Future Students
At GCM, we make everything we design
Learn to design, produce and manage printed materials, packaging and other physical media, you’ll build high-demand skills in design software, sustainable packaging, visual communication and production management. With over 75 years of industry connections and a built-in work placement, you’ll graduate with real-world experience, a strong project portfolio, and the network to launch your career in a fast-moving, creative industry.
Full-time format
4 years
Degree earned
Bachelor of Technology
Experiential learning
Global learning • Internship available
Admission requirements
Grades only
Explore Your Journey
About Graphic Communications Management
GCM gives you a unique mix of technological, creative and business expertise, along with opportunities to gain industry experience throughout your degree.
- Paid Internship
- Global Learning Opportunities
- High Job Placement Rate
- Entrance Scholarships
- Diverse Course Options
- Small Class Sizes
Stay connected with life at GCM. Follow us on Instagram @gcmtmu (external link)
- Reputation
- GCM is Canada’s only degree program for the printing industry and is one of the top programs of its kind in North America.
- GCM is renowned amongst industry leaders. Being a part of it means you’ll be a highly sought after professional.
- Outstanding Employment Prospects
- Thanks to our reputation and industry connections, students often receive multiple job offers prior to graduation.
- Our school has an extremely high graduate placement rate. Many students use the internship and annual Job Fair as first steps to shaping their dream careers.
- Modern, Flexible Curriculum
- GCM combines the technology and creativity of graphic communications with the analytical and strategic principles of business and management.
- You’ll have the option to pursue a Concentration in Packaging, Digital Graphics, Publishing or Leadership. Many students also add a Minor, from over 50 options.
- Paid Internships
- Students complete an internship between third and fourth year.
- These work placements often lead to part-time employment in fourth year and full-time work after graduation. Best of all, these positions are paid.
- Small Class Sizes
- Small class sizes and hands-on lab courses means our professors will know you by name.
- The class sizes also help you build personal connections with instructors and classmates. Developing a professional network for the future comes naturally here at GCM.
- Leading Learning Labs
- Our labs feature state-of-the-art computer, printing and finishing technologies. Generous industry support means you’re working on the cutting edge software and equipment that the pros use.
- Small lab sections allow you to get to know classmates and professors.
- Industry Support and Connections
- Industry leaders and successful companies support GCM students with generous scholarships and awards, company tours and guest speakers.
- These relationships also give students rare opportunities to attend major showcases and events.
- Vibrant Student Life
- GCM has many student clubs and initiatives you can join, whether you’re looking to beef up your resume or social calendar.
- These groups often attend industry conferences, competitions and trade shows in North America and Europe.
- The Creative School Hub
- The Creative School, of which GCM is a part of, is home to Canada’s leading creative and communications programs.
- You’ll have the chance to work on extracurricular projects alongside students of fashion, film, photography, journalism, theatre and more. These unique collaborations will create new possibilities for professional development, and will help you develop close relationships with the future leaders of the creative industries.
Concentrations
A Concentration is a structured plan of study within a program (6 to 12 core or core electives) that provides an opportunity for advanced or in-depth study in a particular area of interest. Students must declare their concentration prior to applying to graduate. Courses used to fulfil the requirements of a concentration cannot also be used to fulfill the requirements of a minor.
Focusing on the digital premedia files and data that are essential to many forms of graphic output, including signage, ebooks and designs of all types.
- Perfect fit if you: are passionate about designing and preparing files for different media.
- Areas of focus: signage; ebooks; typography; workflows; variable data printing; material science; and non-traditional printing.
"Achieving the Digital Graphic Output Concentration was an overall great experience. Many of the courses included active, in-depth conversations around relevant topics. Here are a few courses that stood out:
- GCM 810: Creativity, Clients, and Design – understanding the importance of innovative, creative thinking to solve a problem while retaining an EDI (equity, diversity, inclusion) lens;
- GCM 806: Advanced Typography – an in-depth analysis of different typefaces, being intentional with type when considering the audience and the end-use, and creating your own typeface;
- GCM 850*: Directed Studies I: Issues and Trends – the topic for the term revolved around digital signage, its implementation into different sectors, and its prevalence in everyday life. [*Please note the topic for this course changes every semester]"
Lara Denise Capistrano
Concentration in Graphic Output
Graphic Designer and Production Artist
Learn how to guide and manage a team, oversee projects, make strategic decisions, and foster a creative and collaborative environment to achieve business goals and deliver high-quality solutions.
- Perfect fit if you: like to focus on the strategic vision of a project and planning what needs to be done to achieve it.
- Areas of focus: business; entrepreneurship; management; accounting and finance; sustainability; and client/customer management.
"I produce a variety of creative work across photography, design, web, print, and video. I really enjoy the business development components of my role, be it strategy, branding, our website, marketing, or continuous improvement for our organization.
My Leadership Concentration offered opportunities to further develop critical and entrepreneurial thinking, which comes into play every single day in my job. The Concentration taught me to be capable of strategizing for the big picture while also managing the operations and other daily details of production. I feel confident in my current position and capable of collaborating in the growth and development of a business, even as I am only one year out of school."
Allison MacKenzie
Concentration in Leadership
Multimedia Design Lead
Design and create the graphics, structural and sustainability aspects of product packaging to engage consumers, convey the product’s essence and value, protect the contents, and meet logistical requirements.
- Perfect fit if you: appreciate the 3D structure of printed form and enjoy working with recognizable brands.
- Areas of focus: flexo printing; package prototyping; accessibility; sustainability; 3D printing; non-traditional printing; distribution; plastic in packaging; material science; and colour theory.
"I had an amazing time pursuing the Packaging Concentration! When I started working, I had a solid idea of what packaging dielines and structures looked like. I also used colour management and I saw printer proofs daily. Having knowledge of packaging terminology boosted my confidence in being part of the industry.
Print and packaging are constantly evolving, which was interesting to learn about in class. My favourite project has to be redesigning Turtles packaging in GCM 808: Package Prototyping. I loved the freedom of bringing our ideas together with my peers and thinking of ways to make packaging more innovative. We had industry professionals that guided and critiqued our pieces, which was exciting since I have never felt so seen by experts."
Julius Rodrigo
Concentration in Packaging
Project Manager
Design and layout of publications, such as books and ebooks, magazines, and brochures. Focus on presenting content in an aesthetically pleasing and readable manner.
- Perfect fit if you: enjoy seeing your work come to life in a printed form.
- Areas of focus: magazine production; book publishing; ebook production; letterpress; Photoshop; accessibility; sustainability; typography; and binding.
"The Concentration involved the use of Adobe design software, giving me a foundation in graphic design that I use in developing my course materials and graphic design projects.
I enjoyed all of the project-based courses in the Concentration, like GCM 720: Magazine Production and Publishing, GCM 722: Book Production and Publishing and GCM 738: Photoshopped! The Art of Image Retouching. Projects involved creating a book layout, a magazine, and album art were fun and great training in software. The course instructors were fantastic, and I greatly improved my skills and abilities through these classes."
Sarah Zahavi
Concentration in Publishing
Media Arts & Communications Teacher
Career Pathways
- Content Manager
- Graphic Designer
- Integrated Producer
- Manufacturing Supervisor
- Marketing Associate
- Project Manager
- Print Production Specialist
- Studio Artist
Employers
- Loblaws
- Maple Leaf Foods
- Ricoh
- TC Transcontinental
- The Printing House