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Overview
Turn your creativity into a tech-focused career as a digital designer. You'll learn about design fundamentals, digital design tools and best practices when developing concepts into products that meet business needs or solve complex business problems.
You’ll enhance your skills in design thinking and push your creative boundaries. At the same time, you learn to evaluate and create data-driven designs and apply workflow techniques to media projects and production pipelines. Working collaboratively with your peers to create project plans, you’ll develop effective problem-solving skills with an emphasis on human-centred design. To demonstrate your knowledge, you’ll create a portfolio of your work that will indicate applied design concepts that meet specific client requirements and can be presented to clients for critique.
In the Graphic Design major, you’ll deepen your content creation skills and expand into areas of print and graphic design. You'll develop skills in design-thinking, graphic communications, typography, content hierarchies, colour theory and design theory. You'll learn to enhance products and leverage these design principles to appeal to specific audiences. You’ll also learn to produce a packaging project for a specific user while gaining an understanding of the basic functions of digital press and bindery equipment.
The opportunity to advance your education by transferring into this program or gain credit for previous postsecondary courses may be available.
There may also be opportunities to further your education by transferring to another institution once you graduate.
Learn more about program and institution transfer options.
This program has an optional work term after the first year. In the second year, there is a capstone course in which students investigate issues across many different subject areas or domains of knowledge, may connect with community issues or problems, and create a solution.
Upon successful completion of this program, graduates will be awarded a SAIT Interactive Design diploma.
Careers and opportunities
Our graduates may work in the following occupations. Some careers require additional experience and education.

Career counselling and support
Unsure which career path is for you? SAIT offers career planning services to help you decide your future.
You can also get started by taking our online career finder quiz, which can help you narrow down your search based on your current skills and interests.
Finally, you can also head to Alberta alis for various tools and resources, including additional quizzes and labour market information to help you narrow down a career path.
Services and workshopsCourses
The Interactive Design – Graphic Design diploma requires 60 credits (19 courses) to complete.
The program spans two years, with two semesters each year.
Interactive design core
Course | Credits |
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This course is designed to develop technical writing and presentation skills to ensure workplace readiness. Students will learn how to evaluate communication situations, analyze documents, assess research sources and develop organizational skills to apply in their work. They will learn about and practice designing, formatting and writing a range of professional documents. Students will also develop confidence (through practice) in the development and delivery of effective and engaging presentations. |
3 |
Building on previous knowledge in web design and development, learners will apply design and development techniques to responsive designs enabling access for all devices. Advanced web development frameworks will be used along with advanced scripting patterns. Emphasis will be placed on debugging client-side code and incorporating backwards compatibility with considerations for accessible design. Pre-requisites:
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3 |
After completing this course, students will have the technical and design skills needed to develop a simple web page. Students will understand the basics of computer scripting, and how to use a web scripting language to add functionality to a web page. |
3 |
This course covers media production concepts that include the application of design theory and principles to intermediate projects. Traditional and digital drawing, typography, intermediate layout and intermediate photographic techniques will be explored. Digital production and design tools will be used. Pre-requisites:
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3 |
In this course, learners will develop the skills and understanding required to create user-centric designs. Learners will be able to identify good User Experience (UX) design in physical and digital mediums and its impact on users. Learners will also be able to describe how UI and UX design methods can be applied towards understanding the end user to create meaningful design solutions. |
3 |
This is an introductory course covering design theory, the production of media, and the use of production hardware and software tools. Learners will become familiar with bitmap and vector graphics, digital photography, typography and print media tools and techniques. |
3 |
In this course learners will explore basic animation theory, motion graphics, and audio and video concepts. Learners will use basic programming scripts to develop basic interactive presentations. |
3 |
This course will focus on media authoring, intermediate audio and video production, as well as motion graphics. Pre-requisites:
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3 |
The purpose of this course is to introduce you to fundamental skills in critical thinking. You will develop skills in identifying fallacies, evaluating formal arguments, and diagnosing the appropriate form of argumentation in a variety of areas, including science and morality. Your skills in argumentation will be honed both in evaluating others’ arguments and in making your own.p> Equivalents:
