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Bachelor of Design – User Experience

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Program Code: DS411
Credential: Honours Degree
Start Dates: September
Program Length: 8 semesters
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Outcomes:
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Humber is proud to have the highest graduate employment and employer satisfaction rate of the GTA colleges based on Colleges Ontario’s key performance indicators for college graduates in 2022-2023.

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Design - User Experience program is broadly focused on UX design, meeting an increasing demand for designers who are prepared to design for the ways people use technology every day. Blending design thinking and practical UX process and deliverables, the program develops designers who can critically engage with our rapidly changing technological world.

The program emphasizes a people-first approach, applying principles of human-centered design and research to solve problems. With an emphasis on social responsibility, students are encouraged to demonstrate curiosity, resilience and empathy for end-users as a means to find creative solutions to the many challenges faced in modern technology culture.

This innovative program of interdisciplinary, collaborative and project-based learning prepares students to join the challenging world of design for the experience economy. Courses are developed in collaboration with industry partners to develop advanced capabilities in design tools and methods, communications, user interface design (UI), visual literacy, digital technology, qualitative research, creativity and innovation, interaction design, and service design.

The program applies evidence-based design and research methods to services and digital projects including websites, apps, VR/AR/MR, Voice UI and other emerging interfaces. Projects extend across corporate, not-for-profit and civic environments. 

Courses

Work Experience - SEM 6C

BDES 3099: Field Experience - Design


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Work-Integrated Learning  

Students will participate in a mandatory which takes place in the summer semester between years 3 and 4. After completing a field experience preparation course, students will be supported in marketing themselves to prospective employers in order to find a field experience that aligns with their personal career goals.

Broadly, UX is the practice of designing digital products, including websites, software, apps, smart devices, voice interfaces and other technology interfaces.

UX Design focuses not only on how things look, but also on how things work. UX Design is a human-centered discipline, based on meeting the needs of the end users of a product. Some of the goals of UX are to remove frustrations and barriers to technology, and simplify our interactions with systems. UX Designers create technology products that are user-friendly, enjoyable, and meaningful; and ultimately develop solutions that drive social change.

Venn Diagram

Jimmy Phan, Year 1
Nadiyah Foyjeen, Year 1
Nadiyah Foyjeen, Year 1
Gerolle Stanev, Year 1
Dashawn Adams, Year 1
Sierra Highfield, Year 1
Kylie Lenatowicz, Year 1
Aisha Bacchus, Year 1
Sarah Saccamanno, Year 2
Sarah Saccamanno, Year 2
Thomas King, Year 2
Sumeet Dhami, Year 2

Is This Program Right For You?

  • Are you curious?
  • Do you question why things work the way they do?
  • Do you pay attention to details?
  • Are you technologically savvy?
  • Are you a strategic problem-solver?
  • Are you ready for new and changing challenges?
  • Do you wonder what drives people?
  • Do you like to experiment with new ideas? 

This program attracts hard-working problem solvers with a wide range of interests and backgrounds.

Group of students working on a project


Program Area of Focus

Design is a practice that appeals to the head, heart and hand; blending critical thinking, empathy for end users, and hands-on design skills. The program offers a mix of theory and practice from these 3 key focus areas:

man brainstorming with sticky notes on whiteboard

Ideation and Design Strategy

Students engage in a variety of high-level requirements gathering and ideation sessions early in the design process to help identify and find problems to be solved. Student develop the skills to prioritize, identify risk and critically assess the quality of product concepts, collaborating with peers and stakeholders to create strategic directions for products and services that benefit both clients and users.

Related activities and skills:

  • Requirements gathering
  • Competitive and product review
  • Brainstorming and ideation techniques
  • Content and feature inventories
  • Journey maps
  • Service blueprints
  • Strategic plans

students working on a research project

Design Research

In order to design a product that meets user needs, you need to understand who that user is. Research is an integral part of design process, helping you empathize with end-users.

Students will engage in both informal and formal research methods, both on campus and in the field. Students will have the opportunity to engage in usability testing of their design work, iterating their designs and fine-tuning their work to improve the quality and impact of their designs.

