CAT Partners with BCIT to offer Degree Pathway Programs
It goes without saying, you’ve got a keen eye for design. You know that when images and words come together in just the right way, it’s magic on the page. You want to make an impact on the world by combining cutting-edge design principles with emerging technology. This isn’t just THE future…it is YOUR future.
Graphic & web design is an extremely well-rounded program that prepares you for a number of career paths including graphic design, creative direction, production and interactive design, layout design and more! Our web and graphic design diploma graduates are highly sought after by employers because of their ability to multitask in highly specialized areas and offer creative design solutions. New media is constantly introducing us to alternative outlets for artistic expression. The demand for graphic artists, who are proficient in the latest suite of programs, continues to grow.
Twirling Umbrellas • Czek Creative • Hiilite Web Design & Marketing • Vigilante Marketing • Twin Creek Media • Media Button • Laura Grace Design Co. • BUZZ Marketing Agency • B&N Foods (Canmore) • Pela Case
Centre for Arts and Technology prides itself on hiring the very best instructors in the field. You’ll learn in a hands-on atmosphere and pick up tried and tested industry skills from people who have built a reputation owning or working with leading design firms. During this intensive 15 month program, you’ll learn every aspect of creating awe-inspiring designs, become proficient in the latest software and understand the basic aspects of photography & videography, marketing and front-end website development. With Instructor guidance, you’ll even graduate from the program with a digital portfolio of your projects to kickstart your career.
The Centre for Arts and Technology has an articulation agreement with the University of Gloucestershire in England. Read our blog for an interview with University of Gloucestershire instructor Don Parker.
Deborah ‘s career encompasses fashion, film, music, television, design, print journalism and education at the post graduate level and has spent most of the past 30 years in London, UK (with a couple of years here and there in Los Angeles and Vancouver).
In her work, she travelled extensively covering the international Ready-to-Wear and Couture designer collections for print and television. She has also worked for RCA records in LA and in the graphics department at Island Records in the UK, directed and segment produced for a number of fashion and lifestyle programmes in the UK, worked in pop promos and feature films, and continues to write and organize fashion shoots for print magazines in Canada and the UK.
Deborah spent twelve years running BA programmes and MA courses for the University for the Creative Arts in the UK, where she was twice the recipient of Teaching Excellent awards. She used to design ads in her role as advertising rep at The Georgia Straight newspaper in Vancouver, and collaborated with London graphic designer Robert de Niet on ten Issues of Segue, the graduate magazine for the Fashion Journalism Department at UCA, UK. She also contributes regularly to ICON Okanagan.
Little known fact: she could happily spend all day doing InDesign layout.
Jon Matlock brings over twenty years of industry experience to CAT’s Graphic and Web Design department, ranging from web development and digital design, to print and packaging design. Jon holds diplomas in both Graphic Design, and Information Technology and Applied Systems from Vancouver Island University.
Before opening Spun Studios in 2004, Jon worked for a web development agency and also freelanced.
Jon is an avid mountain biker and has been fortunate to work with many clients in that industry. from large, international bicycle manufacturers (like Cannondale and GT Bikes) to highly acclaimed mountain bike filmmakers (like The Collective and Anthill Films) to local bike shops and regional manufacturers.
Jon loves to teach and it shows. Helping students get the most out of their time at CAT is his number one goal. Jon especially enjoys passing on his knowledge of Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator & InDesign.
Kiko is a talented, passionate Web Developer and Graphic Designer with a broad range of experience in the web and graphic design industry. He has experience working with larger web agencies, as well as free lancing, and working as an in house developer/SEO specialist. Kiko’s Graphic Design skills are in such programs as Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, and many other programs from the Adobe Suite to create web designs, business cards, brand assets for print and web, and more. His web skills are in MySQL, PHP, Node Js, jQuery, Javascript, HTML, CSS, Linux, WordPress, and in using the Cake PHP framework. Kiko’s passion lies greatly in his love for graphic design and web development, but even more so in his desire to teach. Teaching at the Centre for Arts and Technology allows Kiko to keep one foot in industry, while following his passion for sharing his knowledge and experience with the new generation.
With a degree from the University of Toronto in Semiotics and Communication Theory in hand, Kat set her sights on an Advertising and Graphic Design diploma from Humber College Institute of Technology. Her creativity has since taken hold and led her to a successful career in graphic design, marketing, and print. Kat’s skills span all of the applicable graphic design software systems, including In Design, Illustrator, Photoshop, Quark, Dreamweaver, Flash and Final Cut. Kat’s interest in extreme sports has pushed her towards companies with similar values, designing for West 49, Billabong, and Big White Ski Resort. While teaching at the Centre, Kat can also be found mountain biking, snowboarding, or wakeboarding.
