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GCM Info Booklet

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Table of<br />

Contents<br />

21<br />

35<br />

Opportunities<br />

What exciting opportunities are<br />

available to <strong>GCM</strong> students? Discover<br />

our scholarships and international<br />

exchange program. Get involved with<br />

extracurricular student groups unique<br />

to <strong>GCM</strong> and attend engaging industry<br />

and student events.<br />

Alumni Profiles<br />

5<br />

Why <strong>GCM</strong>?<br />

Discover what makes the country’s<br />

only degree-granting program in print<br />

management stand out.<br />

What’s life like after <strong>GCM</strong>? Read Q&As<br />

with a diverse group of alumni working<br />

in dynamic fields of the printing industries.<br />

Learn first-hand what the <strong>GCM</strong><br />

experience is all about and discover a<br />

few of the employment opportunities<br />

available upon graduation.<br />

10 Program<br />

43<br />

Find out how <strong>GCM</strong> combines technology,<br />

creativity and business to create a<br />

compelling, hands-on undergraduate<br />

degree program. Learn about the<br />

flexibility offered by the curriculum,<br />

Concentrations and Minors, as well as<br />

internship and Job Fair.<br />

Student Work<br />

A visual showcase of student work<br />

completed throughout the <strong>GCM</strong> program.<br />

Take a look at how our students<br />

are applying technical, creative and<br />

business skills acquired in courses to<br />

create inspiring projects.


4


Why a degree<br />

in <strong>GCM</strong>?<br />

5<br />

Is a degree in graphic communications<br />

management<br />

right for you?<br />

Our world is a visual one. Every day we come<br />

into contact with hundreds of printed and<br />

graphic products — from giant billboards, to<br />

sleek interactive websites and unique packaging<br />

carrying the coffee you’re drinking or<br />

the smartphone you just bought.<br />

The printing industry is Canada’s fourth largest<br />

manufacturing employer: it’s a $9 billion<br />

industry with over 50,000 employees working<br />

in more than 4,000 different organizations.<br />

The opportunities are diverse, both in region<br />

and role.<br />

There’s more competition for consumers’<br />

attention today than ever before, and in<br />

graphic communications, it’s your job to<br />

make sure the product stands out, no matter<br />

what it is. It takes many steps and people to<br />

do this — from vision leading executives and<br />

entrepreneurs, project managers to creative<br />

designers and printers. The School of<br />

Graphic Communications Management can<br />

teach you the wide variety of transferable<br />

skills sought in many fields. Everyone has a<br />

message they’re trying to spread. We help<br />

them get noticed.<br />

Technology continues to change the way we<br />

receive and process information, and the<br />

printing industries have been at the forefront<br />

of this revolution — whether it’s 3D,<br />

hybrid or digital printing. The field is continuously<br />

adapting and the need for experts is<br />

growing. With a degree in graphic communications<br />

management, you’ll be ready<br />

to lead the next wave in changing how we<br />

interact with products and packaging.


6<br />

Why <strong>GCM</strong> at<br />

Ryerson?<br />

9 Reasons to Choose<br />

<strong>GCM</strong> at Ryerson<br />

Reputation<br />

<strong>GCM</strong> is Canada’s only degree program for<br />

the printing industry and is one of the top<br />

programs of its kind in North America. <strong>GCM</strong><br />

is renowned amongst industry leaders, which<br />

is why many of them helped us build the<br />

modern Heidelberg Centre — where many<br />

of our classes are housed today. <strong>GCM</strong> is a<br />

recognized and respected name, and being a<br />

part of it means you’ll be a highly sought-after<br />

professional with a wide range of skills.<br />

Modern, Flexible<br />

Curriculum<br />

<strong>GCM</strong> combines the high technology and creativity<br />

of graphic communications with the analytical<br />

and strategic principles of business and management.<br />

Our modern, flexible curriculum lets you<br />

pursue your passion while learning base level<br />

skills transferable across jobs. You’ll have the<br />

option to pursue a Concentration in Packaging,<br />

Digital Graphics, Publishing or Leadership. Many<br />

students also choose to add a Minor in a second<br />

area of interest, from over 50 options.


