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ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN

Environmental Design at OCAD 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 man-made environments is focal. With an emphasis on expressiveness, and habitability, students develop the design of environments that shape and qualify our experience and interaction with space, and as such it integrates interior and architectural design, film and theatre, exhibition and landscape 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 of 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 re-visioning 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.

Environmental Design Major Program Guide

Please refer to the Faculty of Design's Degree/Diploma Requirements for information regarding degree and diploma requirements for Design program students.

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.

Students must achieve a minimum grade of 60% in their core studio course each semester (tagged with “†”) to advance to the following semester’s core studio.

A minimum overall average of 65% must be achieved at the end of fourth-year in all designated courses (tagged with “∆”) of the student’s major/program.

Note: Students in this Major or Minor Program Area are included in the Laptop Program, and are required to pay the associated fees for software and support. Click http://www.ocad.ca/laptopprogram for further info regarding the Laptop Program. Click http://www.ocad.ca/students/financial_matters/tuition_fees/laptop_program_fees.htm for info regarding Laptop Program Fees.

COURSE CODE COURSE NAME CREDIT

200 LEVEL: FALL SEMESTER

PLEASE PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO COURSE DESCRIPTIONS FOR SPECIFIC CONDITIONS REGARDING ADVANCEMENT TO FUTURE COURSES.

Choose one Liberal Studies course:
VISC 2B01 History of Modern Design (LST) 0.5
or VISC 2B10 Twentieth Century Architecture (LST)



GDES 2B03 Think Tank 1: Awareness (SEM) 0.5
ENVR 2B12 Research Studio/Social Space 0.5
ENVR 2A03 Concept Drawing 0.25
ENVR 2K01
Exploration Studio/Personal Space †∆
0.75
Choose one:

Exploration Studio/Personal Space Lab/Metal
or Exploration Studio/Personal Space Lab/Wood

200 LEVEL: WINTER SEMESTER

PLEASE PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO COURSE DESCRIPTIONS FOR SPECIFIC CONDITIONS REGARDING ADVANCEMENT TO FUTURE COURSES. 

VISC 2B38 Design Thinking (LST) 0.5
See Liberal Studies offerings Choose one Liberal Studies course 0.5
ENVR 2B15 Research Studio/Colour & Form 0.5
ENVR 2A04 Building Technology & Structure 1 (SEM) 0.25
ENVR 2K02
Exploration Studio/Social Space †∆
0.75
Choose one not taken in fall:

Exploration Studio/Social Space Lab/Metal
or Exploration Studio/Social Space Lab/Wood

300 LEVEL: FALL SEMESTER

PLEASE PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO COURSE DESCRIPTIONS FOR SPECIFIC CONDITIONS REGARDING ADVANCEMENT TO FUTURE COURSES. 

See Liberal Studies offerings Choose one Liberal Studies Course 0.5
ENVR 3K02 Core Project Studio/Residential †∆ 0.75
ENVR 3A01 Presentation Drawing and Rendering 0.25



Choose one:
ENVR 3B17 Myths, Beliefs and Imagery
or  GDES 3B21 Designing Across Difference: Aboriginal Communities 0.5



Choose one expansion studio:
(Students interested in pursuing a career specifically in Interior Design should choose the dedicated Interior Design expansion studios GDES 3B14, GDES 3B24, ENVR 3B18.)
GDES 3B38 Ambient Experience Design
GDES 3B10 Art of Presentation
GDES 3B18 Biomimicry 1: Points of Departure
ENVR 3B18 Building Systems & Interior Materials: Residential (not offered in 2010/11)
ENVR 3B19 Building Systems & Interior Materials: Commercial
GDES 3B13 Compelling User Experience 1 (not offered in 2010/11)
GDES 3B36 Domestic Ceramics: Exploring the Useful Object
GDES 3B40 Exploration, Insight and Foresight in Design (SEM)
GDES 3B46 Explorations in Architectural Glass
GDES 3B15
Furniture Design 1
(taken with Furniture Design 1 Lab/Wood)

GDES 3B70 Game Design: Conceptual and Visual Approaches
GDES 3B47 Habitat Housing Studio
GDES 3B49 Image and Clay: Exploring the Ceramic Surface
GDES 3B14 Interior Design Studio: Office
GDES 3B57 Living Environments: Design Theory (formerly Living Environment Design Studio 1)
GDES 3B66 Materials Research Library/Internship (SEM)
GDES 3B12 Socially Responsible Design Practices (not offered in 2010/11)
GDES 3B56 Universal Design
DIGF 3B01 Virtual Communities and Environments (SEM)
or relevant course in Faculty of Art or Design
(subject to approval - contact Design Office)
0.5

300 LEVEL: WINTER SEMESTER

PLEASE PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO COURSE DESCRIPTIONS FOR SPECIFIC CONDITIONS REGARDING ADVANCEMENT TO FUTURE COURSES.

