full, you may take it in the fall.) |
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| ENGL 1B04 | The Essay and the Argument: Mechanics (LST)) | 0.5 |
| or ENGL 1B05 | The Essay and the Argument: ESL (English as a Second Language) (LST) | |
|
200 LEVEL: FALL SEMESTER PLEASE PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO COURSE DESCRIPTIONS FOR SPECIFIC CONDITIONS REGARDING ADVANCEMENT TO FUTURE COURSES. |
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| Choose one liberal studies course: | ||
| VISD 2B01 | History of Modern Design (LST) | 0.5 |
|
or VISD 2B10
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History of 20th Century Architecture (LST) | |
| ENVR 2B15 | Research Studio: Colour, Light and Environment | 0.5 |
| ENVR 2B18 | Building Technology & Structure 1 (SEM) | 0.5 |
| ENVR 2B22 | Presentation Drawing and Rendering | 0.5 |
| ENVR 2B17 | Exploration Studio: Personal Space (core) | 0.5 |
|
200 LEVEL: WINTER SEMESTER PLEASE PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO COURSE DESCRIPTIONS FOR SPECIFIC CONDITIONS REGARDING ADVANCEMENT TO FUTURE COURSES. |
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| VISD 2B38 | Contemporary Design Theories and Practices (LST) | 0.5 |
| See Faculty of Liberal Arts & Sciences | Choose one liberal studies course (see recommended list and links at the end of this document) | 0.5 |
| GDES 2B03 | Think Tank 1: Awareness (SEM) | 0.5 |
| ENVR 2B21 | Research Studio: Social Space | 0.5 |
| ENVR 2B19 | Exploration Studio: Social Space (core) | 0.5 |
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300 LEVEL: FALL SEMESTER PLEASE PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO COURSE DESCRIPTIONS FOR SPECIFIC CONDITIONS REGARDING ADVANCEMENT TO FUTURE COURSES. |
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| Choose one liberal studies course: | 0.5 | |
| SCTM 2B09 | Introduction to Materials Science (LST) | |
| Students who entered OCAD U prior to September 2012 are restricted to one SCTM course and therefore must choose an alternative liberal studies course for the fall semester. (Because SCTM 3B03 is a required course for the winter, SCTM 2B09 will not count towards their graduation requirements.) | ||
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or see Faculty of Liberal Arts & Sciences |
Choose one liberal studies course (see recommended list and links at the end of this document) | |
| ENVR 3B21 | Core Project Studio: Residential (core) | 0.5 |
| ENVR 3B25 | Accessible Design for the Built Environment | 0.5 |
| ENVR 3B22 | Introduction to Lighting | 0.5 |
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Choose one:
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0.5 | |
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Building Systems & Interior Materials: Residential
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or choose one expansion studio from the list provided at the end of this document.
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300 LEVEL: WINTER SEMESTER PLEASE PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO COURSE DESCRIPTIONS FOR SPECIFIC CONDITIONS REGARDING ADVANCEMENT TO FUTURE COURSES. |
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| SCTM 3B03 | Human Factors for Designers (LST) | 0.5 |
| ENVR 3B20 | Core Project Studio: Retail & Hospitality (core) | 0.5 |
| ENVR 3B24 | Building Technology & Structure 2 (SEM) | 0.5 |
| ENVR 3B07 | Research Methodologies for Environmental Designers (SEM) | 0.5 |
| Choose one: | 0.5 | |
|
Building Systems & Interior Materials: Commercial
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or choose one expansion studio from the list provided at the end of this document.
