GBDA 101Introduction to Digital Media Design
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Arts
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 5 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
This course introduces students to the theory, principles, and practice of digital media design as they apply to a wide variety of communication contexts. Using design thinking, students will develop creative projects that integrate the needs of a variety of audiences.
Prerequisites
- Enrolled in H-Global Business & Digital Arts
Antirequisites
Leads to
Fall 2026 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| PRJ 001 | 4008 | 28 / 32 | F 09:00–11:50 |
| PRJ 002 | 4188 | 32 / 32 | F 13:30–16:20 |
Winter 2027 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| PRJ 001 | 3448 | 0 / 30 | F 09:00–11:50 |
| PRJ 002 | 3449 | 0 / 30 | F 13:30–16:20 |
| PRJ 701 | 1299 | 50 / 9999 | Online or by arrangement |
Reviewed on UW Flow
83% liked it73% easy81% useful
From 81 ratings and 16 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
Brubey is a great teacher. All project-based using Adobe. If you don't know anything about Adobe, try to learn some basics on your own beforehand. Since the class is only once a week, you either have a project due or absolutely nothing, which can be nice.
Dec 2025 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Really enjoyed my professor, Brubey! She's very clear in speaking and is obviously very knowledgeable on what she's teaching.
Dec 2024 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
The course is made up of projects. The classes are 3-hour lectures with in-class activities. Having some background knowledge with Adobe Illustrator, or Photoshop is useful. There are tutorials that are also recorded, so I never went. The projects were quite fun but do take time to do.
May 2024 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
I did enjoy this course as it did help me a lot with an introduction to design and I wasn't familiar with any digital tools before so it was fun. However, do not take it with Lauren Kilgour. If you're in her class, switch out, because you'll soon find yourself learning absolutely nothing from her lectures because she's only an academic and nothing else. Unless, you want to listen to unnecessary jargon for a term.
Apr 2023 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
This course is very interesting and easy especially for people who love design and Adobe Creative Suite. It's important to know how to use Photoshop and Illustrator prior to this course since that's all you use for each assignment. They provide tutorials for each section, which I've never attended but have heard they don't teach much during that time. The assignments consist of a logo design, poster design, emotional design and magazine design. They lowkey got more confusing as the weeks went on but that's because of how the assignment description was written. They were very vague and resulted in people sending multiple emails for clarification and the prof making a lot of announcements to…
Mar 2023 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
11 posts and comments in 10 threads mention GBDA 101, December 2013 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.
Spring 2024
I’m going to GBDA but I don’t know what electives to choose!! 2 points, 2 comments
u/Plane_Flan_9675: “I’m going into my first year this September and I can’t take GBDA 101 for the fall term since it’s full. I have to take 2 electives now. I’m not sure what is easy and makes sense to take to help me learn as I’m taking this program. …”
Winter 2023
GBDA 101 1 point, 1 comment
u/Sunreaper4: “Nope. Gbda 101 is only offered during winter term. Most gbda courses moving forward are only offered on a specific term.”
Do anti-requisite courses count towards a credit requirement for a minor? 1 point, 4 comments
u/astoriaa_: “For example, before I transferred into ARBUS, I took GBDA 101 which is an anti-req for DAC 201, a course elective for the Digital Arts Communication minor. Will GBDA 101 count towards my DAC minor in this case? …”
Spring 2022
GBDA PROGRAM 1 point, 3 comments
“i got accepted into the GBDA program and i have some questions. - What are the courses like in the first year? like what type of classes did you have to take. - Do you have to be social alot? …”
u/astoriaa_: “first year courses are mostly breadth requirements… cs 105/106, arts 130/140, two second language courses, econ 101 and electives. second term you get to take gbda 101 which is your first look at what the program is actually about. really fun course, terry is a great prof.”
Fall 2021
Transfer to GBDA? 9 points, 15 comments
“Hi so bascially, I'm a first year math student and I hate it. I'm only in math because I didn't get into my top 2 programs and math was a back up. …”
u/cowabungamydood: “i’m a third year gbda student and with my understanding you need to essentially restart your degree process because you’re changing faculties and into a specialized program! …”
u/ProuddCloudd: “Hey so basically I talked to an advisor and since i'm already taking econ101 and cs115 and cs116, I only need to do arts130, arts140 and gbda101 which i was suggested to do during spring term. And i can take the language courses as electives. …”
Shuttle to Stratford Campus 0 points, 3 comments
u/Icy-Letter7824: “it should be running on Friday for the GBDA101 class, and they might be running it another day of the week besides that. I would ask the GBDA advisor or someone on the Stratford campus for more info tho.”
Spring 2019
GBDA Future Careers 3 points, 8 comments
“Hey everyone, I'm a high school student who got accepted to the GBDA program at Waterloo and was wondering if there were any GBDA students and graduates here. …”
u/broimconfused: “… i compared gbda 101 to my grade 9 into media arts course. i did not show up 75% of the time because it was ps, ai, and after effects tutorials which i knew already. …”
Fall 2017
Any graphic-design based electives that do not have GBDA as antireq? 4 points, 3 comments
u/whyamihere02: “I want to gain more design experience.. Apart from GBDA 101, there's no other graphic design-related course within the program. Suggestions? If not an elective, are there any clubs i can join/opportunities?”
Any way to disable UWCourseLinker from posting? 16 points, 26 comments
“posting a reply to my comment I find the bot annoying.”
u/Jackhofmann: “PSYCH 483 PSYCH 484 PSYCH 485 PSYCH 486 PSYCH 490R PSYCH 499A PSYCH 499B PSYCH 499C PSYCH 621 PSYCH 630 PSYCH 677A PSYCH 704A PSYCH 704B PSYCH 707 PSYCH 710 PSYCH 714 PSYCH 717 PSYCH 720A PSYCH 721A …”
u/Jackhofmann: “… 353 FR 363A FR 392A FR 393A FR 395A FR 424 FR 484 FR 600 FR 605 FR 606 FR 611 FR 681 FR 687 GBDA 101 GBDA 103 GBDA 201 GBDA 203 GBDA 229 GBDA 301 GBDA 303 GBDA 304 GBDA 401 GBDA 403 GBDA 465 GEMCC 601 GEMCC 602 GEMCC 603 GENE 119 GENE 121 GENE 199 GENE 21C GENE 21K GENE 22C GENE …”
Fall 2013
Is anybody in the global business and digital media program? If so, how do you like it so far? 3 points, 10 comments
u/zwitt95: “… First year you must take GBDA 101,102,103 ARBUS 200, ECON 101, and 1 of FINE 130/VCULT 101/VCULT 100/FINE 257 as well as two second language credits. This leaves you with two elective slots for your first year. Second year will be similar. …”
Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026
- Undergraduate Calendar, 2026–27The official entry
- Requirements for Fall 2026Waterloo’s requisite checker
- Schedule of Classes, Fall 2026Instructors, rooms, live seats
- Quest Class SearchWhere you enrol
- Course outlinesSyllabi from past terms (UW login)
- UW FlowStudent ratings and reviews
- WClassesPast sections back to 2004, and who taught them