Choose one Liberal Studies course:
VISC 3B27/
SOSC 3B27
Human Factors for Designers (LST) 0.5
or SOSC 3B03 Sociology of the Body (LST)
or SOSC 3B05 Social Psychology and Consumer Behaviour (LST)



ENVR 3K01 Core Project Studio/Retail & Hospitality Design †∆ 0.75
ENVR 3A03 Building Technology & Structure 2 (SEM) 0.25



Choose one:

GDES 3B14 Interior Design Studio: Office
or GDES 3B58 Living Environments: Design Practices 0.5



Choose one expansion studio:
(Students interested in pursuing a career specifically in Interior Design should choose the dedicated Interior Design expansion studios GDES 3B14, GDES 3B24, ENVR 3B18.)
GDES 3B10 Art of Presentation
GDES 3B28 Biomimicry 2: Application
GDES 3B15 Furniture Design 1
(taken with Furniture Design 1 Lab/Wood)

GDES 3B25 Furniture Design 2
(taken with Furniture Design 2 Lab/Wood)

GDES 3B71 Game Design: Digital Development
GDES 3B24 Interior Design Studio
GDES 3B43 Jewellery Design: Architectural Hardware (not offered in 2010/11)
GDES 3B58 Living Environments: Design Practices (formerly Living Environment Design Studio 2)
GDES 3B60 Sustainable Design & Development (not offered in 2010/11)
GDES 3B54 Think Tank 2: Consideration (SEM)
GDES 3B59 Urban Design Ecology (formerly Urban Landscape Ecology) (SEM) (not offered in 2010/11)
or
relevant course in Faculty of Art or Design
(subject to approval - contact Design Office)
0.5

400 LEVEL: FALL SEMESTER

PLEASE PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO COURSE DESCRIPTIONS FOR SPECIFIC CONDITIONS REGARDING ADVANCEMENT TO FUTURE COURSES.

Choose one Liberal Studies course:
VISC 4B15 Urban Life: Art, Design and the City (LST) in the Fall
0.5
 or   VISC 4B19 Contemporary Studies in Architecture and Design (LST) in the Winter

(If you take VISC 4B19 in the Winter, choose another Liberal Studies course from the Liberal Studies offerings for the Fall Semester.)



ENVR 4C01 Thesis II: Project Development †∆ 1.0
ENVR 4B09 Building Technology & Structure 3 (SEM) 0.5



Choose one expansion studio:
(Students interested in pursuing a career specifically in Interior Design should choose the dedicated Interior Design expansion studios GDES 3B14, GDES 3B24, ENVR 3B18.)
GDES 3B38 Ambient Experience Design
GDES 3B10 Art of Presentation
GDES 3B18 Biomimicry 1: Points of Departure
ENVR 3B18 Building Systems & Interior Materials: Residential (not offered in 2010/11)
ENVR 3B19 Building Systems & Interior Materials: Commercial
GDES 3B13 Compelling User Experience 1 (not offered in 2010/11)
GDES 3B36 Domestic Ceramics: Exploring the Useful Object

GDES 3B40 Exploration, Insight and Foresight in Design (SEM)
GDES 3B46 Explorations in Architectural Glass
GDES 3B15 Furniture Design 1
(taken with Furniture Design 1 Lab/Wood)

GDES 3B70 Game Design: Conceptual and Visual Approaches
GDES 3B47 Habitat Housing Studio
GDES 3B49 Image and Clay: Exploring the Ceramic Surface
GDES 3B14 Interior Design Studio: Office
GDES 4B03 Internship (not offered in 2010/11)
GDES 3B57 Living Environments: Design Theory (formerly Living Environment Design Studio 1)
GDES 3B66 Materials Research Library/Internship (SEM)
GDES 3B12 Socially Responsible Design Practices (not offered in 2010/11)
GDES 3B56 Universal Design
DIGF 3B01 Virtual Communities and Environments (SEM)
or
relevant course in Faculty of Art or Design
(subject to approval - contact Design Office)
0.5

400 LEVEL: WINTER SEMESTER

PLEASE PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO COURSE DESCRIPTIONS FOR SPECIFIC CONDITIONS REGARDING GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS.

Choose one Liberal Studies course:
VISC 4B19 Contemporary Studies in Architecture and Design (LST) in the Winter 0.5
or VISC 4B15
Urban Life: Art, Design and the City (LST) in the Fall


(If you take VISC 4B15 in the Fall, choose another Liberal Studies course from the Liberal Studies offerings for the Winter Semester.)
ENVR 4C02 Thesis III: Project Development †∆ 1.0
ENVR 4A03 Professional Practice (SEM) 0.25
ENVR 4A02 Lighting & Materials (SEM) 0.25



Choose one expansion studio:
(Students interested in pursuing a career specifically in Interior Design should choose the dedicated Interior Design expansion studios GDES 3B14, GDES 3B24, ENVR 3B18.)
GDES 4B05 Architecture Design Studio 1
GDES 3B10 Art of Presentation
GDES 3B28 Biomimicry 2: Application
GDES 3B15 Furniture Design 1
(taken with Furniture Design 1 Lab/Wood)

GDES 3B25 Furniture Design 2
(taken with Furniture Design 2 Lab/Wood)

GDES 4B11 Furniture Design 3
(taken with Furniture Design 3 Lab/Wood)

GDES 3B71 Game Design: Digital Development
GDES 3B24 Interior Design Studio
GDES 3B43 Jewellery Design: Architectural Hardware (not offered in 2010/11)
GDES 3B58 Living Environments: Design Practices (formerley Living Environment Design Studio 2)
GDES 3B60 Sustainable Design & Development (not offered in 2010/11)
GDES 3B54 Think Tank 2: Consideration (SEM)
GDES 4B08 Think Tank 3: Action (SEM)
GDES 3B59 Urban Design Ecology (formerly Urban Landscape Ecology) (SEM) (not offered in 2010/11)
or
relevant course in Faculty of Art or Design
(subject to approval - contact Design Office)
0.5



Recommended Liberal Studies Courses (subject to being offered):
VISC 3B32 History of Furniture (LST)

Also see Liberal Studies Special Topics Courses for 2010/11

Last Modified:1/24/2012 12:57:20 PM