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Digital Fabrication and Design - Diploma

Inspiring and preparing design-forward, human-centred problem-solvers to collaborate, adapt and respond within rapidly transforming environments.
Program at a Glance
Length
2 years
Accreditation
Diploma
School
The Arts
Delivery Mode
On Campus
Campus
Trail
Intake Dates
Fall
Contacts
Kristin Knutson
School Administrative Assistant
Phone
1 (888) 953-1133
11370
Direct
1 (250) 505-1370
Contact by email
Overview

Agile, Collaborative and Multi-faceted Learning

The Digital Fabrication & Design Program encourages students to develop worldly perspectives, design skills and practical hands-on skills that support emerging technologies in digital fabrication. The program aims to prepare and inspire design-forward, human-centred problem-solvers who can collaborate, adapt and respond within rapidly transforming environments.

Established in 2020, the program ensures relevance through constant technology updates and equipment acquisition. The curriculum is refined in response to the evolving needs of industry. 

Human-Centred Problem-Solving

Curiosity and creativity are encouraged as students undertake a broad range of design challenges. Students discover their interests through collaboration, ideation and iteration, making, prototyping and testing. At the heart of every student is the ability to adapt and apply technology to solve complex problems across a wide range of industries.

Giving students a full spectrum of digital fabrication implementations and opportunities, learning includes but is not limited to:

  • Design for advanced manufacturing

  • Traditional fabrication shop and safety practices

  • 3D scanning and reverse engineering

  • Rapid prototyping and design verification

  • 3D computer aided design (CAD) and manufacturing (CAM)

  • Additive manufacturing (3D printing)

  • Subtractive manufacturing (CNC machining)

  • Entrepreneurial studies

  • Sustainable product design

  • Emerging technologies

Program Goals 

  • Encourage students to develop worldly perspectives and networks that will support borderless design processes and outcomes.

  • Refine curriculum in response to the evolving needs of industry and students.

  • Ensure industry relevance through technology updates and equipment acquisition.

  • Develop an inspired human-centred space where students can collaborate, make, learn and showcase their work.

  • Foster long-lasting relationships with industry advisors through an established consultation committee.

  • Expand work-integrated learning (WIL) opportunities to include a Co-op Education program that places students in summer work positions.

Enrol in Co-op!
Take your learning out of the classroom with co-op education. Earn school credit while you gain real-world work experience.
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Program Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

  1. Apply efficient computer-aided design workflows
  2. Apply 3D-scanning methods and processes for reverse engineering, quality control and metrology
  3. Apply subtractive and additive manufacturing techniques and efficient workflows for rapid prototyping
  4. Use current and emerging technologies and recognized best practices
  5. Apply project planning and evaluation skills
  6. Operate shop tools and digital fabrication equipment
  7. Explain terms, concepts and processes of digital fabrication
  8. Communicate effectively and efficiently in various formats to a variety of stakeholders, consistent with industry expectations
  9. Apply emerging problem-solving skills
  10. Demonstrate developing collaborative skills
  11. Demonstrate developing critical and creative thinking skills
  12. Conduct themselves in a professional and ethical manner in academic and work-related environments

In addition to meeting the general admission requirements to Selkirk College, as outlined in Policy 8611: Admission, applicants to the Digital Fabrication and Design Program must meet the following requirements to be considered fully qualified:

  • Math 11 (Foundations or Pre-Calculus) with a minimum of 73% or higher
  • English 12 with minimum of 67% or higher
  • Completed applicant information questionnaire
  • Note: Recommended but not mandatory: Physics 11 with a minimum of 67% or higher
Additional Requirements
No additional requirements in this program.
Graduation and Promotion

In order to receive your credential in your program, you must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.00.

Term 1

DFAB 101 Introduction Digital Design and Fabrication. This course will cover the basic history and techniques of digital fabrication, including an introduction to design and design methods.

Credits
1.00

DFAB 103 Design for Digital Fabrication 2D will focus directly on a variety of 2D design applications. Students will gain knowledge in communicating design concepts using sketching, graphics, renders, and 2D technical drawing standards.

Corequisites
DFAB 104
Credits
4.00

DFAB 104 Design for Digital Fabrication 3D. Students will learn how to design for digital fabrication. Emphasis will be put on designing functional parts following industry design standards. This course will focus directly on 3D CAD applications and design practices. Students will gain knowledge in solid and parametric modeling as well as the migration between various workflows and approaches.

Corequisites
DFAB 103
Credits
5.00

DFAB 111 Introduction to Desktop 3D Printing introduces students to standard operating and maintenance procedures for common desktop 3D printing machines. Students will receive hands-on training with 3D machines using plastics and plastic alternatives.

Credits
2.00

DFAB 112 Traditional Fabrication Principles introduces students to traditional fabrication processes in relation to equivalent digital fabrication processes. Students will learn standard shop safety practices, measurement techniques, layout and dimensioning standards, how to read and interpret drawings, and applied math skills required for manufacturing. Students will have an opportunity to apply these principles in DFAB 113.

