The Art Institute of Vancouver
Prepare yourself for a creative career at The Art Institute of Vancouver, one of over 40 Art Institutes located in major cities across North America. We’ll help take you there with a real-world, hands-on education in design, media arts, fashion & the culinary arts. Just imagine: preparing for a career you’ll love. Becoming the professional you’ve always known you could be.
Programs Offered:
- Advanced Graphic Design
- Animation Art & Design
- Baking & Pastry Arts
- Baking & Pastry Arts Level 1
- Baking & Pastry Arts Level 2
- Culinary Arts
- Culinary Arts & Restaurant Ownership
- Digital Film & Video
- Electronic Music
- Entrepreneurship & Restaurant Ownership
- Event Planning & Promotions Management
- Fashion Design & Merchandising
- Fashion Design & Merchandising & Foundation for Design
- Fashion Marketing & Management
- Game Art & Design
- Game Art & Design & Foundation for Design
- Graphic Design
- Graphic Design & Foundation for Design
- Home Furnishings Merchandising
- Hospitality & Restaurant Business Management
- Independent Recording Arts
- Interior Design
- Interior Design & Foundation for Design
- Professional Recording Arts
- VFX for Film & Television
- Visual & Game Programming
- Web Design & Interactive Media
- Web Design & Interactive Media & Foundation for Design
- 3D Modeling for Animation & Games
Financial Aid: Financial aid is available for those who qualify.
Career Services: Our career services are designed to encourage your success. From helping you obtain part-time work while you are attending school to actively supporting soon-to-be graduates' job search, faculty and staff are committed to ensuring that each and every student receive the support he or she needs.
Summary of Programs:
Advanced Graphic Design
In the Advanced Graphic Design program, you’ll build upon your knowledge of design and fine-tune your ability to use typography, layout, and color theory to create eye-catching designs. Industry-related software is utilized to help you gain experience as you create designs such as logos, posters, packaging, and Web sites. Graduates are prepared to seek entry-level employment such as advertising designer, computer artist, freelance artist, graphic designer, or layout artist.
Animation Art & Design
In the Animation Art & Design program, you’ll learn to conceive and design two- and three-dimensional images using both traditional and digital techniques. You’ll alter, manipulate, and reconstruct characters to interact with audio and video elements. Graduates are prepared to seek entry-level employment such as 3-D character animator, modeler, and storyboarder.
Baking & Pastry Arts
In the Baking & Pastry Arts program, you’ll learn baking skills with an emphasis on fundamental pastry and bread-baking techniques. You’ll also study all-purpose baking, desserts, cake decoration, and pastry arts. To accentuate your culinary knowledge, you’ll learn critical thinking and work as a member of a team.
Baking & Pastry Arts Level 1
In the Baking & Pastry Arts Level 1 program, you’ll learn baking skills with an emphasis on fundamental pastry and bread-baking techniques. You’ll also study all-purpose baking, desserts, cake decoration, and pastry arts. To accentuate your culinary knowledge, you’ll learn critical thinking and work as a member of a team.
Baking & Pastry Arts Level 2
In the Baking & Pastry Arts Level 2 program, you’ll learn baking skills with an emphasis on fundamental pastry and bread-baking techniques. You’ll also study all-purpose baking, desserts, cake decoration, and pastry arts. To accentuate your culinary knowledge, you’ll learn critical thinking and work as a member of a team.
Culinary Arts
In the Culinary Arts program, you’ll gain practical experience in the kitchen while studying the business of cost control, sanitation and safety, menu and beverage management, nutrition, and kitchen management. You’ll learn to produce food quickly and in quantity while working with others. Graduates are prepared to seek entry-level employment such as line cook and pantry cook (garde manger).
Culinary Arts & Restaurant Ownership
In the Culinary Arts & Restaurant Ownership program, you will focus on the kitchen, customer service, and business sides of the food service industry. In addition to culinary arts courses that fine-tune food preparation skills and kitchen teamwork, you’ll gain knowledge of management, marketing, human resources, accounting, financial management, and customer relations. Graduates are prepared to seek entry-level employment such as restaurant manager, kitchen manager, or line cook.
