Fonds - Art and Design Department fonds

Part of the Faculty of Fine Arts and Communications, the department is comprised of two programs: Fine Art, and Design Studies.

The Fine Art and Design programs have evolved substantially over the years, beginning as a combined diploma and eventually separating into distinct programs. The Design program was first offered in the 1974-1975 academic year as Design Arts and included the majors Advertising Artist, Interior Design Technician, and Store Display Designer. In 1976-1977, it also included fine art offerings with the addition of Painting and Sculpture. In the 1982-1984 program brochure, Design Arts offered the following majors: Fine Art, Display and Visual Presentation, Fiber Arts, and Advertising Art (including the options Environmental Design and Graphic Design). 1986-1987 saw Design and Fine Art separated for the first time when both a Visual Arts diploma and a Visual Communication diploma were offered. The Fine Art program was recognized as such in the 1991-1992 academic year, and Design Studies in 2005-2006. The Bachelor of Design was offered in Fall 2019. The Bachelor of Fine Arts was offered Fall 2022 with Arts and Cultural Management, Studio Arts, Music Theatre Performance, and Theatre Production majors.

The department was housed at the Centre for the Arts and Communications campus from 1981 until campus closure in 2017, when it moved to Allard Hall on City Centre Campus.