7<br />

Paid Internships<br />

Gaining work experience is a key part of<br />

making sure you’re ready to jump into whatever<br />

field you want after graduation, which<br />

is why our students complete an internship<br />

between third and fourth year. These work<br />

placements often lead to part-time employment<br />

in fourth year and full-time work after<br />

graduation.You will have the chance to work<br />

with leading employers across the country<br />

and best of all, these positions are paid.<br />

Small Classes<br />

You’re not just a number at <strong>GCM</strong>. Small class<br />

sizes and hands-on lab courses means our<br />

professors will know you by name and are<br />

committed to your development. The class<br />

sizes also help you build personal connections<br />

with instructors and classmates. Developing<br />

a professional network for the future<br />

comes naturally here at <strong>GCM</strong>.<br />

Outstanding<br />

Employment<br />

Prospects<br />

Thanks to our reputation and industry<br />

connections, students often receive multiple<br />

job offers prior to graduation. Our goal<br />

is to help you find a rewarding career, and<br />

our school has an extremely high graduate<br />

placement rate. Many students use the<br />

internship and our annual Job Fair as first<br />

steps to shaping their dream careers.


8<br />

Leading<br />

Learning Labs<br />

Our learning labs feature state-of-the-art<br />

computer, imaging, printing and finishing<br />

technologies. Generous industry support<br />

means you’re working on the cutting edge<br />

software and equipment that the pros use.<br />

Small lab sections allow you to get to know<br />

classmates and professors.<br />

Industry Support<br />

and Connections<br />

Industry leaders and successful companies<br />

support <strong>GCM</strong> students with generous<br />

scholarships and awards, company tours and<br />

guest speakers. These relationships also give<br />

students rare opportunities to attend major<br />

showcases and events put on by the industry’s<br />

biggest players.


9<br />

Vibrant<br />

Student Life<br />

<strong>GCM</strong> has many student clubs and initiatives<br />

you can join, whether you’re looking to beef<br />

up your resume or social calendar. These<br />

groups often attend industry conferences,<br />

competitions and trade shows in North America<br />

and Europe.<br />

FCAD:<br />

The Creative Hub<br />

Ryerson’s Faculty of Communication and<br />

Design is home to Canada’s leading creative<br />

and communications programs. You’ll have<br />

the chance to work on extracurricular projects<br />

alongside students of fashion, film, photography,<br />

journalism, theatre and more. These<br />

unique collaborations will create new possibilities<br />

for professional development, and will<br />

help you develop close relationships with the<br />

future leaders of the creative industries.


10<br />

Program<br />

Overview<br />

Join Canada’s top graphic<br />

arts and management<br />

school. <strong>GCM</strong> will make you<br />

a well-rounded industry<br />

leader. Hone your creative,<br />

business and technological<br />

skills at <strong>GCM</strong>.


