User Interface (UI) Design Courses
UI design professionals are in high demand everywhere in the world. Take this program to set yourself up for a successful career. In this program, you will learn the practical skills, tools, and techniques used in the field of User Interface & Visual Communication Design, including creative software, layout and composition, colour and typographic theory, visual brand identity, conceptual and strategic thinking, and designing for digital interfaces.
This program prepares you to work in any of the following roles: User Interface Designer, Graphic Designer, Web Designer, Communication Designer, Production Designer, Interactive Designer, UI Strategist, UI Content Designer, Product Designer
You have the choice of doing the full-time diploma or the work and study diploma which combines the courses in the full-time diploma program with a 480-hour co-operative work term.
- UI Designer Certificate
- UI Designer Co-op Diploma
Programs listed above have been approved by the Private Training Institution Branch (PTIB) of the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills.
Course Breakdown
Course: Fundamentals of Web Development*
# of Weeks: 4
# of Hours: 80
Course: Introduction to UI Design*
# of Weeks: 4
# of Hours: 80
Course: Visual Design for UI
# of Weeks: 4
# of Hours: 80
Course: Design Tools for UI
# of Weeks: 4
# of Hours: 80
Course: Digital Marketing for UI
# of Weeks: 4
# of Hours: 80
Course: Career Preparation for UI
# of Weeks: 4
# of Hours: 80
Cooperative Work Experience (Diploma Only)
# of Weeks: Max 24
# of Hours: 480
Capstone Project (Certificate Only)
# of Weeks: 3
# of Hours: 60
**As UI and UX are new areas of study, the best teachers could be located in cities other than Vancouver. Tamwood always wants to ensure we are using the highest quality teachers to teach your courses so these programs may, from time to time, be delivered by a remote teacher in real-time.
*The order in which the students will take the courses after completing the prerequisites will vary based on start date. Contact us for the course delivery schedule.
Program Outcomes
Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:
- • Follow the steps of the creative process: research, ideation, execution, and revision
- • Assemble effective colour palettes
- • Select appropriate typefaces considering their quality, legal requirements, availability, and visual language while composing elegant typesetting in view of visual hierarchy, alignment, and spacing
- • Design balanced layouts with clear focal points, balance, and alignment
- • Build designs in Photoshop with the ability to create masks, apply filters, and other relevant tools
- • Draw vector elements in Illustrator using the pen tool, pathfinder, strokes, and other relevant tools
- • Build user interface layouts in Sketch using vector tools, grids, symbols, and other relevant tools
- • Design a visual brand identity such as a logo, colour palette, typefaces, photography, and iconography
- • Lead productive ideation sessions
- • Practice a user-centric approach to problem-solving
- • Recognize the best practices of user experience design
- • Identify limitations and possibilities when working with programming languages such as CSS, HTML, Javascript, Swift, and Java
- • Build a creative brief
- • Confidently and eloquently present creative work
- • Distinguish art and design eras, movements, and trends
- • Constructively critique peers’ work
Admission Requirements
Minimum Age: 19 Years
Education: Toronto applicants must provide a copy of an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or have passed the Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam with a Cut Score of 16.
Language Skills: International students must demonstrate high intermediate level English with Tamwood Careers’ online test and interview. The online test and interview are exempt if CEFR B2, IELTS 5.5, TOEFL ibT 46, Cambridge FCE (C), Duolingo 95, Tamwood Language Centre’s high intermediate level (Tamwood Level 14 – High Advanced) or proof of successful completion of Tamwood Language Centre EAP 192 is presented.
*Students who need to improve their English skills before getting admitted to this program can take English courses at Tamwood Language Centres.
Program Materials
Access to MAC/PC:
Students enrolled in the UI Design program required to have a MAC notebook or Windows PC (Laptop). Students required to be able to install Adobe CC on their systems. Please see below for recommended specifications.
| System Requirements for UI Design | |
|---|---|
| Operating System | Microsoft Windows 10 (64-bit) version 1809 or later or Apple® macOS® 10.13, 10.14 or later (64-bit Intel-based) |
| Processor | 64-bit Intel® or AMD® multi-core processor with SSE4.2 instruction set |
| Memory | 8 GB minimum, 16 GB or higher recommended (32 GB for 4K media or higher) |
| Graphics | Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 or equivalent; Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 or Quadro T1000 is recommended. or AMD Radeon Pro 555X or higher or Intel UHD Graphics 630 or higher |
| Storage | 250GB SSD or higher |
| Monitor | 1920 x 1080 or better |
Program Features
Profit from Professional Instructors with Practical Experience in the field of UI Design
Make use of work-integrated learning by completing projects in both the study and the co-op term
Learn from industry professionals with first-hand knowledge through our guest speaker series
Career Occupations
Graduates of this program will be prepared for positions like User Interface Designer, Graphic Designer, Web Designer, Communication Designer, Production Designer, Interactive Designer, UI Strategist, UI Content Designer, Product Designer
Co-op Work Experience
Students in the Work and Study Diploma Program complete a 480 hour co-op work placement. After completing the Job Skills Seminars and attending the Orientation to Working and Living in Canada, co-op students work with the Work Placement Coordinator to secure a job placement in which they can make a practical application of the skills and knowledge learned in the study term. Through the co-op work placement, students gain valuable work experience in Canada, expand and fine-tune their hard and soft skills and make new professional connections in their chosen career field.
Visit our Work While Studying page to read more about the services and support you can access as a co-op student.
Meet The Teacher(s)
Department Head – Pascal Zirn
Related work experience:
I was a multidisciplinary designer for tech & film with over 20 years of experience in visual design, motion graphics, 3D and animation. My work has spanned nearly all design & motion graphics mediums including film and television, websites, mobile, VR, electronic billboards, print, and video games. I am also holding a Diploma for character animation.
Why do you recommend it?
Great teachers, cool learning by doing projects and friendly staff
Wes Platon
Related work experience:
My career spans over 15 years in different roles including multimedia design, web/game development, UI/UX design, education and mentorship. I have also worked extensively on comics, concept art, and character design projects.
Why do you recommend it?
Teachers and students work together on real-world relevant projects perfect for portfolio building and career preparation.
Yves Ishimwe
Related work experience:
Coming soon
Why do you recommend it?
Coming soon