Related activities and skills:

  • Interviews
  • Surveys
  • Social media monitoring
  • Focus groups
  • Contextual observation
  • Secondary research
  • Usability testing (including eye-tracking)
  • Research planning, analysis and reporting
  • User profiles, personas and requirements

students looking through app prototypes

Design Practice

Students will be immersed in design practice, transforming their analysis of the research and design strategy into wireframes, prototypes and design specifications for digital products and services.

Our focus is on prototyping and iterating design work based on user research. Students are encouraged to be creative and explore multiple options for design solutions, adopting the “fail forward” model used within the design industry.

The program encourages collaboration with peers both within the program and from other Humber programs, encouraging students to build soft skills that are essential to modern design careers.

Related activities and skills:

  • Wireframing
  • Prototyping
  • User flow mapping
  • Creative strategy
  • User interface design / graphic design

The Usability Lab is a full-fledged usability testing facility where researchers can capture & assess the interaction between users and designs.

This Usability Lab is purposefully built for usability studies to ensure that the research environment does not interfere with the testing. Designed with flexibility at its core, it has been equipped with a broad variety of technology, supporting usability testing at many different levels of sophistication.

Our students can participate in and lead experiments that will evaluate the designs they have developed, to make sure their work meets the needs of the target audience.

Usability Lab

Watch the video to learn more about the Usability Lab.

RGD Partner Program

Learn more about Humber's partnership with the Association of Registered Graphic Designers (RGD), Canada’s largest professional association for graphic designers.

Humber’s Faculty of Media & Creative Arts encourages students to expand their academic experience through a variety of study abroad opportunities, including semester exchanges, summer programs, and international work placements.

Vote for the future video

Media & Creative Arts Students Vote for the Future

Students from more than eight Media & Creative Arts programs worked with Villamedia to test the company's AI-driven generative art project, Vote for Peace, and to learn how the technology may be used in the future.

Expert Faculty

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You'll learn from professors with real-world experience and are active in the industry. Our professors are committed to providing you with practical, hands-on training to help you achieve the career you want.

View Credentials

Adam Thomas

MA (Learning and Technology) - Royal Roads University

Asma Asad Khan

Master of Digital Media - Ryerson University
B.Des. (Communication Design) - National College of Arts, Pakistan

Bianca DiPietro

MDes – York University
BDes – York University/Sheridan College
RGD – Board of Directors, Association of Registered Graphic Designers

George Paravantes

MFA IxD - Umea Institute of Design
Professor

Greg Goralski

MBA (Innovation and Technology) - Ryerson University
CFC Media Lab - Canadian Film Centre
BA - York University
Professor

Kristopher Ohlendorf

MA (Media Studies) - Western University
B.Sc. (Radio-Television-Film) - The University of Texas at Austin 
B.Sc. (Communication Studies) - The University of Texas at Austin 
Professor

 

Leanna Palmer

MA - Bard Graduate Centre
BFA - Concordia University
Professor

Mark Anthony Karam

M.Ed. (Learning & Technology) - Royal Roads University
Professor

Vishaal Bedi

M.Eng. - University of Toronto
B.Eng. - Ryerson University
Professor

Yvonne Shek

MSc (Human Factors / Ergonomics) – University College London, UK
BSc (Psychology and Anthropology) – University of Toronto, Canada
Professor


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Dwight Alexander

Dwight Alexander is a creative director, educator, and content creator. As a seasoned designer with over 30 years of expertise in digital and graphic design, Dwight has provided exceptional design solutions for renowned brands such as Nike, Royal Bank, Sunlife Financial, Manulife, Telus, Corus Entertainment, CBC Kids, Warner Brothers, Netflix, and the Ontario Lottery & Gaming Corporation (OLG). He has been “Making things Visually Delicious since 1992!”

 

 

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Asma Asad Khan

Asma is a Design Professor and thorough Creative with a history of working in the innovation and design industry and higher education both. Her forte is Interaction Design, Experience Design, UI, Design Thinking, Visual Design, Storytelling and tinkering with other emerging design and multimedia practices. Her classroom is more like a playing field with two way communication of thoughts, ideas and design process based in empathy and creative problem solving.

Asma has worked internationally and locally for more than a decade doing advertising and design. Her portfolio includes various multinational brands and tech start ups. Besides digital media, some of her interests that add soulfulness to her work and class environment are inclusive design and culture, teaching yoga and spirituality.

