Concept Design Diploma
Characters, environments, props and vehicles for film, games and animation.
- Length
- 15 months
- Terms
- 5
- Courses
- 28
- Tuition from
- $24,923
Concept design diplomas for film, games and animation
Full-time programs in Concept Design, Computer Art and Entertainment Concept Design, taught in Metro Vancouver by artists who work in the industry.
- Credential
- Diploma
- Programs
- Three, full-time
- Length
- 12 to 15 months
- Next intake
- September 2027
- Campus
- Richmond, BC
- Designation
- PTIB designated
Environment design by an NPC College student.
A college for concept artists
NPC College of Arts & Design is a private post-secondary college in Richmond, British Columbia, designated by the Private Training Institutions Branch (PTIB). It offers one- to two-year, full-time diploma programs for the entertainment industry: concept design, computer art and entertainment concept design.
Our instructors are industry professionals and senior designers. They are ideally qualified to nurture and guide every student who wishes to pursue art as a career.
Diploma programs
Computer Art Diploma
Animation, storyboarding, visual development and effects, ending in a finished short film.
- Length
- Five terms
- Terms
- 5
- Courses
- 21
- Tuition from
- $24,923
Entertainment Concept Design Diploma
A one-year entertainment design program built around Blender and a finished production design project.
- Length
- 12 months
- Terms
- 4
- Courses
- 21
- Tuition from
- $24,400
The NPC advantage
Industry mentors
Our instructors are actively working in the industry on major feature films and AAA video games.
Job-ready skills
Our curriculum is designed to ensure students learn the skills that the studios are looking for.
A route to a degree
Concept Design graduates can continue to a Bachelor of Fine Arts at College for Creative Studies under a transfer agreement.
Andrew AnArt Director on WondLa at Skydance Animation and designer on The Addams Family 2.
Sabrina HemeonLead and Senior Designer at Atomic Cartoons; designer on The Addams Family 2 at Cinesite.
Zach McLeanConcept artist, illustrator and art director; founder of Poiesis Studios.
Jianjun AnArtist and designer with over twenty years of experience; founder of NPC.
Dorothy WangCharacter designer at Bardel Entertainment on The Dragon Prince and The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild.
Keeny NgArt director in animation; graduate of Sheridan College classical animation.
All our instructors are industry professionals. As a student, you will be able to work with them on a weekly basis as they guide you from start to finish of a completed demo reel. This is truly a unique experience as students get a chance to gain insider, industry knowledge while polishing and refining the skills they have learned throughout the term.
What you learn
Drawing comes first: perspective, figure, line. Then design for characters, environments, props and vehicles, and the digital and 3D tools studios use.
Diploma to degree with College for Creative Studies
NPC College of Arts & Design (NPC) and College for Creative Studies (CCS) have partnered to create a cross-institutional pathway enabling NPC graduates to complete both an NPC Concept Design Diploma and a CCS Concept Design BFA, fully prepared to enter the entertainment industry. We are not just preparing students for careers; we are equipping them to change lives.
How the pathway works15 monthsConcept Design Diploma at NPC College
3 yearsConcept Design BFA at College for Creative Studies
Student work
Character sheets, environments, props and keyframes made in our studios. See the full gallery
If I knew this program before I would have taken this instead of spending 4 years in college, this is what you need to become a concept artist.
Accreditation
NPC College of Arts & Design is designated by the Private Training Institutions Branch (PTIB) of the British Columbia Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills. PTIB administers the Private Training Act and associated regulations. It is responsible for ensuring institutions meet the requirements and standards for certification, maintaining a Private Training Institution Directory of all certified institutions and the programs they provide, providing student protection and overseeing the Student Tuition Protection Fund.
For more information about PTIB, visit privatetraininginstitutions.gov.bc.ca.
Questions people ask first
What is NPC College of Arts & Design?
NPC College of Arts & Design is a private post-secondary college in Richmond, British Columbia, in Metro Vancouver. It offers three full-time diploma programs for the film, game and animation industries: Concept Design, Computer Art and Entertainment Concept Design. The college is designated by the Private Training Institutions Branch (PTIB) of British Columbia.
Is NPC College accredited?
NPC College of Arts & Design is designated by the Private Training Institutions Branch (PTIB) of British Columbia, the provincial regulator for private career colleges. PTIB sets the standards institutions must meet, keeps the public directory of certified institutions and programs, and oversees the Student Tuition Protection Fund. NPC College is also a Designated Learning Institution for international students, number O272070464932.
How long are the programs?
The Concept Design Diploma takes 15 months of intensive training, excluding holidays, across five terms. The Computer Art Diploma runs for five terms. The Entertainment Concept Design Diploma takes 12 months across four terms. All three are full-time.
Can international students study at NPC College?
Yes. NPC College of Arts & Design is a Designated Learning Institution in British Columbia (DLI number O272070464932, beginning with the letter O). International students need a study permit, translated transcripts and proof of English proficiency. International applicants to Concept Design and Computer Art must be at least 19 with a high school diploma.
Start your application
Applications for the September 2027 intake are open. The early admission deadline is March 1, 2027 and the regular deadline is July 1, 2027.