11<br />

We’re Canada’s undisputed leader in<br />

graphic communications management<br />

education and our graduates are at the<br />

forefront of this $9 billion industry. Our<br />

interdisciplinary approach gives you a<br />

unique breadth of technological, creative<br />

and business expertise, along with unique<br />

opportunities to gain industry experience<br />

throughout your degree.<br />

<strong>GCM</strong> prepares students to become<br />

well-rounded managers in the printing<br />

industries, with a high level of technological<br />

and creative literacy. Throughout your<br />

time as a <strong>GCM</strong> student, core courses will<br />

build a strong foundation for your technical<br />

knowledge and skills, and you’ll learn how to<br />

bring a product from concept to design and<br />

printing — meaning you get to hold your<br />

creations in your hand.<br />

In our premedia labs you’ll use professional<br />

digital cameras in a photography studio, as<br />

well as photo-quality proofers and printers.<br />

In production labs students work with digital,<br />

offset and flexographic printing presses,<br />

binding and finishing machines, computerbased<br />

simulators and specialized material<br />

testing equipment.<br />

Our students also develop the technical<br />

business skills to be successful managers<br />

and leading executives. You’ll hone essential<br />

skills in marketing, management, accounting<br />

and communication, and have the opportunity<br />

to create business plans for ventures you<br />

might launch someday. Many of our graduates<br />

are entrepreneurs, and we encourage<br />

students to think outside the box.<br />

We know classroom learning can only take<br />

you so far, which is why we’re committed to<br />

ensuring you gain work experience throughout<br />

your time at <strong>GCM</strong>. Our professors are<br />

well-connected to industry experts and<br />

our Advisory Council includes reps from<br />

Canada’s printing leaders who are vying to<br />

hire <strong>GCM</strong> students and graduates. These<br />

connections, plus our Job Fair, Business Plan<br />

Expo, industry competitions and internship<br />

program, set you up with a wide variety of<br />

opportunities to pursue your dream career.


12<br />

Curriculum<br />

Here’s what your time at<br />

<strong>GCM</strong> will look like:<br />

Year<br />

Year<br />

In this foundation year, students are<br />

introduced to core concepts in the<br />

printing industry. Hands-on lab courses<br />

provide experience in design and layout,<br />

graphic communication premedia<br />

and printing processes. Introductory<br />

business courses give you essential<br />

base knowledge and your electives are<br />

an opportunity to take courses in any<br />

subject that interests you.<br />

Building on the knowledge and skills<br />

gained in first year, you’ll advance your<br />

understanding of printing and packaging.<br />

Second year courses include<br />

typography, consumer packaging,<br />

binding and finishing, material science,<br />

premedia workflows and processes. Students<br />

continue to take business courses<br />

to prepare them for management roles<br />

after graduation, and you can start<br />

selecting Concentrations (explained on<br />

page 16) through your electives.


13<br />

Year<br />

Year<br />

Third year gives you insight into more<br />

specialized topics in the printing industry<br />

with an increased focus on business<br />

and project management. Courses<br />

include colour management, digital<br />

and variable data printing, web and<br />

cross-media and project management.<br />

You’ll also be preparing for your summer<br />

internship between third and fourth<br />

year, and working towards any Minors or<br />

Concentrations you’ve chosen.<br />

In your final year, you’ll work to master<br />

topics within the printing industry such<br />

as production workflows and advanced<br />

and emerging technologies. As a final<br />

project, students have the option of<br />

preparing a business plan for a start-up<br />

business in the industry, or writing a<br />

technology-focused research thesis. You<br />

will finish your Concentrations and Minors<br />

and be ready for a lucrative career.


