Digital Fabrication and Design

Digital Fabrication & Design

With an emphasis on technologies and strategies, the Digital Fabrication & Design Program prepares students for employment or further education in the emerging fields of digital fabrication and advanced manufacturing. 

Cutting Edge Tech Education

Design and manufacturing are evolving industries. In Selkirk College's new Digital Fabrication & Design Program, gain broad entry-level skills or take your trade, craft or digital prowess in a new digital direction. This field combines the artistry of digital design with the skilled trades of making the physical form. Our training ensures your value in the increasingly digitally driven world of design, fabrication and manufacturing. 

The Digital Fabrication & Design Program teaches emerging hands-on computer skills for a wide variety of production facilities - from large-scale industrial operations to inventors needing prototypes. Learn how to design and build products from the bottom up. Or, create parts for a larger assembly. Learn more about career pathways...

Digital manufacturing skills are in demand as industries embrace improved technology allowing for more design choice, increased accuracy and a shorter design to manufacturing process. Among sectors, manufacturing recorded the highest rate of adoption of advanced design and fabrication technologies, with nearly six in 10 manufacturing enterprises using at least one such technology. 

Applied Skills and Experiential Learning

Our program instruction is primarily delivered in workgroups, with peers, mentors, and machines. Delivery uses a problem-solving based learning approach which reflects standard industry practice in the field of advanced manufacturing.

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

• 2D and 3D Design for Advanced Manufacturing (CAD/CAM)
• 3D Scanning and Reverse Engineering
• Additive Manufacturing (3D printing)
• Subtractive Manufacturing (CNC machining)
• Entrepreneurial Studies
• Automation and Robotics for Advanced Manufacturing
• Emerging Technologies

Real-world Projects Reinforce Learning

Students will experience the “design-to-part” process from the initial design concept to the finished product. Working in groups, students will identify the required deliverables, develop a timeline, assign and schedule project activities, identify/procure needed raw material and equipment, and determine a per unit production costs, for example.

This experiential approach encourages students to learn by doing and, thereby, develop the problem solving and teamwork-skills fundamental to industry practice.

Career Potential

Digital Fabrication & Design skills and knowledge may be stand-alone or amplify another discipline. They are indispensable skills for individuals already skilled in traditional design, fabrication and manufacturing.

The two-year Diploma Program in Digital Fabrication & Design provides graduates and professional students with practical, interdisciplinary skills to apply cutting-edge manufacturing and design techniques in an increasingly wide range of industries, including:

• civil and mechanical engineering
• advanced manufacturing
• architectural design
• special effects artistry
• industrial design
• many others

“A strong foundation of skills and workforce competencies will help people adapt to changes and opportunities that come along with increased automation.” - BC Labour Market Outlook. 

West Kootenay industries requiring experts in Digital Fabrication & Design are Spearhead, Tartaruga Design, ROXUL, XL Quality Services, Able Plastic, Left of Center, Drop Design, Teck Metals.

This is a multi-campus program primarily located in Trail, BC - at the Selkirk College Trail Campus and MIDAS. Please note that the first five weeks of this program includes a Manual Trades and Bench Skills component which takes place at the Silver King Campus in Nelson. Collaboration with Selkirk College Applied Research & Innovation will also enhance learning.