Herzing Blog

Updated December 2023

Do you need a university degree to be taken seriously as a graphic designer? Can you avoid school altogether and just teach yourself the basics? 

What about free graphic design courses you can find online—isn’t that the best option for an up-and-comer who doesn’t want college debt? 

Graphic design is one of those fields where there are no clear rules on how to start a career. Some professions—like doctor or lawyer or licensed teacher—have very clear pathways for training. You must go to university. You must get certified. It’s not negotiable. 

Becoming a graphic designer is a little different. There’s endless debate between self-taught and schooled designers, and whether formal training is really “worth it”. 

But the truth is, with the growing complexity of design software and digital technology, many designers need formal training to stay ahead of the curve. 

Dorian Pai enrolled in Herzing's Building Design Technician program when he discovered his architecture degree was too theory-based to get him hired.

Dorian needed practical knowledge of the Ontario Building Code and design software to be taken seriously as a job applicant and break into the architecture field.

Like so many other students, he was looking for fast, affordable training that delivered job-ready skills. Did Herzing measure up?

Seriously considering a career in building design? You’re probably looking around and noticing many different training options in the GTA. 

Should you do a university degree in architecture? Would it make more sense to take a shorter diploma program in drafting? What about getting licensed as an architectural technologist?

Which path should you choose?

Thinking about becoming a building design technician or drafter? Love the idea of working with architects and construction teams to bring new buildings to life? 

Or maybe you already have some experience in design but need additional technical skills to take your career to the next level.

Whether you’re just starting out—or looking to upgrade your skills—quality building design training is the next logical step. 

But what exactly can you expect in class? Which technical skills and computer software will you focus on, and how long will training take? 

Examples of architectural renderings done by Albino Jr Geanga

Albino Jr Geanga immigrated to Canada several years ago, hoping to start a career in building design.

But even though he already had an architecture degree from the Philippines, he couldn't get hired without additional training in Canadian building codes and specifications.

Albino decided to take the Building Design Technician program at Herzing College Toronto. He graduated in 2018 and has successfully re-launched his career here in Canada.

We interviewed Albino to learn more about his story, and find out what he thought of Herzing's building design program.  

He told us about the skills he learned, his experience in class, and the design jobs he got after graduation.

He also shared some great advice for new students who want to start careers in building design. Here are the highlights from our interview.

Image courtesy of Zaneen, where Ikenna works as a lighting designer/tester

Would you ever guess that a building design graduate could end up specializing in high-end lighting design and quality testing?

Meet Ikenna Okpara. Ikenna is a perfect example of how diverse the field of design truly is—and the many (unexpected) things you can do with a building design diploma.

Imagine leaving your home, and travelling across the globe to study in a foreign country, in a foreign language, and build a career from scratch? With no family or professional contacts to help you?

That's exactly what Herzing interior design graduate Sergkei Theocharis did last year. He travelled all the way to Canada from Greece, with the dream of starting a design career here.

Sergkei just graduated from Herzing last month, and has already landed a pretty amazing interior design job at Primo International.

We interviewed him to learn more about his story, his experience at Herzing, and what he's doing now.

Here are the highlights from that conversation.

Updated December 2024

There are quite a few ways to specialize in the CAD field, salaries are competitive, and the training is quick. If you're interested in mechanical engineering or architectural design, you could be a perfect fit for this career.

But what should you know about becoming a CAD technician before you take the leap and invest in training?

We've been teaching this program for years! Here's our top 10 things every potential student should understand, right from day one. 

By the end of this post, you'll know for sure if a CAD career is right for you—and exactly how to get started.

Updated December 2024

You have a natural talent for arranging rooms, choosing furniture, and selecting paint colours. Your Instagram or Pinterest is full of amazing design ideas and inspiration. You're constantly reorganizing your own living space.

It sounds like you'd fit right in at interior design school! But let's take a step back for a minute. There are a few more things to consider before you invest your time and money...

Updated December 2024

What exactly is graphic design? This might seem like a really obvious starting point to this blog post—but it's key to knowing if this career path is truly right for you.