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400 LEVEL: FALL SEMESTER PLEASE PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO COURSE DESCRIPTIONS FOR SPECIFIC CONDITIONS REGARDING ADVANCEMENT TO FUTURE COURSES. |
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| Choose one liberal studies course: | 0.5 | |
| VISC 4B15 |
Urban Life: Art, Design and the City (LST) (available fall or winter)
|
|
| or VISD 4B19 | Contemporary Studies in Architecture and Design (LST) (available winter) | |
| If you take VISD 4B15 or VISD 4B19 in the winter, choose another liberal studies course from the Liberal Arts & Sciences offerings for the fall semester. (see recommended list and links at the end of this document) | ||
| ENVR 4C01 | Environmental Design Thesis 1 (core) | 1.0 |
| Choose one: | 0.5 | |
| GDES 3B24 | Interior Design Studio: Residential | |
| or GDES 4B05 | Architecture Design Studio 1 | |
| Choose one expansion studio from the list provided at the end of this document. | 0.5 | |
|
400 LEVEL: WINTER SEMESTER PLEASE PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO COURSE DESCRIPTIONS FOR SPECIFIC CONDITIONS REGARDING GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS. |
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| Choose one liberal studies course: | 0.5 | |
| VISD 4B19 | Contemporary Studies in Architecture and Design (LST) (available winter) | |
| or VISC 4B15 | Urban Life: Art, Design and the City (LST) (available fall or winter) | |
| If you take VISD 4B15 in the fall, choose another liberal studies course from the Liberal Arts & Sciences offerings for the winter semester (see recommended list and links at the end of this document). | ||
| ENVR 4B04 | Professional Practice for Environmental Designers (SEM) | 0.5 |
| ENVR 4C02 | Environmental Design Thesis 2 (core) | 1.0 |
| Choose one: | 0.5 | |
| GDES 3B14 | Interior Design Studio: Office | |
| or GDES 3B47 | Design for Dwelling | |
| or choose one expansion studio from the list provided below. | ||
| Expansion Studio Courses (subject to being offered): | ||
| GDES 3B38 | Ambient Experience Design | |
| GDES 4B05 |
Architectural Design Studio 1 |
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| GDES 3B10 | Art of Presentation | |
| GDES 3B18 | Biomimicry 1: Points of Departure | |
| GDES 3B28 | Biomimicry 2: Application | |
| ENVR 3B19 |
Building Systems & Interior Materials: Commercial |
|
| ENVR 3B18 |
Building Systems & Interior Materials: Residential |
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| GDES 3B21 | Designing Across Difference: Indigenous Communities | |
| GDES 3B47 |
Design for Dwelling |
|
| GDEX 3B06 | Design for the North (not offered 2014/2015) |
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| GDES 3C01 | Design Study Abroad (not offered 2014/2015) |
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| GDES 3B20 | Design with Technology 1 | |
| GDES 3B78 | Design with Technology 2 | |
| GDES 3B36 | Domestic Ceramics: Exploring the Useful Object | |
| GDES 3B40 | Exploration, Insight and Foresight in Design (SEM) | |
| GDES 3B46 | Explorations in Architectural Glass | |
| GDEX 3B04 | Furniture Construction Methodologies | |
| GDES 3B15 | Furniture Design 1 | |
| GDES 3B25 | Furniture Design 2 | |
| GDES 4B11 | Furniture Design 3 | |
| GDES 3B70 | Game Design: Conceptual and Visual Approaches | |
| GDES 3B71 | Game Design: Digital Development | |
| GDES 3B49 | Image and Clay: Exploring the Ceramic Surface (not offered 2014/2015) |
|
| GDEX 3B14 | Interactive Spatial Design: Building Responsive Visual Environments | |
| GDES 3B14 |
Interior Design Studio: Office |
|
| GDES 3B24 |
Interior Design Studio: Residential |
|
| GDES 4B03 | Internship (offered during summer) | |
| GDEX 3B03 | Introduction to Design Management | |
| GDES 3B57 | Living Environments: Design Theory (not offered 2014/2015) |
|
| GDES 3B58 | Living Environments: Design Practices | |
| GDES 3B66 | Materials for a Sustainable Practice (SEM) | |
| Myths, Beliefs and Imagery | ||
| GDES 3B12 | Socially Responsible Design Practices (not offered 2014/2015) |
|
| GDES 3B60 | Sustainable Design & Development | |
| GDES 3B54 | Think Tank 2: Consideration (SEM) | |
| GDES 4B08 | Think Tank 3: Action (SEM) | |
| GDES 3B59 | Urban Design Ecology (SEM) (not offered 2014/2015) |
|
| DIGF 3B01 | Networked Communities and Environments (SEM) | |
| or |
Relevant, out of program, course - subject to approval. Contact Program Assistant Robert Pisano for approvals/equivalencies, prior to commencement of class. | |
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| Recommended liberal studies courses (subject to being offered): | ||
| VISD 3B32 | History of Furniture (LST) | |
| Please visit Liberal Arts & Sciences course listing for a full selection of liberal studies courses. | ||
Last Modified:7/3/2014 2:49:43 PM