Digital Film & Video
The Digital Film & Video program provides the basics to help aspiring videographers understand nuances of digital filmography. You’ll gain knowledge of shooting, directing, and editing digital pieces using industry-related software and equipment. Graduates are prepared to seek entry-level employment such as digital or film videographer.
Electronic Music
Music can set a mood, enliven a movie scene, or stand on its own as entertainment. In the Electronic Music program, you will learn how to use electronic music both on its own and as an element within other media. You’ll utilize industry-related software and equipment as you work alongside other students interested in this growing technology.
Entrepreneurship & Restaurant Ownership
In the Entrepreneurship & Restaurant Ownership program, you’ll gain knowledge that will benefit you as you pursue ownership opportunities in the food service industry. Communications, training, leadership, management, human resources, technology, accounting, marketing, financial management, and customer relations are emphasized. You’ll have the opportunity to build business plans and fine-tune the skills needed to handle the demanding tasks of restaurant management. Graduates are prepared to seek entry-level employment such as restaurant owner, restaurant manager, or kitchen manager.
Event Planning & Promotions Management
The Event Planning and Promotions Management Program is designed to provide an enthusiastic, well-trained and motivated workforce prepared to meet the managerial needs of the entertainment industry. Students gain foundation business acumen and instruction covers topics such as the dynamics of mass communication, finance, entertainment marketing, public relations, music publishing, artist management, event promotion, and tax law and business structure.
Fashion Design & Merchandising
The Fashion Design & Merchandising program teaches students to transform their creative vision into wearable garments, accessories, and displays. Students learn the basic foundations of apparel creating, from sewing and tailoring to flat pattern drafting. Coursework emphasizes the elements of good design, focusing on both drawing and illustration techniques. Additional hands-on training takes students through the business of fashion, as well as the process of imagining, creating, and constructing a finished garment. Graduates are prepared to seek entry-level employment such as costume designer, assistant fashion buyer, fashion designer, fashion merchandiser, or seamstress.
Fashion Design & Merchandising & Foundation for Design
Students studying Fashion Design & Merchandising & Foundation for Design learn basics of apparel creation, with emphasis on design principles and final product merchandising. This program emphasizes hands-on training. Coursework discusses the business behind fashion merchandising, as well as the elements of strong design. Students also learn the process of garment construction – from initial concept to final product. Design challenges place students in situations they may experience in the professional world, providing valuable experience to take into the workplace. Graduates are prepared to seek entry-level employment such as costume designer, assistant fashion buyer, fashion designer, fashion merchandiser, or seamstress.
Fashion Marketing & Management
In the Fashion Marketing & Management program, you’ll fine-tune your fashion buying and marketing skills. The program familiarizes you with merchandise presentation, visual merchandising, retailing, store management, and buying. Graduates are prepared to seek entry-level employment such as retail and wholesale sales, stylist, management trainee, or visual merchandiser in department stores, boutiques, and designer showrooms.
Game Art & Design
In the Game Art & Design program, you’ll learn the art and design skills needed to get into the gaming field. You’ll use your talents to create applications used within the business, education, training, and entertainment industries. Graduates are prepared to seek entry-level employment such as modelers, storyboard artists, animation artists, 3-D illustrators, digital artists, FX artists, video post production artists, broadcast graphics designers, and game designers.
Game Art & Design & Foundation for Design
The Game Art & Design & Foundation program teaches you to focus on the art and design of games. This program will help you to gain the skills needed to enter the game design industry. Coursework includes basic art and design skills, and you’ll study design and learn to create characters and their environments. You’ll also apply knowledge of video and computer games to plan games and determine unique personalities for characters. Graduates are prepared to seek entry-level employment such as modelers, storyboard artists, animation artists, 3-D illustrators, digital artists, FX artists, video post production artists, broadcast graphics designers, and game designers.
Graphic Design
In the Graphic Design program, you’ll study design, typography, and color theory. Industry-specific software is utilized to help you learn to create everything from logos and posters to packaging, Web sites, and corporate identity packages. Graduates are prepared to seek entry-level employment such as advertising designer, computer artist, freelance artist, graphic designer, or layout artist.