Fall Semester<br />

<strong>GCM</strong> 110 - Introduction to<br />

Graphic Communications<br />

<strong>GCM</strong> 120 - Graphic<br />

Communications Processes 1<br />

<strong>GCM</strong> 130 - Design and Layout<br />

MKT 100 - Principles of Marketing<br />

One Liberal Studies Course<br />

Winter Semester<br />

CMN 279 - Introduction to<br />

Professional Communication<br />

<strong>GCM</strong> 111 - Graphic<br />

Communication Technologies<br />

<strong>GCM</strong> 121 - Graphic<br />

Communications Processes 2<br />

GMS 200 - Introduction to<br />

Global Management<br />

SSH 105 - Critical Thinking I<br />

Fall Semester<br />

<strong>GCM</strong> 230 - Typography<br />

<strong>GCM</strong> 240 - Material Science for Print<br />

<strong>GCM</strong> 250 - Binding and Finishing<br />

MKT 300 - Marketing Metrics<br />

and Analysis<br />

One Open Elective Course<br />

Winter Semester<br />

ACC 100 - Introductory<br />

Financial Accounting<br />

<strong>GCM</strong> 210 - Consumer Packaging<br />

<strong>GCM</strong> 220 - Graphic<br />

Communication Processes 3<br />

<strong>GCM</strong> 260 - Digital<br />

Premedia Workflows<br />

One Open Elective Course<br />

One Liberal Studies Course<br />

One Liberal Studies Course


Fall Semester<br />

<strong>GCM</strong> 350 - Estimating and Selling<br />

for Graphic Communications<br />

<strong>GCM</strong> 360 - Colour Management<br />

<strong>GCM</strong> 370 - Management Studies<br />

<strong>GCM</strong> 375 - Project Management for<br />

Graphic Communications<br />

One Liberal Studies Course<br />

One Core Elective Course<br />

Winter Semester<br />

<strong>GCM</strong> 320 - Digital and Variable<br />

Data Printing<br />

<strong>GCM</strong> 362 - Web and Cross Media<br />

<strong>GCM</strong> 372 - Operations and<br />

Process Management<br />

One Open Elective Course<br />

One Core Elective Course<br />

WKT 608 - <strong>GCM</strong> Internship<br />

Fall Semester<br />

<strong>GCM</strong> 420 - Advanced Print<br />

Production Processes<br />

<strong>GCM</strong> 460 - Asset Management for<br />

Graphic Communications<br />

One Core Elective Course<br />

One Liberal Studies Course<br />

One Open Elective Course<br />

Winter Semester<br />

<strong>GCM</strong> 461 - Workflow Automation<br />

Choose one:<br />

<strong>GCM</strong> 470 - Business Plan, or<br />

<strong>GCM</strong> 490 - Thesis<br />

One Core Elective Course<br />

One Liberal Studies Course<br />

One Open Elective Course<br />

For complete course details, please<br />

visit ryerson.ca/calendar


16<br />

Concentrations<br />

Concentrations are a way for you to customize<br />

your degree and graduate with a unique<br />

skill set. By focusing on a specific area within<br />

graphic communications, students are able<br />

to study topics that interest them in more<br />

depth. There are currently four concentration<br />

topics to choose from:<br />

Packaging<br />

Learn what it takes to make your products<br />

stand above the rest on the shelf, and gain<br />

experience with some of the cutting edge<br />

technologies in this ever-changing field.<br />

Leadership<br />

Our variety of general and print-specific business<br />

courses, from managerial finance to finding<br />

market opportunities, will prepare you to<br />

lead a project team or start your own company.<br />

Digital Graphic Output<br />

Get ready to master the world of digital<br />

printing with deep and flexible knowledge<br />

of digital printing applications. You will be<br />

ready to step into a range of exciting roles<br />

in signage, packaging, or digital printing.<br />

Publishing<br />

From print magazines to e-books, you’ll<br />

gain a well-rounded view of today’s publishing<br />

industry and gain unique skills needed<br />

to stand out as a graduate.<br />

Completion of a Concentration is optional. Doing so will help you to achieve a level of expertise<br />

beyond the core curriculum and set yourself apart from others when entering the workforce.


17<br />

Minors<br />

Minors give you the opportunity to hone skills outside your<br />

<strong>GCM</strong> major. You’ll be granted a Minor by completing six elective<br />

courses in a particular subject. Ryerson currently offers<br />

over 50 Minors. Some available to <strong>GCM</strong> students include:<br />

Entrepreneurship and Innovation<br />

Finance<br />

Law<br />

News Studies<br />

Professional Communication<br />

Photography<br />

For more on minors available to<br />

you, check out ryersongcm.ca/<br />

program-overview/minors<br />

Marketing<br />

Fashion<br />

Environmental and Urban Sustainability<br />

Global Management


18<br />

Internship<br />

Between third and fourth year, you’ll complete<br />

a work placement at an organization<br />

of your choice. Most of these positions are<br />

paid, but some students opt for a volunteer<br />

position. Through your internship, you’ll<br />

put your learning to work in a professional<br />

setting, broaden your understanding of the<br />

industry and opportunities available, and<br />

make valuable connections in the field of<br />

your choice. This is your time to shine.<br />

Many companies continue to employ interns<br />

part-time through fourth year and hire them<br />

full-time after graduation. A majority of students<br />

find an internship through our annual<br />

Job Fair and career postings. You’ll have<br />

access and connections to a wide variety of<br />

organizations, including design agencies,<br />

printing and packaging companies, magazine<br />

publishers and many more.


19<br />

Job Fair<br />

<strong>GCM</strong> grads are in high demand, working in<br />

rewarding and engaging positions around<br />

the world. Many of our students find their<br />

internships and jobs at our annual Job Fair<br />

— another opportunity for you to stand out<br />

and connect with potential employers. We<br />

regularly get more than 60 companies at the<br />

event who want to hire our best students —<br />

it’s up to you to show them why that’s you.