Credits
3.00
Term 2

DFAB 105 Design for Additive Manufacturing. Design criteria for a variety of additive manufacturing processes will be covered in this course. Students will gain additional knowledge in solid and parametric modeling as it pertains to additive manufacturing design criteria. A variety of design techniques for additive technologies including stereolithography (SLA) and fused deposition modeling (FDM) will be explored.

Prerequisites
DFAB 104
Corequisites
DFAB 106
Credits
4.00

DFAB 106 Additive Manufacturing I develops student knowledge and skills gained in DFAB 111 related to standard operating and maintenance procedures for additive manufacturing machines, process, and workflows, including safe operation of all systems. Students will receive hands-on training on a variety of additive manufacturing technologies including stereolithography (SLA) and fused deposition modeling (FDM) machines using plastics and plastic alternatives.

Credits
1.50

DFAB 107 Design for Subtractive Manufacturing. Design criteria for a variety of 2D subtractive manufacturing processes will be covered in this course. Students will gain additional skills in solid and parametric modeling as it pertains to subtractive manufacturing design criteria. Students will learn a variety of design techniques for subtractive technologies including 2D CNC milling, routing, and laser cutting.

Prerequisites
DFAB 104
Corequisites
DFAB 108
Credits
5.00

DFAB 108 Subtractive Manufacturing 1. In this course students will learn standard operating and maintenance procedures for subtractive manufacturing machines, processes and workflows, including safe operation of all systems. Students will receive hands-on training on a variety of subtractive manufacturing technologies specifically, 2D CNC routing, milling, and laser cutting for wood, plastic, and other material mediums.

Corequisites
DFAB 107
Credits
3.00

DFAB 113 Traditional Fabrication Practices provides students with practical fabrication experience in metal.  Students will gain hands-on experience in the application, maintenance, and procedures for the use of hand tools, power tools, layout tools and equipment, drills, drill presses, lathes, and milling machines. 

Credits
2.00
Term 3

DFAB 201 3D Scanning and Reverse Engineering. In this course students are introduced to reverse engineering where they will learn a variety of techniques including photogrammetry, LiDAR, structured light and machine probing. Students will then focus their learning on scan to CAD, metrology processes and product analysis.

Credits
3.00

DFAB 202 Subtractive Manufacturing 2. In this course students further their training in CNC manufacturing, building on the knowledge gained in DFAB 108 with a deeper dive into CNC stepping, multi-tool paths, jigging, flipping, and surface contour machining. Students are introduced to sheet metal design in CAD, waterjet cutting, forming and bending techniques. This course explores design considerations, design constraints, safe machine operation, and tool selection for subtractive manufacturing.

Credits
4.00

DFAB 203 Additive Manufacturing II introduces students to a variety of techniques, processes and machines for additive manufacturing in high temperature engineering materials and metal 3D printing.

Credits
4.00

DFAB 204 Computer Aided Design and Rapid Prototyping. Students will receive an introduction to advanced surface and solid CAD modelling software. Use CAD to create complex solid and surface models. Translate design files between multiple CAD softwares. Explore the relationship between design intent, form giving, and formal resolution through a rapid prototyping exercise.

Credits
4.00
Term 4

DFAB 205 Entrepreneurship supports students to identify and respond to a market need by bringing a marketable business idea to life. By simulating a start up environment, students are challenged to explore team-based problem solving, ideation, and business plan development culminating with a pitch in which students present their startup idea for feedback.

Credits
1.00

DFAB 206 Molding and Casting for Advanced Manufacturing introduces students to the fundamentals of design and implementation of advanced manufacturing. Emphasis is on practical skills including designing for and implementing projects utilizing injection molding, 3D printed mold making and various other molding and casting techniques.

Credits
3.00

DFAB 207 Advanced CNC Technologies will introduce students to machining metal using various tools including CNC machining and turning centers. Students will learn standard setup and operation techniques for various machines, how to implement CAD/CAM software to generate the appropriate tool paths, and how to test their learning through CNC simulation before setting up and running the program on physical machines.

Credits
3.00

DFAB 208 Sustainability and Adaptive Design allows students to apply digital design and fabrication techniques within the context of sustainable product design and adaptive design. Students will complete a series of projects using tools such as 3D solid and surface modeling, 3D scanning technologies, and experimental approaches to digital model generation. Digital models will be made physical through a variety of fabrication technologies  which  can include 3D printing, CNC milling, casting, molding and laser cutting.

Credits
3.00

DFAB 209 Capstone provides students with the opportunity to employ their cumulative skills and talents in a chosen area of focused study. Each student must declare an area of interest that will be the basis of a unique product, requiring a series of scheduled tasks to complete.

Credits
5.00

All amounts are estimates and are subject to change. Tuition amounts are based on a full-time course load. Please note that many programs have additional costs beyond those listed here. For more information, please visit Tuition & Fees.

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