VCC PLAR Portfolio
I am excited to present this collection of work as part of my Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) process for the Graphic Design Diploma program at Vancouver Community College.
This portfolio has been carefully curated to directly demonstrate my skills, knowledge, and dedication to the principles of design, technical proficiency, and problem-solving abilities. For convenience, the portfolio is organized by each course from second year of the Graphic Design Diploma program, in order to easily see how my work experience is in alignment with the course outlines, assignments, and learning outcomes of the program.
I am confident that this portfolio not only showcases my passion for graphic design but also highlights my readiness to meet the standards of the program. Thank you for considering my work, and I look forward to discussing how my prior learning aligns with the goals of the Graphic Design Diploma.
Course 01 - VCDP 2350
UI/UX Strategy and Design 2
Students in this course will improve their ability to creatively solve problems as UI/UX designers. Projects will present students with advanced web or interaction design challenges that require novel solutions and creative problem solving. Students will work collaboratively by forming an in-depth understanding of a particular user problem and then conceptualizing and designing custom solutions using wireframes, prototypes, and mockups. Projects will also allow students to continue practicing their visual skills by creating consistent visual identities and style guides for web or app design projects. By the end of this course, students will have a greater ability to engage in the depth of thinking and level of problem solving required by complex UI/UX design projects.
Wireframes, mockups, prototypes, style guides and design systems
User research and user-centred design
User journeys, tasks, and scenarios
Collaboration and communication skills
Project management
Problem solving, design thinking, and systems thinking
Feature prioritization
Interaction design principles
Rapid prototyping
Micro-interactions
Usability and accessibility
Course 02 - VCDP 2312
Digital Image 2
A strong ability in image editing allows a designer to create images that fit well into their designs and also communicate the desired message of a project. In this course, students will push their ability to create and edit images, using advanced editing and retouching techniques to create professional images and photographic composites. Projects will explore technical skills like advanced selections and masks, image adjustments, filters, blend modes, patching and healing, non-destructive editing, and more. Students will use these technical skills to create images that communicate a conceptual message, a brand message, or a narrative.
Image-editing software
Retouching techniques
Advanced image adjustments
Advanced selections and masks
Filters and blend modes
Colour, contrast, exposure, lighting
Composite images
Non-destructive editing
Copyright and ethical issues
Representations of race, gender, and culture in images
Course 03 - VCDP 2460
Web Development 2
In this course, students will participate in technical workshops that expand their skill in hand-coding HTML5 and CSS3, with a focus on creating a complete multi-page responsive website and uploading it to a live web server via FTP. In addition to reviewing best practices for responsive web development, students will be introduced to advanced interactive and animation techniques, including JavaScript. Because web designers and developers must constantly update their skills as technology evolves, students will be encouraged to take on coding challenges that require independent learning above and beyond the topics covered by the instructor. Additionally, students will learn how designers and developers work together on larger web development projects.
Proper formatting and syntax for HTML5 and CSS3
Animation and interactivity
JavaScript and JavaScript frameworks
CSS libraries and frameworks
Current trends in CSS techniques
Independent research and self-directed learning
Project planning
Forms
Accessibility standards
While I have over a decade of experience as a specialized designer, my focus has been on design rather than hands-on web development. In my professional practice, I have consistently partnered with developers to bring designs to life, which aligns with industry standards where designers and developers collaborate closely but maintain distinct roles. As a result, I do not have prior learning to demonstrate for the Web Development 2 module, which focuses on advanced coding, responsive web development, and FTP deployment.
That said, I fully recognize the value of this module in expanding my technical skill set and understanding of the development process. If required, I am more than willing to complete the module to further enhance my knowledge and ensure I meet all program requirements.
Course 04 - VCDP2325
Studio: Fundamentals
In this course, students will dive into the management of professional design projects by working with real clients in the department's client studio. Students will be guided in learning important project management skills like task planning, scheduling, and budgeting. They will work collaboratively, improving their skills in communication, problem solving, creative thinking, and leadership by completing projects in teams. Alongside their client projects, students will also complete various instructor-led projects related to both project management and design fundamentals.
Creative briefs
Professional communication
Design presentations
Project management
Time management
Collaboration strategies
Business and professional ethics
Design fundamentals (Adobe CC, branding, composition, layout, typography, colour, etc)
Client management case studies
Supporting Evidence:
Over 10 years of experience in the industry as both an in-house and freelance creative
LOA - Ryan Spacey (Associate Creative Director at Banana Republic)
LOA - Guy Martin Smalley (Director at Bowery Creative)
LOA - Stevie Wilson (Executive Brand and Editorial Consultant)
Course 05 - VCDP2440
Wordpress 2
Students will review the basics of installing and configuring Wordpress websites and then use live Wordpress websites to practice solving complex web design challenges. Projects will require excellent thinking with web content strategy and user experience design principles. Students will be expected to customize Wordpress websites using child themes and hand-coded CSS and will also be expected to use Wordpress plugins to install advanced functionality. This course will also guide students in turning a simple Wordpress website into an online store, covering both the technical systems required for eCommerce functionality as well as the UI/UX principles involved in creating an intuitive and enjoyable online shopping experience.