20


Opportunities<br />

21


22<br />

International<br />

Exchange<br />

<strong>GCM</strong> gives you opportunities to see the<br />

world while completing your degree — and<br />

getting top quality professional experience<br />

at the same time! By participating in an international<br />

exchange, you can spend a semester<br />

abroad studying in countries like Germany,<br />

Denmark, Sweden, Belgium and others.<br />

An international exchange is an unforgettable<br />

and enriching experience. Immerse yourself<br />

in a new culture and learn what your industry<br />

looks like on the other side of the world.<br />

Spending a semester abroad is a rare opportunity<br />

that will enhance your critical thinking,<br />

inspire you to create and help you figure out<br />

what you want from your career and life.<br />

...you can spend a<br />

semester abroad<br />

studying in countries<br />

like Germany,<br />

Denmark, Sweden,<br />

Belgium and others.


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25<br />

Scholarships<br />

& Awards<br />

Each year, <strong>GCM</strong> faculty, staff, alumni and industry<br />

leaders gather to celebrate students’<br />

achievement by handing out dozens of<br />

awards to our top students, totalling tens of<br />

thousands of dollars. Many of these awards<br />

are donated by top Canadian companies in<br />

the printing industries.<br />

Coming out of high school, you’re<br />

able to apply for the Canadian<br />

Printing Industries Scholarship. The<br />

scholarship is currently valued at<br />

$1,500 per year and is renewable<br />

for all four years.<br />

You need a high school average of 80%<br />

or higher to qualify, and dozens of <strong>GCM</strong><br />

students receive this generous scholarship<br />

every year. This generous scholarship is<br />

coordinated by the Canadian Printing Industries<br />

Scholarship Trust Fund. Learn more<br />

about the scholarship at printscholarships.ca<br />

As a <strong>GCM</strong> student you’re also eligible for a<br />

wide range of scholarships and bursaries from<br />

around Ryerson based on academics, extracurricular<br />

involvement and financial need.


26


27<br />

Student<br />

Life<br />

<strong>GCM</strong> is one big family. Students,<br />

professors and staff interact on a first<br />

name basis. Student groups foster<br />

community by running numerous social,<br />

athletic and academic events throughout<br />

the year, including orientation week,<br />

Ryerson’s parade and picnic, the famous<br />

<strong>GCM</strong> Halloween night, graduation formal<br />

and much more.<br />

You have many opportunities to get involved,<br />

meet new people and have fun at <strong>GCM</strong>.<br />

Here’s a sampling of our student groups:<br />

<strong>GCM</strong> COURSE UNION<br />

The Course Union represents <strong>GCM</strong> students<br />

within Ryerson. The student-led executive<br />

and class reps organize social activities,<br />

trips, intramural athletic teams and academic<br />

events. The course union is also a good<br />

liaison between you, the student union,<br />

faculty and university administration.


