How North Island College is redefining digital education

DIGITAL Design + Development has been taught at North Island College since 2008. We pioneered web and mobile app design education when very few post-secondary institutions were offering the subjects and have refined and perfected our methods along the way. We are very proud of our history, the quality of our faculty, and the successes of our graduates.

Follow DIGITAL Design + Development at NIC on Instagram and Facebook for frequent #DIGITALatNIC updates.

On-campus and distance students discuss a community project.
On-campus and distance students discuss a community project.

Why Choose DIGITAL at NIC

The defining reason is quality.

  • Cutting-edge curriculum taught by passionate instructors

    Learn in-demand skills through a curriculum designed by expert faculty and advised by industry practitioners.
  • Graduate job-ready with a professional portfolio

    Practice your skillset on hands-on projects with real clients while you build a portfolio that shows off your personal interests.
  • Affordable tuition and fees

    By studying at North Island College you spend less and get more, saving over $10,000 per year compared to university.
  • Learn on campus or from home

    All our courses are offered both online and in-person so you can choose how you want to learn.
  • Small class sizes

    Our classes are small safe spaces where we build community. You’ll have meaningful interaction with your instructors and your classmates.
  • Amazing facilities

    Study at our beautiful Comox Valley campus on Vancouver Island and enjoy purpose-built classrooms and state-of-the-art computer labs with the latest industry-standard software.
  • Extensive student support services

    Our team of advisors and counsellors are here to support and empower you at every step of your student journey.

Organizations hiring our graduates

Over 76% of our graduates are employed in design and development within a few months of graduation. Below are some of the local and international organizations that have hired our graduates.

Boleyn Media
Rain
UnBounce
Animikii
City of Courtenay
Sky Box
The Update Company
Alison and Jos Boleyn (centre) with Boleyn Media Group team.

We don’t see a need to look further for employees because we are getting great people who are a great fit from NIC (…) All our hires are up-to-date using the latest programs, latest techniques and skills, they aren’t coming to us with outdated programs, which is really great because this industry moves so quickly.

Alison Bell,
Owner, Boleyn Media Group
Alison and Jos Boleyn (centre) with Boleyn Media Group team.

Our Advisory Committee

An education guided by industry professionals and valued by employers.

Our focus on fostering leading-edge talent pushes us to continually update our curriculum with the latest concepts and technologies. Our programs and courses are reviewed every year and compared to industry trends with the help of our advisory board of employers and industry professionals. 

We look to employ talented, creative people who know how to use digital tools to solve marketing problems. The NIC courses teach graduates the skills they need to succeed in this fast moving industry and we are proud to support the college and faculty as they develop and deliver these programs.

Nick Ward,
Advisory Committee Chair
CEO, The Update Company
Grad Show
Nick Ward, Advisory Committee Chair, at our yearly student grad show where graduates meet and interact with potential employers.

Meet the Faculty

Learn in-demand, relevant skills from passionate and highly qualified faculty who bring real world projects, clients, and industry guest lecturers into the classroom.

Ashley Blacquiere

Ashley Blacquiere

Department Chair
App Development, Functional Programming, Game Design and Development

Brad Best

Brad Best

Full-stack Development, Human-computer Interaction, Managing Software Projects

Brian Koehler

Brian Koehler

Client and Server Scripting, Databases, Cloud Computing

Claire Guiot

Claire Guiot

Graphic Design, Typography, UI/UX, Front-end Development

Frank Lu, faculty

Frank Lu

Computer Programming

Ian Adams

Ian Adams

Graphic Design, Branding

Jason Edwards

Jason Edwards

Design History, Photography, Graphic Design

Megan Wilson

Megan Wilson

Product Development, Front-end Development, Media

Michelle Simms

Michelle Simms

Social Media, WordPress, Digital Project Management

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Reza Abbasi

PHP, Mobile App Development

Interested in teaching, becoming a guest speaker,
or joining our advisory committee?

The digital industry is booming and we need the help of passionate and experienced people like you.

STUDY ON VANCOUVER ISLAND

North Island College currently supports over 560 students from 42 countries.

World Map
Comox Valley Campus
Comox Valley Campus

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Gilakas’la

NIC respectfully acknowledges we operate within the unceded territory of the K’ómoks First Nation.

Our Comox Valley Campus was built in 1992 and is located in the heart of Vancouver Island, Canada, near the beach, mountains, and rivers. The campus is home to the Shadbolt Studios, a modern Trades Training Centre, the Stan Hagen Theatre, and is located next to the Comox Valley Aquatic Centre and the Comox Valley Hospital.

There are a variety of ways to access the Comox Valley campus including by vehicle or by transit. Bike shelters are available for cyclists and a network of trails through the wooded areas of campus connect to nearby residential areas.

Comox Valley Campus
Comox Valley Campus

Stunning nature, supportive community, outdoors sports, and local culture. You’ll love it here.