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Mark-Anthony Karam

Mark-Anthony Karam is a design educator with over 15 years of experience as a graphic and interactive designer. Mark focuses on leveraging education technology that fosters accessible opportunities for social collaboration, student agency, and promotes the inclusion of wellness as a framework for teaching design in higher education. Keeping the learner's experience in mind, Mark has researched and developed strategies and pathways for teaching and learning design through social constructive collaboration and future creative technologies for both face-to-face and remote/online e-learning environments.

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Kristopher Ohlendorf

Kristopher's interest in digital media has driven his personal and professional life. His academic background includes BS degrees in Radio-Television-Film and Communication Studies from The University of Texas at Austin and an MA in Media Studies from Western University. Kristopher has worked as a freelancer, at various start-ups, and in an agency on projects related to web/graphic design, branding, social media management, digital strategy, digital media production, and basically producing anything that could exist online. He currently teaches courses at Humber covering writing, audio design, creative thinking, and multiplatform storytelling. Outside of teaching, you can find him subsumed listening to music while tending to his pet fish (Zimmy) and two guinea pigs (Maple and Molasses).

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Leanna Palmer

Leanna Palmer is a multi-disciplinary Creative Director and design educator. She has been a professor at Humber since 2016 and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Design Art from Concordia University, and a Master of Arts from the Bard Graduate Center in New York City.

For the last 15 years, Leanna has been actively involved in the ever-expanding field of design in an array of environments: large established companies, start-ups, agency, in-house, and as a freelancer. She uses her deep digital expertise and extensive knowledge of the industry as a catalyst for inspiration in the classroom.

Leanna is a creative thinker who enjoys solving user-centric problems and has worked with some of Canada’s biggest companies including: Online Creative Director at Indigo head office, Digital Art Director at the CBC, and an Art Director at the Havas Agency. An innate curiosity has also led her to explore digital materiality and interaction design through some interesting collaborations with artists at Eyebeam Art and Technology Center in New York City, and Hexagram in Montreal.

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Yvonne Shek

As a User Experience (UX) practitioner with over 25 years experience in the field, I’m excited to bring my passion and experience to my new role at Humber College.

My own journey in UX started at the University of Toronto, where I majored in cognitive psychology and minored in anthropology and industrial engineering. My interests led me to pursue a master's degree at the University College London in ergonomics.

Since then, I’ve worked at the Department of National Defence in human factors research, media and design agencies, consulting firms, and started my own UX consulting firm in 2013. I’ve completed hundreds of client projects. The industries I’ve worked in span real estate, food and hospitality, government, financial institutions, retail, telecommunications, education, healthcare, automotive, entertainment, non-profit, and others. I enjoy public speaking and have spoken at CanUX, The IA Summit, Euro IA, and the UPA.

My personal areas of interest include UX research, service design, design for the greater good, continuous improvement, personal growth, upstream thinking, decision making, and problem solving. My vision for my students intersects my areas of interest--exactly. My goal is to help coach the next generation of design thinkers to solve wicked, complex, and seemingly impossible problems.

Study Abroad

We offer many global opportunities for you to explore during your time at Humber! We live in a very interconnected world and by participating in a global opportunity, not only will you gain new skills, but you may also be eligible for academic credits and/or co-curricular record (CCR). Some of the global opportunities at Humber include Summer Abroad, Semester Exchange, faculty-led trips, Humber Global Summer School and many others! To learn more, please visit Humber Global Opportunities.

Your Career

Graduates of this program will find work as user experience (UX) designers, UI designers, design thinkers, information architects, and design researchers in fields including retail service, brand experience, social service interactions, health-care provision, travel and hospitality, financial services, safety and security, entertainment, and leisure. 

Program Availability

Start dates between Sept 2024 - Aug 2025
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Sep 2024 Course-Based North Open
Start dates between Sept 2024 - Aug 2025
START DELIVERY LOCATION STATUS
Sep 2024 Course-Based North Open

Humber is a publicly-funded institution and does not have a public-private partnership. International students graduating from Humber or Humber’s International Graduate School (IGS) are eligible to apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit.