28<br />

COLLOQUIUM<br />

The Colloquium Team organizes a gala<br />

speaker event each year, bringing together<br />

students and industry on a current relevant<br />

theme. Industry speakers share their expertise,<br />

and the mix of student and industry<br />

attendees always guarantees rewarding<br />

opportunities for discussion and networking.<br />

LETTERPRESS CLUB<br />

The Letterpress Club is an interdisciplinary<br />

group with members who collaborate to<br />

complete a letterpress project each semester.<br />

Members learn the fundamentals of<br />

letterpress printing such as movable type<br />

and the uses of various inks and papers.<br />

They also get hands-on experience learning<br />

typography, composition, layout and letterpress<br />

printing.<br />

PHOENIX CHALLENGE<br />

The Phoenix Challenge is a flexography<br />

competition which takes place at the annual<br />

international FTA Flexo Forum each spring.<br />

Past teams have competed in Las Vegas,<br />

Dallas and San Diego.<br />

RYEPACK<br />

RyePack is Ryerson’s student group dedicated<br />

to creating opportunities for learning about<br />

packaging. Students engage with the packaging<br />

industry through several unique field trips,<br />

speaker events and design competitions.<br />

RYETAGA<br />

RyeTAGA is the Ryerson student chapter<br />

of the Technical Association of the Graphic<br />

Arts (TAGA) — an important research association<br />

in the printing industry. The student<br />

chapter publishes its own annual journal of<br />

student research for competition and has<br />

won several top prizes at conferences across<br />

North America, including in Portland, San<br />

Francisco and Pittsburgh.<br />

XPLOR<br />

Xplor Ryerson helps connect students who<br />

share an interest in digital documents to<br />

industry professionals from the Xplor International<br />

Network. Xplor International is a not-forprofit<br />

group for professionals in the electronic<br />

document industry, offering networking and<br />

educational opportunities for its members.


29<br />

RYERSON COMMUNICATION AND<br />

DESIGN SOCIETY<br />

The Ryerson Communication and Design Society<br />

(RCDS) is the first student-led umbrella<br />

society in a creative faculty in North America.<br />

The society represents all nine schools in the<br />

Faculty of Communication and Design. RCDS<br />

builds community, hosts conferences and<br />

competitions, and offers over $200,000 in<br />

extracurricular project funding for students in<br />

the Faculty of Communication and Design.


30<br />

Industry<br />

Events<br />

Working with industry is a big part of your<br />

time here at <strong>GCM</strong>. On top of internship and<br />

Job Fair, you have many opportunities to<br />

connect with the people you want to work<br />

with. Instructors often bring in guest speakers<br />

to classes and we secure rare plant tours with<br />

printing companies.<br />

Through student groups and academic<br />

competitions you can attend trade shows and<br />

conferences, and join industry associations.<br />

We also host a variety of industry dinners,<br />

seminars, open houses and networking nights.<br />

We give you the tools and opportunities to<br />

shape your dream career, all you have to do is<br />

choose what it is.


Networking: It’s<br />

not who you know, it’s<br />

who knows you.<br />

31


32<br />

The Faculty of Communication and Design<br />

FCAD is home to nine of Canada’s leading schools<br />

in media and creative industries. For seven decades,<br />

our unique programs have been at the heart of the<br />

evolution of cultural industries in Canada.