Advanced Wordpress plugins
Advanced Wordpress themes and customization
Child themes and custom CSS
eCommerce design elements, principles, and models
UI/UX design principles
Website content strategy and calls to action
Web graphics
Navigation and information architecture
Course 06 - VCDP2320
Advertising and Art Direction
Concept is key in advertising design, and in this course, students will use creative thinking and visual communication principles to develop an ad campaign concept that can be adapted across various media. They will create designs that effectively communicate a desired message to a target audience, applying their idea through multiple advertisements with visuals customized for different media. Students will also learn to communicate their artistic direction to other creatives working on a team, such as photographers, illustrators, or writers.
Advertising history and contemporary issues, including ethics
Branding, brand messaging, and narratives
Semiotics
Ad campaign design
Design considerations for different media
Creative direction and communication
Course 07 - VCDP2455
Studio: Special Topics
In this studio course, students will work collaboratively on various graphic design projects for real-world clients. Under the mentorship of an instructor, students will meet with a client to determine project scope and will then create a project plan to coordinate the roles of each team member and define milestones and deadlines. Students will then work together to research, design, and complete their projects, including presenting their work to their clients. Alongside this client work, students will also work on diverse instructor-led projects at the cutting edge of new design trends and techniques. Topics will be selected based on the current design landscape and the needs of the design industry and may include new technologies, digital illustration, animation, web design and development, video, social media, advertising, and more.
Design trends
New design technologies
Multimedia and interactive approaches to design
Professional communication
Project management
Collaboration strategies
Design presentations
Supporting Evidence:
Over 10 years of experience in the industry as both an in-house and freelance creative
LOA - Ryan Spacey (Associate Creative Director at Banana Republic)
LOA - Guy Martin Smalley (Director at Bowery Creative)
LOA - Stevie Wilson (Executive Brand and Editorial Consultant)
Course 08 - VCDP2480
Online Marketing
In this course, students will learn different marketing approaches used to promote products and services online. The course will introduce students to basic general marketing principles and then focus on training students in skills and knowledge related specifically to online marketing, including email campaigns, social media marketing, search engine optimization, marketing analytics, and website content strategy. Students will practice strategic thinking while analyzing market research, creating a marketing plan, and designing content for an online campaign. The course will also cover web design principles that can boost the effectiveness of websites that aim to sell products and services online.
Marketing principles
Marketing analytics
Marketing campaigns
Search engine optimization
Email campaigns
Website content strategy
Social media marketing
eCommerce principles
Ethics of marketing
Cultural influence of marketing
Supporting Evidence:
All Banana Republic & lululemon portfolio projects
LOA - Dan O’Leary - Creative Director at Article
LOA - Ryan Spacey (Associate Creative Director at Banana Republic)
LOA - Guy Martin Smalley (Director at Bowery Creative)
LOA - Sofia Pona (Creative Director at BetterUp)
LOA - Stevie Wilson (Executive Brand and Editorial Consultant)
Course 09 - VCDP2445
Video and Animation
Designers are increasingly asked to prepare content for a variety of digital media platforms, from eCommerce product videos to animated GIFs for social media. In this course, students will use industry-standard tools to create dynamic video- or animation-based content that can be used across various platforms. An emphasis will be placed on creating on-brand videos or animations that can be used for online marketing campaigns or websites. By learning more advanced technical skills for video and animation, as well as more conceptual thinking skills in how video can be used online, students in this course will expand their ability to create campaign-oriented content across all media.
Sketching and storyboarding ideas
Video and animation software
Video editing
Preparing video and animation assets
Branding
Videos for websites and social media
Special effects
Course 10 - VCDP2456
Studio: Specialization
In this studio course, students will explore independent learning and entrepreneurial thinking through self-directed projects. Students will explore entrepreneurial thinking by either completing independent paid projects for their own freelance clients under the mentorship of an instructor or by planning and pitching unique business ideas they could realistically pursue after graduation. Alongside this work, students will also engage in self-directed learning by selecting a personal area of specialization and completing a core independent project that requires new learning. Students will be encouraged to use their work in this course to develop their personal identities as designers, building strength and confidence that will help them build careers after graduation.