International Students in Canada who apply for May 2024 start could be eligible for a $1,000 Scholarship*. Apply now

Start dates between Sept 2024 - Aug 2025
START DELIVERY LOCATION STATUS
Sep 2024 Course-Based North Open

Humber is a publicly-funded institution and does not have a public-private partnership. International students graduating from Humber or Humber’s International Graduate School (IGS) are eligible to apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit.

International Students Out of Canada can Apply through Humber International

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Ministry Consent

Humber College has been granted a consent by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities to offer this applied degree for a seven-year term starting September 7, 2023. Humber College shall ensure that all students admitted to the above-named program during the period of consent will have the opportunity to complete the program within a reasonable time frame.

Every attempt is made to ensure that information contained on this website is current and accurate. Humber 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.

Contact Us

Admissions Questions

General Enquiries

Call 416-675-3111 or email enquiry@humber.ca. If you have already applied, be sure to check your application status on myhumber.ca.

Domestic Applicants Enquiries

Domestic applicants can book a one-on-one advising appointment with an admissions representative.

International Applicants Enquiries

Contact the International Centre for information about full-time programs (including the International Graduate School), how to apply and to follow up on your submitted application.

Program-Specific Questions

Speak to the Program Co-ordinator about the course curriculum, projects and career options.

Program co-ordinator
5984
bdes@humber.ca

Campus Information

Book a campus tour to take a closer look at what it's like to be a student at Humber.

Want More Info?

Find out more about the student experience and everything that Humber has to offer Future Students.

for more info on Humber, including programs, special events and more!

How To Become An Apprentice

Becoming an Apprentice

Find an employer willing to sponsor you as an apprentice.

Contact the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development to register as an apprentice.

Work with your employer approximately one year before attending Humber.

View Instructions 

Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP)

If you’re in high school – grade 11 or 12 – you can earn co-op education credits through work placements in some skilled trades.

Visit OYAP 

How to Apply

Domestic Students

Applications to Humber are made through ontariocolleges.ca. Be sure to submit your application by the equal consideration deadline of February 1. You may apply after February 1, however, post-February 1 applications will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis depending on the availability of the space in the program.

To check program availability refer to the Campus/Availability listing on Humber’s program pages, search by availability, or ontariocolleges.ca.

To see where you are in the admissions process, visit the Admissions Road Map.

International Students

If you’re an international student, you can apply directly to Humber via our International Centre.

Need Advice?

Program Advising Appointments

Get help narrowing down your program options or book a one-on-one pre-enrolment advising appointment with one of our Recruitment Officers.

Transfer & Pathway Advising

Book a virtual appointment with a Student Mobility Advisor learn more about getting Transfer Credit(s) for previous post-secondary experience, Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR), and Pathways options.

Admission Requirements

Admission selection is based on the academic criteria indicated. Meeting minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee admission.

Admission selection is based on the following three requirements:

  • Academic

    To be eligible for admission, you must possess the following:

    Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent including these required courses:

    • Grade 12 English (ENG4U or equivalent) minimum 70 per cent
    • One of Grade 12 U or M level course from among the following subject areas: Computer Science, Visual Arts, Media Arts, Computer Engineering Technology or Business Leadership Management minimum 65 per cent
    • Four Grade 12 Electives at the M or U Level or Equivalent
    • Overall minimum grade point average (GPA) 65 per cent

    or

    or

    Mature Applicants

    Diplomas and Certificates

    An applicant is considered a mature applicant if they have not completed secondary school or other postsecondary school, and will be 19 or older as of the first day of classes. Humber will invite you for testing to demonstrate that you meet all listed course requirements.

    Degrees

    An applicant is considered a mature applicant if they have not completed secondary school or attended postsecondary studies, and will be 21 or older as of the first day of classes. Mature applicants for degree programs will be required to meet course requirements at the U/M level or equivalent.

    College Transfer Applicants

    Diplomas and Certificates

    An applicant is considered a college transfer applicant if they have completed some or all of a college-level credential. Humber may use a combination of secondary school and/or college courses and grades to determine program eligibility.

    Degrees

    An applicant is considered a college transfer applicant if they have completed some or all of a college-level credential. Humber may use a combination of secondary school and/or college courses and grades to determine program eligibility. Applicants must have an overall minimum grade point average (GPA) of 65 per cent in the program. Applicants are required to disclose and provide academic transcripts for all course work completed at the postsecondary level.

