vcc.ca
VCDP 2430: Editorial Design
Effective date
September 2027
Department
Visual Comm Design Diploma
School
Trades, Technology and Design
Description
Students in this exciting course will extend their creativity to design a professionally structured magazine from concept to print-ready files. Through research and case studies, students will examine magazine design elements and learn how context, audience, and message differentiate varying genres. They will create covers, logos, table of contents pages, feature layouts, and department sections.
Typography, layout, illustration, photography, infographics, grids, white space, headlines, and body copy will all become familiar components in the editorial design vocabulary. Emphasis will be placed on packaging editorial material into a cohesive, on-brand style while ensuring that layout decisions support accessibility, readability, and inclusive communication practices.
Credits
3.0
Year of study
2nd Year Post-secondary
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Design and produce a multiple page publication using InDesign
- Discuss current and historical magazine design
- Produce a masthead and elements to be used for magazine branding
- Develop and apply a grid system in the design of a magazine layout that supports clarity, accessibility, and inclusive communication
- Use typographic principles and type hierarchy in the design of a magazine layout
- Source, select, edit and place visual elements into a magazine layout
- Construct advertisements for publications based on audience
Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition (PLAR)
1. Interview with department to discuss previous experience
2. A portfolio assessment of previously completed related work OR
3. The demonstration of skills via the successful completion of 1-4 related projects/assignments similar to those completed in the course, chosen at the discretion of the department
2. A portfolio assessment of previously completed related work OR
3. The demonstration of skills via the successful completion of 1-4 related projects/assignments similar to those completed in the course, chosen at the discretion of the department
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 |
|
Project |
30 |
Final project |
|
Assignments |
30 |
Assignments |
|
Lab Work |
30 |
May include in-class exercises, assignments, quizzes/tests, and work-in-progress |
|
Participation |
10 |
Participation and professionalism |
Course topics
- History of magazine design
- Publication planning while considering accessibility
- Publication masthead and branding
- Typography
- Photography and illustration
- Publication advertising design and production
- InDesign for publication: Setting up multiple page documents, developing a style template, designing core pages and spreads, covers and proofing
- PDF workflow for publications
- Using AI to streamline multi-page layout workflows
- Digital editorial presentations and PDFs
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.