Ideation and design thinking
Business structures
Administrative procedures
Proposals, quotes, and contracts
Networking
Marketing and self-promotion
Business and professional ethics
Project management
Career planning
Self-directed learning strategies
Supporting Evidence:
Over 10 years of experience in the industry as both an in-house and freelance creative
LOA - Ryan Spacey (Associate Creative Director at Banana Republic)
LOA - Guy Martin Smalley (Director at Bowery Creative)
LOA - Stevie Wilson (Executive Brand and Editorial Consultant)
Course 11 - VCDP2470
Packaging Design
Students in this course will journey through the inner workings of the entire packaging design process from creative brief and conceptual ideation to the development of a print-ready design file. Through a series of case studies and practical experiences, students will explore the boundaries of designing for packaging and will learn the foundational concepts, principles and strategies. Projects include the creation of a final assembled package design that can be understood in the context of a merchandized retail space. Students learn how to design for three dimensions, make a product stand out on a shelf, and setup final print-ready packaging design files. They also develop an understanding of the hierarchy of information in a packaging context.
Different package types
Laying out package design (technical, design and budgetary considerations)
Preparing artwork and mockups
Producing dielines
Material considerations
Environmental impact
Legal issues in packaging design
Course 12 - VCDP2341
Writing for Designers
This advanced writing course gives students a deeper understanding of concept and strategy in verbal and written communication. Students will learn how to analyze the goals of a project and create an effective content strategy to accomplish that goal across different media. Students will deepen their understanding of audience and purpose by writing strategic and persuasive self-promotional content that can be used for portfolios and project proposals. Students will also practice important general communication skills that will support their design careers.
Business communication and creative briefs
Writing for different media
Audience and purpose
Content strategy
Writing for self-promotion - portfolios, cover letters, biographies, resumes
Headlines and body copy writing
Revising writing
Intercultural communication
Supporting Evidence:
Personal CV and Cover Letter
LOA - Ryan Spacey (Associate Creative Director at Banana Republic)
LOA - Stevie Wilson (Executive Brand and Editorial Consultant)
Course 13 - VCDP2490
Portfolio
This course will prepare students to look for work in the competitive design industry. Students will select and refine past design projects and then create a professional design portfolio for both online and print formats. The course will also cover job search strategies that are important for graphic designers, including networking and self-promotion, and each student will create a personal job-search or self-promotion plan that will help them find the design work that suits them best.
Personal branding
Web- and print-based portfolio design
Developing a personal schedule for a project including all milestones
Career planning
Job search strategies
Job interview preparation
Self-promotion and networking
Professional social media presence
Cover letters, resumes, and biographies
Supporting Evidence:
Course 14 - VCDP2430
Editorial Design
Students in this exciting course will extend their creativity to create a professionally structured magazine from concept to print-ready files. Through research and case studies, students will inspect magazine design elements and learn how context and message differentiate varying genres. Students will create covers, logos, table of contents pages, feature pages, and department sections. Typography, layout, illustration, photography, infographics, grids, white space, headlines, and body copy will all become familiar elements in students’ editorial design vocabulary. How to package editorial material into a cohesive on-brand style will be emphasized.
History of magazine design
Publication planning
Publication masthead and branding
Typography
Photography and illustration
Publication advertising design and production
InDesign for publication: Setting up multiple page documents, developing a style template, designing core pages and spreads, covers and proofing
PDF workflow for publications
Digital editorial presentations and PDFs
Course 15 - VCDP2495
Graduating Event Design
In this course, students will draw on everything they’ve learned previously in their programs to brand and market the department's annual graduating event, which aims to connect VCC with the design industry while promoting students graduating from our programs. Students must start with ideation and the creation of a brand concept. Once the brand is established, students will work out the details of their event and create a marketing plan that strategically targets the right audiences and expresses the brand well. Finally, students will be responsible for producing all design elements required to complete the project. All work will be collaborative and organized by the students, building skill in communication, collaboration, problem solving, and project management.
Marketing principles
Branding and brand messaging
Ideation
Event planning and promotion
Self-promotion
Visual communication
Collaboration and communication
Project management
Design thinking
File preparation for print and screen uses
Equity, diversity, and inclusion
This module was successfully completed in 2013 as part of my Certificate in Digital Graphic Design. My experience in this module is also demonstrated by my portfolio which shows my proficiency in event design and my ability to deliver creative, cohesive solutions.
Course 16 - VCDP2500
Graphic Design Work Experience
A practicum bridges the gap between education and industry and affords students the opportunity to explore career options through research and informational interviews. Students will gain industry experience through a mentorship placement in a professional environment. These opportunities can include working with a freelancer, working in in-house corporate environments or working in advertising, marketing and interactive agencies. Upon completion, students will deliver a final presentation to report on their work experience.
Professionalism
Research and interviewing
Responsibilities and goals
Conflict resolution and decision making
Client and workplace expectation management
Project workflow for different environments
Personal reflection
Communication skills and professional presentations
Supporting Evidence:
Portfolio
All LOAs