    University Transfer Applicants

    Diplomas and Certificates

    An applicant is considered a university transfer applicant if they have completed some or all of a university-level credential. Humber may use a combination of secondary school and/or university courses and grades to determine program eligibility.

    Degrees

    An applicant is considered a university transfer applicant if they have completed some or all of a university-level credential. Humber may use a combination of secondary school and/or university courses and grades to determine program eligibility. Applicants are required to disclose and provide academic transcripts for all course work completed at the postsecondary level.

  • English Language Proficiency

    All applicants whose first language is not English must meet Humber’s English Language Proficiency Policy.

  • International Credit Evaluation

    Canadian citizens or permanent residents with international education are required to provide a credential evaluation. Note, for international High school education course by course evaluations, ICAS must be used. For international post-secondary education, a WES evaluation must be provided. In situations where you expect to apply for transfer credit, it is recommended that a course by course WES evaluation is completed.

International Academic Equivalency

Admission equivalencies for Humber depend on your country of study. Please enter your location or choose detect my location to see the requirements for your country below.

Post-Admission Requirements

Once you have been accepted, and have confirmed your offer, you may need to complete a further set of requirements related to your program (Post-Admission Requirements).

N/A

Equipment & Device Requirements

All Semesters

Details and Specifications Minimum Specs
Processor Multicore Intel processor with 64-bit support
OS Mac: MacOS Mojave (if new, computers will come with the latest MacOS Catalina)/PC: Windows 10 (PC)
OS 10.15 (Mac)
Memory 16GB or higher
Storage Hard drive should be 500 SSD or bigger
Monitor 15" or larger
Other Multifunction Computer Mouse
Software Adobe Creative Cloud and Microsoft Office

Program-Specific Questions

Speak to the Program Co-ordinator about the course curriculum, projects and career options.

Program co-ordinator
5984
bdes@humber.ca

Fees & Financial Aid

The 2024/2025 fee for two semesters is:

  • domestic: $6,171.30
  • international: $20,457.92

Fees are subject to change.

Fees by Semester

Domestic Fees International Fees

Financial Aid, Scholarships and Bursaries

Understand the costs associated with coming to Humber and explore resources available from first year to your final year on Student Fees and Financial Resources.

Scholarships

Humber Degree Scholarships

Humber awards degree scholarships automatically to graduating high school students based on academic achievement. See this following chart for details. Some of the scholarships are renewable each year if you maintain an average of 80 per cent or more.

95%+ $4,000 renewable
90 - 94.9% $3,500 renewable
85 - 89.9% $3,000 renewable
80 - 84.9% $2,000 renewable
75 - 79.9% $1,500 one time

Degree Transfer Scholarships ($1,500 - $2,500)

Humber automatically awards degree transfer scholarships to students entering any Humber degree program who have completed a one-year Ontario college certificate* or a two- or three-year diploma with a GPA of 80 per cent or more from a publicly-funded college. Students who have achieved a program GPA of 80 per cent or more will be awarded a one-time scholarship of $1,500 for a certificate program or $2,500 for a diploma program in recognition of their academic achievement. Certificates and diplomas do not have to be related to the degree program of choice and are not tied to the eligibility for advanced standing or transfer credit. No application is required

80%+ Certificate | $1,500

One Time 80%+ Diploma | $2,500

Humber Scholarships

Find out more about scholarships and bursaries that you may be eligible for, visit Student Scholarships. International students can visit International Student Scholarships.

Humber Bursaries

Bursaries are available for Certificate, Diploma and Degree programs primarily based on financial need, visit Humber Bursaries.

External Awards, Bursaries & Scholarships

Find out more information about external scholarships and bursaries, visit External Awards.

Indigenous Student Awards, Bursaries & Scholarships

Humber offers a variety of bursaries and scholarships for Indigenous students, visit Indigenous Student Awards.

Explore Opportunities through Humber Pathways

Humber Pathways include:

  • Opportunities to build on your college education and complete your diploma or degree at Humber.
  • Degree and graduate study opportunities at other institutions in Ontario, Canada and abroad.
View Pathways Into This Program  
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