vcc.ca
DCOM 1215: Digital Commerce Strategies
Effective date
May 2026
Department
Visual Comm Design Diploma
School
Trades, Technology and Design
Description
In this course, students will learn to create and manage fully functional online shops using industry-standard web design tools and platforms. Topics include user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) principles, content strategy, and brand integration. Students will gain hands-on experience in customizing themes, building product catalogs, configuring payment gateways, and integrating marketing tools. Emphasis is placed on designing user-friendly eCommerce experiences, leveraging analytics for performance tracking, and addressing ethical considerations in online commerce.
Credits
3.0
Year of study
1st Year Post-secondary
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Create an eCommerce storefront using industry-standard web design tools and platforms.
- Configure online store functionalities, including product catalogs, shopping carts, and payment gateways.
- Apply branding and visual design techniques to create a cohesive and appealing online store.
- Integrate analytics tools to track store performance and improve conversion rates.
- Demonstrate proficiency in customizing templates and themes to align with client or business goals.
- Apply user interface and user experience principles to enhance the effectiveness of eCommerce platforms.
- Perform basic user research and usability tests.
- Analyze ethical considerations and values associated with selling products and services online.
Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition (PLAR)
None
Hours
Lecture, Online, Seminar, Tutorial: 42
Practicum, Self-Paced, Individual Learning: 12
Total Hours: 54
Practicum, Self-Paced, Individual Learning: 12
Total Hours: 54
Instructional Strategies
A combination of lecture, demonstration, production simulations, problem solving, practical labs and reflective discussion will be used throughout this course.
Grading System
Letter Grade (A-F)
Passing grade
C
Evaluation Plan
|
Type |
Percentage |
Assessment activity |
|
Participation |
10 |
|
|
Project |
30 |
Final project |
|
Lab Work |
30 |
May include in-class exercises, assignments, quizzes/tests, and work-in-progress |
|
Assignments |
30 |
|
Course topics
- eCommerce and online selling strategies
- Website platforms, themes, and templates
- Content strategy and product catalogues
- Payment gateways and marketing tool integration
- Landing pages, lead generation, and conversions
- Brand identity systems
- UI/UX design principles, user research, and usability
- Memberships and subscriptions
Notes:
- Course contents and descriptions, offerings and schedules are subject to change without notice.
- Students are required to follow all College policies including ones that govern their educational experience at VCC. Policies are available on the VCC website at:
https://www.vcc.ca/about/governance--policies/policies/. - To find out if there are existing transfer agreements for this course, visit the BC Transfer Guide at https://www.bctransferguide.ca.