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3 |
This course will examine industry cases to illustrate how products are disrupting the market. Learners will explore the strategic and dynamic role a product manager plays in evolving a product over its lifecycle. Topics in logistics, planning, team formation, and product finding will also be explored. |
3 |
Graphic design core
Course | Credits |
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In this course we will investigate the creation and manipulation of digital images by computer. The course will consist of theoretical material introducing the mathematics of images and imaging, as well as computer laboratory exercises designed to introduce methods of real-world data manipulation. Topics will include representation of two-dimensional data, time and frequency domain representations, filtering and enhancement, the Fourier transform, convolution, interpolation, colour images, and techniques for animation. Pre-requisites:
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3 |
The course is designed to provide an in-depth, practical, and up-to-date look at all major aspects of digital marketing, including selling products and services online, search engine optimization, social media marketing, and executing pay per click advertising. Pre-requisites:
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3 |
Building on previous visual design concepts, this course covers the advanced topics in visual design and communications with emphasis on gravity, directionality, priority, tension, dynamic and static design, and negative space. Application of these topics are contextualized within the design industry through the integration of style guides, client presentations, design systems, product roadmaps, and development hand-off. Pre-requisites:
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3 |
This course is the first of two studio courses that will prepare you to create solutions to real-world industry problems within a design firm context. This course explores the creative design process through a series of composition, abstraction, and design projects. You will be introduced to a design process based on original thinking, in which you will synthesize collected information and draw conclusions based on established premises. The course will also demonstrate how to generate a number of design alternatives, and evaluate and select the most appropriate one. Pre-requisites:
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3 |
This course is the second of two studio courses that will prepare you to create solutions to real-world industry problems within a design firm context. In the second part of Design Studio, students will explore more complex problems and create solutions and prototypes for presentation and iteration. Increasingly complex projects will provide a foundation for the development of a learner portfolio to support the transition into industry. Pre-requisites:
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6 |
In this course we will investigate the creation and manipulation of digital images by computer. The course will consist of theoretical material introducing the mathematics of images and imaging, as well as computer laboratory exercises designed to introduce methods of real-world data manipulation. Topics will include representation of two-dimensional data, time and frequency domain representations, filtering and enhancement, the Fourier transform, convolution, interpolation, colour images, and techniques for animation. |
3 |
This course will allow learners to study letter forms and understand fundamental typographic principles with an emphasis on the vocabulary of typographic form and its relationship to message/purpose. Additional topics on the translation of typographic design to print will be explored. |
3 |
This course provides an overview of the process of preparing print communication materials for reproduction, from concept to completion. Students are introduced to production workflow models in use today. Through a series of assignments, requires students to prepare and execute press-ready files of a professional standard. Using industry standard software tools students will compile documents that are technically correct according to industry-standard workflow methods. The proper preparation and inclusion of vector and raster files is explored alongside colour synchronization, and colour management across applications. |
3 |
In this capstone course, you will investigate issues across many different subject areas or domains of knowledge, may connect with community issues or problems, and create a solution. Your project should demonstrate the technical and professional skills learned in the program and beyond. You are expected to apply your creativity and problem-solving abilities to a real-world context. Pre-requisites:One of the following options:
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3 |
Course | Credits |
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This cooperative work term course provides the opportunity to apply your classroom learning in a practical workplace setting, as well as gain valuable industry experience. This course is optional. Pre-requisites:
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0 |
Progression
Students must attain a PGPA and/or a CGPA of 2.0 or better in each semester and pass the necessary prerequisite courses to progress through the program. To qualify for graduation, students must pass all courses, attain a CGPA of 2.0 or better and complete course requirements within the prescribed timelines.
Admission requirements
Applicants educated in Canada
All applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency and meet the following requirements or equivalents.