Graphic Design & Foundation for Design
The Graphic Design & Foundation for Design diploma program teaches you the basics of design, typography, and color theory. Additional study and class projects in graphics, traditional design, and production tools, such as the drawing board and drawing instruments leads to a well-rounded educational experience. Graduates are prepared to seek entry-level employment such as advertising designer, computer artist, freelance artist, graphic designer, or layout artist.
Home Furnishings Merchandising
Who decides which home furnishing products make it onto the display floor? In the Home Furnishings Merchandising program, you’ll study the business that moves furnishings from designers’ showrooms to retail sales floors, and finally into the hands of consumers. This fast-paced industry revolves around individuals who exhibit strong business skills and an eye for style and function. Graduates are prepared to seek entry-level employment such as merchandiser and stylist in retail department stores, boutiques, wholesalers, importers, designers, and manufacturers.
Hospitality & Restaurant Business Management
The Hospitality & Restaurant Business Management program prepares you for positions in hotels and restaurants by providing a foundation in business and management skills. Coursework emphasizes problem solving and communication skills that will help a manager to better understand the ever-changing professional food service and hospitality management industry. Graduates are prepared to seek entry-level employment such as restaurant manager or catering manager in restaurants, cruise ships, and banquet facilities.
Independent Recording Arts
In the Independent Recording Arts program, you’ll study audio recording, live sound reproduction, audio for video, independent recording, and broadcast production. You will record, mix, and produce audio in analog and digital formats while gaining an understanding of what it takes to succeed in the audio industry. Graduates are prepared to seek entry-level employment such as audio engineer, radio producer, assistant sound technician, promoter, or sound engineer.
Interior Design
In the Interior Design program, you’ll study the design, safety, and usability issues of creating the spaces that we live, work, and play within. Coursework focuses on space planning, traffic patterns, and the colors, surfaces, and furnishings that make surroundings comfortable and livable. Graduates are prepared to seek entry-level employment such as draftsperson, facilities planner, interior designer/decorator, or space planner.
Interior Design & Foundation for Design
The Interior Design & Foundation for Design program teaches students to visualize a three-dimensional understanding of space, form, and function. Coursework focuses on drawing, drafting, color, design, and the fundamentals of space planning and perspective. Real-world experience is gained through class and community projects. Through these projects, students study detailing, systems, construction, and materials – as well as market realities. Graduates are prepared to seek entry-level employment such as draftsperson, facilities planner, interior designer/decorator, or space planner.
Professional Recording Arts
In Professional Recording Arts, you’ll learn within digital and analogue recording studios using linear and non-linear recording technologies. Courses include professional session engineering, microphone techniques, outboard equipment, MIDI, signal flow, critical listening and audio/acoustic principles, and advanced recording techniques. Production, project management, problem-solving, and troubleshooting skills are emphasized. Graduates are prepared to seek entry-level employment such as in foley work, location audio production, and advanced synthesis applications for sound effects creation.
VFX for Film & Television
Contact an admissions rep for more information.
Visual & Game Programming
In Visual & Game Programming, you’ll take courses in art, general studies, mathematics, science, computer engineering, and computer graphics. As you gain experience, you’ll create modified prototype games in a group environment, learning how a whole team works together to create a product. Graduates are prepared to seek entry-level employment such as digital artist, character animator, texture artist, and character modeler.
Web Design & Interactive Media
In the Web Design & Interactive Media (formerly Interactive Media Design) program, you’ll focus on interface design, interactivity, visual design, database design, dynamic Web content design, technology, and information design and employ creative solutions across all Web-related mediums. You’ll learn skills that will enable you to create accessible, engaging interactions via Web sites and other interactive mediums. Graduates are prepared to seek entry-level employment in positions such as interactive designer, animator, special effects artist, and computer artist.
Web Design & Interactive Media & Foundation for Design
Web Design & Interactive Media Design is used to create everything from DVD menus to Web site navigation and touch screen. In the Interactive Media Design program, you’ll learn the basic skills needed to create friendly, usable interactions via the Web, CD-ROMS, DVDs, and kiosks. Graduates are prepared to seek entry-level employment such as interactive designer, animator, special effects artist, and computer artist.
3D Modeling for Animation & Games
Contact an admissions rep for more information.
Degree Key: C = Certificate AAS = Associate of Applied Science BA = Bachelor of Arts BS = Bachelor of Science