Université Laval

Located in the historic Saint-Roch district of Quebec City, the École de design at Université Laval operates within the Édifice La Fabrique, a repurposed 19th-century industrial site. The school functions as a specialized center for digital creation, animation, and interaction design, maintaining close integration with the École d'art to foster an interdisciplinary environment where fine arts principles inform digital pipelines.

Educational Approach

The school balances theoretical research with technical execution. The core animation curriculum, centered on the Baccalauréat en art et science de l'animation, emphasizes the twelve fundamental principles of motion to ensure character and movement remain artistically credible. This program utilizes project-based learning, where students engage in multidisciplinary workshops that simulate professional studio workflows for VFX and game development. Beyond entertainment, the curriculum encourages cross-disciplinary applications, enabling students to integrate animation techniques into fields such as architecture, medicine, and legal visualization.

Facilities and Technology

Technological infrastructure at the school is aligned with professional industry standards. Students have access to dedicated animation laboratories featuring high-performance PC workstations, 22-inch graphic tablets, and extensive resources for motion capture, green screen production, and 3D rapid prototyping. The program maintains a focus on software proficiency including Autodesk Maya, Toon Boom Harmony, 3ds Max, and the Adobe Creative Cloud suite.

Advanced Studies and Research

At the graduate level, the Maîtrise en design explores the intersection of human-computer interaction, cognitive ergonomics, and service design. The curriculum addresses the role of Artificial Intelligence in creative processes, training students to act as strategic, ethical overseers of digital systems. Through initiatives like the Atelier DIR (Design Impliqué et Responsable), the school promotes a philosophy of accountable authorship, encouraging designers to consider the social and environmental impact of their work. Final-year students showcase their thesis projects and professional showreels during the annual Première expo to connect directly with regional industry recruiters.