Art and Design Foundation
Program Overview
Do you love to draw, paint, take photos or create Instagram reels? Do you want to use your creative skills every day but unsure where to start? Humber’s Art and Design Foundation certificate may be for you!
Art and Design Foundation has a comprehensive, diverse curriculum where you to learn through an interdisciplinary approach. You will work with both traditional visual media and emerging technology, and take core courses in drawing, digital communications, colour theory and painting, and 2D and 3D Design. Rounding out your first semester is a unique core course on visual literacy and portfolio development. This course focuses on portfolio development and will prepare you for future career and academic pursuits in creative and applied arts disciplines.
In your second semester, you get to select elective courses to build your skills and prepare your portfolio. Students may choose from: Animation, Painting Studio, Photography, Graphic Design, Interior Design, Industrial Design and Video Production.
Upon successful completion of the Art and Design Foundation certificate (minimum 65% GPA), applicants interested in applying to the Photography diploma, Graphic Design advanced diploma, Interior Design degree or the Industrial Design degree will not have to submit a portfolio.
During the Fall 2025 semester, students will have the opportunity to select their preferred campus of study.
Curriculum
Course list will be available soon.
The Humber Advantage
As a Humber student, you have the chance to apply for a 16-week summer fellowship with the Centre for Creative Business Innovation and Humber Galleries. As a fellow, you'll work with industry professionals and an interdisciplinary team of your peers to create multidisciplinary experiences from music, film, media, 3D objects, and more — all while getting paid!
"My Design Foundation certificate was great preparation for Humber's Interior Design degree."
– Alec, Interior Design degree student
Expert Faculty
Malcolm Cullen
Malcolm Cullen studied design in London, U.K., building a career in both graphic design and illustration, and has taught in a variety of applied art programs at Humber. Currently, he serves as the program co-ordinator for Design Foundation in the Faculty of Media, Creative Arts, and Design.
An exponent of concept and portfolio development, Malcolm encourages students to hone their sketching and drawing skills using a variety of mediums.
Malcolm is an avid angler and spends winter evenings making fine split cane fishing rods.
David Vazquez-Abrams
David is a graphic designer and educator with experience in print and digital media. From branding, visual merchandising, package design and wayfinding to web, UX and UI design, he has a wide breadth of professional experience to share with students.
With an education in Visual Arts and Design, and as an advocate for drawing every day and lifelong learning, David brings a hand-crafted, mixed-media approach to teaching and learning that fosters innovation and engagement in the classroom.
Your Career
Design is everywhere. From the spaces we inhabit to the products and technologies we interact with, designers play an important role in the development of the places and things we experience and use in our everyday lives. Good design can make the ordinary extraordinary.
Your generalized training in the many aspects of design may be an effective launching pad to more specialized areas of design study. Potential areas in various fields include industrial design, interior design, interior decorating, graphic design, web design and architecture.
Program Availability
| START | DELIVERY | LOCATION | STATUS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2026 | Block-Based | Lakeshore | Opening Soon |
| START | DELIVERY | LOCATION | STATUS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2026 | Block-Based | Lakeshore | Opening Soon |
Humber is a publicly funded institution. International students graduating from a PGWP Eligible program at Humber are eligible to apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit.
International students in Canada could be eligible for an automatic scholarship*. Apply now!
Check out the step-by-step Admissions Road Map for helpful information and additional resources.
| START | DELIVERY | LOCATION | STATUS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2026 | Block-Based | Lakeshore | Opening Soon |
Humber is a publicly funded institution. International students graduating from a PGWP Eligible program at Humber are eligible to apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit.
International applicants outside of Canada can apply through Humber International. Check out the step-by-step Admissions Road Map for helpful information and additional resources.
Promotions & Contests
Win big with Humber. Enter the Humber Win $5,000 Tuition Contest, become eligible to have your application fee credited back through Apply On Us for September 2026, and don’t miss the Humber Winter Start Prize Pack Contest or Humber Apple Summer Start Pack Contest.
Upcoming Recruitment Events
Design Foundation Program
Watch the video to hear first-hand from graduates of the Design Foundation program about their experience at Humber.
News Feed
Nuit Blanche program a 'dream come true' for student
Thu, October 02, 2025
A team of current Humber students and alumni will take part in Toronto’s largest contemporary arts festival, Nuit Blanche.
No news at this time.
Every attempt is made to ensure that information contained on this website is current and accurate. Humber Polytechnic reserves the right to correct any error or omission, modify or cancel any course, program, fee, timetable or campus location at any time without prior notice or liability to users or any other Person.
