Finding Their Focus: CapU Design Students Share Why They Chose Their Concentration
This fall, third-year students in Capilano University’s Bachelor of Design program embarked on a key milestone: selecting their concentration. From Branding to Illustration to Interactive Design, this choice allows them to deepen their expertise in a specific field.
We asked the Class of 2028 what guided their decision. Their answers revealed a common thread of passion, curiosity, and a powerful desire to make a meaningful impact through their work. While Branding was a popular choice, their reflections highlight the diverse and personal paths within the world of design.
Read on to hear, in their own words, what inspired their journey.
On the Power of Branding:
“I chose branding because I find it interesting. I love how it allows me to communicate ideas and create work that connects with people in multiple meaningful ways.”
“Branding was my first choice because I hope to design for social causes close to my heart, using the classes and workshops available in branding. :)”
“I chose branding because I wanted to find a way to turn creative ideas into substance and apply them to the real world. I’m a huge packaging person, and I think physical design is such an important part of it. I hope to bring meaning and influence to people through my work!”
“I chose branding as my concentration because I believe it is at the heart of effective and meaningful communication. I hope to one day influence how people think about and perceive important matters through my work.”
“I chose branding because it lets me combine creativity, problem-solving, and my passion for creating meaningful work. I’m particularly drawn to building brands from the ground up, making sure each one has its own distinct identity and style.”
“I chose to pursue branding because, first, I find it so exciting to create unique brands with fun personalities. Second, I believe this concentration offers a great opportunity to make a positive impact on the things that matter. To me, it’s such a diverse field with endless possibilities. <3”
“I was drawn to the branding concentration because I saw it as the next big area to explore in my personal practice, having studied traditional art for most of my life. It just made sense as the next step—being able to communicate my or others’ ideas in a logical and concise way, while keeping it clever and exciting.”
“After coming into this program knowing very little about branding, I quickly developed a love for it. The psychology and visual creation behind design is so fascinating and entertaining to me. I’m pursuing branding to create designs that make people happy and inspired!”
“I picked branding as my concentration because the challenge of brainstorming creative solutions to problems and arriving at something that works really well is rewarding, and the steps to get there bring me joy.”
On Exploring Illustration & Interactive:
“I’m just here to get my bachelor’s degree, and I enjoy drawing very, very, very much.”
“I chose illustration because I want to improve my world-building and visual storytelling skills for my own personal projects—and, I guess, for work too. Mostly, I just hope to make the world a little nicer to be in with the things I create in the future.”
“I chose the interactive concentration because I’m super curious about how society interacts with technological interfaces—from computers to cameras to kiosk machines.”
On Choosing an Interdisciplinary Path:
“I was initially interested in taking the illustration concentration, as that has been my core passion all my life. But a culmination of different influences pushed me toward interdisciplinary studies. Ultimately, it was the professor’s recommendation that made me choose it, along with the greater degree of control I have over my courses. I wanted to explore branding, UI/UX, and illustration at my own pace, structuring my courses around what I find most interesting as well as practical for my career.”
From a passion for storytelling to a drive for strategic problem-solving, the motivations of the IDEA School of Design’s third-year students are as unique as their future careers. We wish them continued success and inspiration as they dive deeper into their chosen fields.