- at least 50% in Math 30-1 or 60% in Math 30-2
- at least 55% in English Language Arts 30-1 or 60% in English Language Arts 30-2.
SAIT accepts high school course equivalents for admission for applicants educated outside Alberta.
All applicants who were educated outside of Canada must demonstrate English Language proficiency and provide proof they meet the program admission requirements with an international document assessment. Find out what educational documents are accepted and assessment options.
SAIT may also accept courses completed at certain international post-secondary institutions.

Academic Upgrading
Missing an admission requirement for this program? Upgrade your prior education to help you receive admission into one of SAIT's career programs.
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English language proficiency
All applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency prior to admission, including students educated in Canada.
Learn moreAvailable intakes
Winter 2024
Start dates:
- Domestic students: Open
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Application deadline: Oct. 26, 2023
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- International students: Closed
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Application deadline: Sept. 28, 2023
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Spring 2024
Start dates:
- Domestic students: Open
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Application deadline: Feb. 23, 2024
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- International students: Waitlisted
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Application deadline: Jan. 22, 2024
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Fall 2024
Start dates:
- Domestic students: Open
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Application deadline: June 28, 2024
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- International students: Open
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Application deadline: May 29, 2024
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Costs
2023/24 tuition and fees
The following costs are effective as of July 1, 2023. They are an estimate of tuition and fees based on the recommended course load per year.
Domestic students
Year | Number of semesters | Tuition fees |
Additional fees |
Total per year |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | $9,450 | $1,570 | $11,020 |
2 | 2 | $9,450 | $1,570 | $11,020 |
Total cost:
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$22,040 |
Books and supplies are approximately $2,000 per full-time year.
Find your booklist on the SAIT Bookstore's website. The booklist will be available closer to the program start date.
Can’t find your program or course? The bookstore didn't receive a textbook list. Contact your program directly to determine if they’re still refining course details or if you're in luck; no textbook purchase is required this term.
Computers and laptops
This is a bring-your-own-device program with a custom hardware and software requirement.
For this program, you will need the following:
- a laptop with an integrated webcam
- a smartphone with the ability to record audio and video
- headphones with an integrated microphone.
All computers must meet the following minimum specifications.
Laptop
- Required
- MacBook Air with M2 chip
- 8-Core CPU, 10-Core GPU
- 8GB Unified Memory
- 512GB SSD Storage
- Preferred
- 14"Apple MacBook Pro with M2 Pro chip.
- Students with PC laptops must have the minimum power user hardware and software requirements for this program.
Note: Some UX designers use software that is only for Mac.
Software
- Adobe CC Student Subscription
- Figma (free for education)
- FileZilla Client
- Chrome
- Visual Studio Code
- MS Office (included in your program)

Financial aid
Paying for your education may feel overwhelming, but we have resources and programs that can help, including information about payment options, student loans, grants and scholarships.
Learn moreApplication process
When applying in the application portal, select Interactive Design. You will be able to select Graphic Design as your major during the application process.

Ready to apply?
Follow our step-by-step guide to submitting a successful application.
Learn how to applyCommunication during admission
Email is the primary source of communication during the selection process. Ensure your personal email account is managed appropriately to receive our emails, files and communications. We recommend you add the sadt.advising@sait.ca domain to your safe senders' list or you risk missing critical email messages.
Information sessions
Prepare for a strong start in your chosen program or get the details you need to decide your future path.
Our expert staff and faculty are ready to answer your questions and provide information about the following:
- What sets SAIT apart
- An introduction to the program and area of study
- Admission requirements
- Future career paths
- Information on the earning potential and graduate employment rates.
Contact us
Prepare for a strong start and get the details you need to make a decision about your future. Our expert staff and faculty are ready to answer your questions, and provide information about:
School for Advanced Digital Technology Advising
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Phone - 403.284.8543
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Email - sadt.advising@sait.ca
International Student Advising
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Phone - 403.284.8852
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Email - international@sait.ca
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