Carrie Mayhew has established herself as a strong presence in the design community. Graduating with a Bachelor of Design from the Alberta College of Art & Design (ACAD), Carrie has put her skills to work by creating her own design company and magazine. Carrie’s company, Ginger Creative, specialize in corporate branding, layout design, website design, editorial design, wedding invitations and wedding day-of details. Along with her design company, Carrie also started ‘Adore’ magazine, an Okanagan wedding & lifestyle magazine that is a community hub for the local Okanagan wedding professionals. Carrie loves taking unique ideas and translating them into creative communicative and tangible visual forms.
Internationally Renowned Artist and Art Instructor.
Elizabeth Dykosky’s work is unique and shows extraordinary colour use and remarkable talent wielding the brush or the pallet knife. Her work has been exhibited at various galleries throughout the world, among others in Italy(Rome), Canada(Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, and Kelowna), the USA(Detroit), as well as the United Arab Emirates(Dubai and Salalah). Her paintings belong to the private collection of the Vatican, Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai, and Shanfari Group of Companies in Salalah, UAE.
Her pieces capture the essence of the subject to a degree that leaves a lasting impact on the viewer.
Jamie moved to Kelowna from London, England in 2013 after a very successful career spanning around 17 years with BMW UK.
He had been successfully ‘playing’ at being a photographer for around 10 years, never committing to making it his full time gig. However, when everything seemed to align perfectly, he couldn’t ignore the opportunity for a radical change of direction in life. Jamie resigned from his perfectly good job, jumped on a plane and headed to explore what Canada had to offer.
He enrolled at Centre for Arts and Technology, graduating from the Digital Video Fusion Program in 2014, as a way of broadening his creative offering. He has since formed a successful Photography, Videography and Events Management Company, called Pinstripe Productions Ltd., producing work across North America with his two Co-founders.
Aside from his own productions, Jamie is also hired as a Camera Operator for live TV, sporting and music events and is an experienced Gimbal Operator. He has worked on small and large production films and documentaries filmed in the Okanagan and in Europe.
Peter is constantly pushing himself to become an expert in his field. His passion and talent has led to a strong knowledge base and successful career in website design, graphic design, and website development. Before becoming head of Vigilante Marketing Peter was the CTO and Senior Developer at Hiilite, the National Distributed Learning Manager and Lead Instructor for the Graphic Design and Web Development programs at CATO. He is also active in the non-profit community, doing work with Opera Kelowna, The Grindstone Award Foundation, and the Fat Cat Children’s Festival. With over a decade of experience in the multimedia industry, Peter possesses an expert level of understanding and knowledge of technology, and education. If Google was a person, he would be Peter-Singh Vigilante… seriously, what can’t he do?
Maurizio Cattaneo is a career Graphic Designer and Art Director with over 25 years of experience covering the full spectrum of design disciplines. He is a visual storyteller with a deep understanding of marketing principles and an ongoing love for great design, he has a keen eye for design and extensive experience in designing including corporate brand identities, marketing collateral, website designs and both print and digital ads. He is a creative problem solver, loves a creative challenge and is always eager to learn more and continue to develop his skills.
Maurizio has been an entrepreneur for almost all of his career, as a freelancer predominantly, and he also ran his own agency in Milan.
Maurizio has a multicultural and multilingual background. He was raised and educated in Italy, spent 10 years living in Spain and has lived the past four years in Canada. This is a great asset when it comes to design as he is able to share the experiences, flavors and aesthetics of these cultures providing additional insights and depth to the teaching.
“I signed a contract for a full-time graphic design position before I had even graduated. I took on tutoring, and becoming a teaching assistant to the program, as well as took on many freelance projects. I am now in the work force doing what I love, and I have honestly been able to say that I feel like I do not work. I just create – and that is what I went to CATO for. It was life changing, and the best decision I have ever made.”
– Natasha Diiuorio, Graphic Design Alumni
“My overall experience at CATO was amazing. Everything from my peers to the curriculum to the teachers made my year and a half there an unforgettable experience. CATO offered me such a variety of skills that my resume stood out from other graphic designers. Never settle for just “good enough” and keep learning.”
– Alanna O’Brien, Graphic Design Alumni
“CAT connected me with lifelong friends and provided me with the technical skills that have allowed me to express my creativity professionally in an industry that I love. During my program, having the lab time during the day and at night helped me get all of my work done. I enjoyed all the late nights working with my classmates and the bond that was created while working on projects. I would tell students considering the school that it is a lot of hard work, but that the end result is spectacular!”
– Laura Rosset, Graphic Design Alumni