33<br />

A CREATIVE SPACE<br />

Our facilities allow students to set their<br />

imaginations free at the crossroads of technology<br />

and creativity. Through <strong>GCM</strong> you<br />

can access professional studios, workshops,<br />

advanced printing and fabrication technologies,<br />

as well as industry-standard software.<br />

A UNIQUE STUDENT EXPERIENCE<br />

FCAD offers students exclusive opportunities<br />

to further their learning both inside and<br />

outside of the classroom.<br />

Co-curricular learning − Opportunities<br />

within the FCAD schools and across campus<br />

offer paid opportunities to work on client-based<br />

projects, putting your skills to the<br />

test with professional-level assignments.<br />

Zones − Got an idea for a project, business<br />

or creative event? Pitch your ideas to any<br />

of the zones on campus, including FCAD’s<br />

Design Fabrication Zone, Fashion Zone<br />

and Transmedia Zone. Zones offer advice,<br />

mentorship and resources for you to explore,<br />

ideate and build under the guidance of<br />

industry leaders.<br />

Partnerships − Large brands have partnered<br />

with FCAD on numerous occasions, offering<br />

students opportunities to work with technology<br />

and expertise from Heidelberg Canada,<br />

Kodak, Esko, Color-Logic, The Printing<br />

House and many more.<br />

A global perspective − Through international<br />

exchanges, research, faculty, distinguished<br />

visiting professors, alumni and multinational<br />

affiliations, there are many ways to plug<br />

yourself into an international network. FCAD<br />

attracts talented students from around the<br />

world and offers you one-of-a-kind opportunities<br />

to see the world for yourself through<br />

diverse perspectives.<br />

Our dynamic community, with its breadth<br />

and focus on innovation, is uniquely positioned<br />

to be at the forefront of change.<br />

LEADING SCHOOLS<br />

Creative Industries<br />

Fashion<br />

Graphic Communications Management<br />

Image Arts<br />

Interior Design<br />

Journalism<br />

Professional Communication<br />

RTA School of Media<br />

Performance


34


Alumni Profiles<br />

35


36<br />

Andrea<br />

Lo<br />

2013 Graduate<br />

Manager, Content Production — Flipp


37<br />

Today you’re working at Flipp — one of<br />

Canada’s fastest growing and most awarded<br />

tech startups — how did you find your<br />

way there?<br />

I actually got it through networking at <strong>GCM</strong><br />

Colloquium! When I graduated, I was working<br />

in advertising, but felt like I wanted something<br />

more fulfilling. So as I was looking at other<br />

jobs, I met another <strong>GCM</strong> alumnus at Colloquium<br />

who told me about his job at Flipp.<br />

It sounded awesome. He got me in for an<br />

interview, I loved the company and culture,<br />

and I’ve been here ever since.<br />

Working at a tech startup isn’t the most<br />

traditional path for a <strong>GCM</strong> grad. How are<br />

you putting your degree to use there?<br />

You were actively involved in the <strong>GCM</strong><br />

Course Union, how did that enhance your<br />

time at Ryerson?<br />

Being part of the Course Union opened the<br />

door for me to meet a lot of people, not<br />

just in <strong>GCM</strong> but across campus. I met some<br />

great people who are still my close friends to<br />

this day. As the Vice President I developed<br />

leadership skills that I still use today when<br />

motivating my team, managing projects and<br />

fostering collaboration.<br />

Pairing these soft skills with the technical<br />

ones I learned in class is very valuable. The<br />

<strong>GCM</strong> program is very practical and five years<br />

out of school and I’m still using and building<br />

on what I learned at Ryerson!<br />

I’m applying a lot of what I learned at <strong>GCM</strong><br />

to my role. I’m helping guide retailers towards<br />

a digital workflow, but in order to do<br />

that, I need to really understand their print<br />

workflow. I do a lot of consulting on-site<br />

with retailers and the first thing we do is try<br />

to understand their print production. So the<br />

language, workflows and timelines are very<br />

relevant to what I learned.


38<br />

Faris<br />

Abu-Kwiek<br />

2014 Graduate<br />

Project and Traffic Manager —<br />

Marks, an SGSCO company


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Can you tell us about your role at Marks<br />

and how you got there?<br />

At Marks I work on packaging and point of<br />

purchase items for brands like Unilever Ice<br />

Cream, Bacardi, Hershey Canada and more.<br />

When I first joined the company, I helped<br />

design the special edition Oh Henry! Canada<br />

150 bar.<br />

The agency actually approached me for the<br />

job. After I graduated, I worked at Canadian<br />

Tire and Rogers, and Marks liked that I had<br />

this experience and could understand the<br />

client mindset and what they care about. My<br />

former professors helped convince me getting<br />

agency experience would help extend<br />

my learning and they were right, knowing<br />

both the client and agency side is a huge<br />

advantage for me.<br />

Your professors helped? Do you still connect<br />

with them often?<br />

I constantly stay in touch with many of them.<br />

It’s important to stay connected because<br />

they have so much experience and knowledge<br />

of how to approach aspects of my<br />

career. They also know so many industry<br />

leaders, and they’re always willing to help<br />

graduates connect with them. I love how<br />

family-oriented <strong>GCM</strong> is.<br />

You actually came back to speak at <strong>GCM</strong><br />

last year, why was that?<br />

I have so many good memories of <strong>GCM</strong>,<br />

from the projects I worked on, to meeting<br />

and learning from other graphics geeks on<br />

school trips to Germany and around the<br />

United States. I honestly miss school and<br />

wanted to get back in the community.<br />

Speaking with students in <strong>GCM</strong> classes was<br />

great. I love the school and would be like to<br />

come back and teach, one day. It was also<br />

good learning for me to see how the courses<br />

I took in undergrad are evolving for the<br />

future of the print industry.<br />

Why should students choose <strong>GCM</strong>?<br />

<strong>GCM</strong> gives you an edge. I can apply to a<br />

similar job as a business graduate, and I<br />

have the graphics component that makes<br />

me stand out. Today I work with a lot of<br />

brand managers, who don’t necessarily<br />

understand print, just cost and operations.<br />

By knowing all three, I stand out amongst<br />

the competition.


