Photo: Okanagan College

The Vernon campus of OC is kicking off a series of open houses for individuals interested in writing and publishing careers.

Okanagan College wants people to go old school – really old.

The Vernon campus of OC is kicking off a series of open houses for individuals interested in writing and publishing careers.

And an old school printing press will be used to get people thinking in a new way.

Participants can meet faculty members, learn how the program blends traditional and cutting-edge publishing techniques and tour the Okanagan College Print Shop, affectionately called “The Bunker.”

Located in the basement floor, The Bunker features more than 20,000 pounds of vintage printing presses and metal type.

Some assignments see students applying their typography and design knowledge by setting type by hand and printing that type on 100-year-old presses.

Although many people only think in terms of digital publishing, instructor Jason Dewinetz said The Bunker offers students a unique learning experience.

“I can’t stress enough what working in The Bunker does for students. It’s transformational. When they go back to the computer, they are thinking of things completely differently,” said Dewinetz. 

“This is a great opportunity for future students to come and hang out, chat with instructors, meet some of our current students who will be finishing up their projects and ask questions about the program.”

The program infuses the range of English, creative writing, editing and communications material with applied technical skills in graphic design, typography, coding and book publishing, producing students who can publish quality content in a range of media.

“Our students love this program and the hands on experience they get from it,” added Dewinetz. “They’re getting dirty, they have ink on their hands, and then the real benefit comes when working in the three-dimensional world and applying it to the two-dimensional screen.”

This intricate manual work is done in conjunction with training on industry-standard publishing software like Adobe Photoshop and InDesign – preparing students to work in multiple fields.

“We have a large number of business students who take our courses because they are interested in learning the software, and it gives them valuable skills for a variety of industries,” said Dewinetz, adding the technical skills are enhanced with broad understanding in editing, writing and graphic design, as well as what it’s like to work with real-world clients.

The college will open its doors on Jan. 31, Feb 28 and March 20 from 2–4 p.m. in The Bunker at 7000 College Way.

Parking will be free.

For more information, click here.