40<br />

Robert<br />

Leclair<br />

2009 Graduate<br />

General Manager —<br />

The Printing House Limited


41<br />

How did <strong>GCM</strong> prepare you to be a leader at<br />

The Printing House?<br />

<strong>GCM</strong> prepared me extremely well, it gave me<br />

the technical and management knowledge<br />

needed for a leadership role. The program also<br />

facilitated many networking opportunities.<br />

Today I manage 12 immediate staff and help<br />

coordinate 76 locations across the country. I got<br />

here by networking and studying at <strong>GCM</strong>.<br />

Why should students focus on networking<br />

during school?<br />

When sponsors and industry professionals<br />

came into the university I always made sure I<br />

had the opportunity to start a conversation.<br />

A resume is only a piece of paper, how you’re<br />

perceived in the industry is way more important<br />

when it comes to landing jobs and moving<br />

up the ladder.<br />

As a student, make sure you take every opportunity<br />

to shake someone’s hand who comes<br />

through that door, because they might be your<br />

boss one day. That’s what happened to me.<br />

You have a unique story of how you discovered<br />

<strong>GCM</strong>, can you tell us about it?<br />

I worked with the yearbook company back in<br />

high school, and they wanted to hire me when<br />

I graduated, but I wanted to go to university.<br />

So one of the company heads asked the chair<br />

of <strong>GCM</strong> at the time — Mary Black — to come<br />

and meet me. in my high school. Mary drove<br />

3 ½ hours to my tiny school to speak to me<br />

about <strong>GCM</strong>. Seeing she cared about the program<br />

and students really impressed me. Then I<br />

came to visit the school and hearing about the<br />

industry excited me even more. The program<br />

is a leader in the field.<br />

Do you think <strong>GCM</strong> is still a leader?<br />

Definitely. It’s a great program to be in, one of<br />

a kind and it opens up so many doors. Even<br />

at my company today, I hire at least one or<br />

two people out of the program each year and<br />

have a current student working part time. I’m<br />

constantly in contact with current professors<br />

asking who the top potential employees are<br />

coming out of the program.


42


Student Work<br />

43


44<br />

Packaging<br />

Design<br />

Package design produced<br />

by the <strong>GCM</strong> Phoenix<br />

Challenge team


45<br />

Poster Design<br />

Students have an opportunity to<br />

create letterpress prints in the<br />

extracurricular Letterpress Club<br />

A student project<br />

that shows how<br />

typographic choices<br />

affect the appeal<br />

and accessibility<br />

of a document


46<br />

Hand-bound<br />

Books<br />

Handcrafted book<br />

created by a fourth<br />

year student


47<br />

Editorial<br />

The RyeTAGA journal is produced annually<br />

at <strong>GCM</strong>. The entire book – content, design<br />

and printing – is done by students<br />

Magazine designed and printed as<br />

part of student course work


48<br />

Book Design


In the Design and Layout course, first year students<br />

implement software tools to meet client requirements<br />

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50<br />

Business Plan


51


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Join Us<br />

“<strong>GCM</strong> is known for a career-relevant<br />

education with practical internships leading<br />

to outstanding employment prospects.<br />

<strong>GCM</strong> students combine their enthusiasm<br />

for technology, creativity and business. We<br />

welcome you to our campus for a tour of our<br />

facilities, and we are confident you will enjoy<br />

the opportunities available through <strong>GCM</strong>!”<br />

FACULTY & STAFF<br />

Graphic Communications Management<br />

Connect with <strong>GCM</strong> @RU<strong>GCM</strong><br />

“Our faculty and its nine leading schools<br />

have been at the heart of the evolution of<br />

cultural industries for seven decades. Here<br />

you can immerse yourself in new worlds<br />

of design, storytelling, media and creative<br />

leadership – surrounded by like-minded<br />

peers and mentors. We hope you’ll join us.”<br />

CHARLES FALZON<br />

Dean, Faculty of Communication & Design<br />

Connect with FCAD @RyersonFCAD


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