Lenka Prochazka (IDEA16) interned at Origin, an outdoor-focused, digitally driven creative and marketing agency in Whistler, BC between her 2nd and 3rd years at IDEA School of Design and was hired full time Fall 2016.

Her highlight project this past year was creating a brand identity for the lululemon 10k runs in Toronto and Edmonton. She’s recently been exposing herself more to motion design using After Effects and Cinema 4D. Read her story!

Freelance designer Rachelle Hynes graduated from IDEA School of Design in 2009. Her advice to design students is to “trust your gut” and “integrate YOUR uniqueness into whatever path you choose”.

We recently caught up with her about her journey as creative director, designer and thought-leader in Vancouver to her “deep passion to do something more and something with a richer purpose”.

Read Rachelle’s story about her new Zesty Life in Squamish, BC!

This past summer Brynn Staples (IDEA20) landed a job at Rethink as a design intern. She got to work on updating A&W’s menus, WestJet’s rebrand and more including building presentation decks, client calls and meetings. Read her story! Shown above: Branded ice cream/beer cart by Brynn Staples and fellow IDEA student/art direction intern Ashley Visvanathan. “Yes, it was delicious. Pictured here with our awesome accounts intern, Natalie.” she writes.

Shay Klassen (IDEA18) started off as a concept artist her first 3 months at Vancouver’s Gámomo Creative Lab and recently art directed an animated short for HOPR Bike Share and Scooter Share. Her advice to anyone wanting to work in the animation industry: “USE YOUR SKETCHBOOK DUMMY. For real.” Catch up with Shay!

“In IDEA I failed, a lot. I failed constantly. I’m so glad I failed so much, because I really learned and grew from those experiences.” says Syd Danger who graduated from Capilano University’s IDEA School of Design in 2015. We caught up with her after her recent SADCAST interview about her time working at Capilano Courier to Adbusters, Geist and now SAD. Read our full interview with Syd!

Graeme Jack graduated from IDEA School of Design in 2005. He got his first break doing ad campaigns and was “hooked”. His advice to graphic design students: “You are a brand. But, don’t be afraid of looking stupid and just be yourself, stay a good person. We choose to be creative because we enjoy it, remember?“ Graeme is the Senior Art Director at Wasserman + Partners Advertising Inc. in Vancouver. Early Applications for Fall 2019 open on November 2, 2018. Check out our recent interview with Graeme!

Making lifelong friends through the IDEA program is a huge highlight for Amanda. She originally graduated from the three year diploma program in 2015. After two years of working at a signage company, she wanted to switch gears and focus more on branding so she decided to go back to school to revamp her portfolio, brush up on her skills, and earn a degree. Amanda returned in fall 2017 to complete the fourth and final year of the new degree program. IDEA School of Design was one of the most challenging things she’s ever done, filled with lots of work and many late nights, but Amanda says it was so worth it and that she loved every minute of it! She encourages anyone who is interested to apply. Early Applications for Fall 2019 open on November 2, 2018. Catch up with Amanda!

“Everything is still sunshine and rainbows” for Alice Zeng (IDEA18). She gets to work on a lot of different types of projects spanning a variety of mediums including illustration projects in conjunction with design and branding. "For someone who was torn for the longest time whether to go into design or illustration, being able to have a balance like that was essentially my dream" she says. Her advice to other students: “Hang in there, I promise the workload gets easier in the real world.” Catch up with Alice and her paper flower making skills!

Kate "stumbled upon" IDEA School of Design and believes it was "the perfect choice” for her. She graduated from IDEA in 2016 and then spent a year abroad completing her degree. Her takeaway: "surround yourself with smart people, remain a neophyte, and look for heroes and mentors." She currently works at Traction Creative Communications in Vancouver as an Art Director/Graphic Designer and wants to continue creating art and design that will "encourage meaningful conversation in our city." Catch up with Kate!

Adam Briggs is an Oil Painter, Illustrator and Art Director based out of Vancouver, Canada. Adam graduated from IDEA School of Design in 2013.

Kathy Ager is a Canadian-born artist based in Amsterdam who graduated from IDEA School of Design in 2007. She was encouraged by instructor Kiff Holland and has recently transitioned into painting mixing the classical with pop contemporary. Represented by Thinkspace Gallery in LA, her first group show in the US opens June 9, 2018 at Antler Gallery in Portland, Oregon. Check out her interview with us.

Since graduating from Capilano University’s IDEA School of Design in 2005, Camilla has gone on to work with publishers, companies and galleries across North America and worldwide including Disney, Hasbro, Mattel, Dark Horse Comics, Random House Books, Line Webtoons and Skillshare. While a lot of her art style is self-taught, she says that IDEA School of Design taught her how to  complete her work to the best of her ability and meet your deadlines. Her big solo show with Corey Helford Gallery in Los Angeles debuts April 7, 2018!

Instructor, Leanna B Crawford took IDEA20 students on a tour of Noise Digital on Friday March 16th, 2018 for IDES212. From left to right: Rebekah Maurice, Mann Kacharath Chalermwat, Jennifer Panata, and Sydney Toews. Check out more photos!

Surrounded by a healthy serving of IDEA grads (Briony Crane, Allison Chambers, Rory O’Sullivan, Will Erickson, and Jenn Hicks), the transition from school to agency has not been too overwhelming for Pamella Pinard. Quiet by nature, her biggest challenge has been being more vocal as there is always someone laughing about something or at someone at Will. She's worked on an infographic, event posters, presentation materials, brand guidelines, assisted Creative Director Lisa Lebedovich on concept preparation for a project, supported others, and did some moodboarding for a project with a flower company. She's found herself sketching faster and more efficiently by the end of it all. Read her story.

“With discomfort and change come new opportunities, connections, and learning experiences” writes Alex Maertz who is in practicum at Danica Imports. Her first day was overwhelming but she knew that she was in the right place. In her first month she has explored server files and Basecamp discussions, went through client lists, converted artwork into JPEGS, worked on Instagram Stories, pattern creation, organizing, sat in on a 3 hour design meeting and helped them move their studio! Read her story.

Graduating in 2009 after the recession gave Darcy Clelland no choice but to pursue freelancing. Now loving life on Vancouver Island, he works for a new company that is making apps in the farming industry but he still gets excited when he sees the records, shirts, hats and general merch that he makes for his friends bands. Read his story.

IDEA18 student, Danielle Vallée has been blogging about her practicum at Tealeaves, a luxury tea company with offices in Seattle, London, Guadalajara, Shanghai, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Vancouver. She's been working on new product dielines, planning the company Instagram, sketching illustration concepts, research, moodboarding, a "nerve-racking" presentation, planning product photoshoots and editing some images. Read her practicum story.

IDEA18 student, Max Littledale has been blogging about his practicum at Carter Hales. He's been working on a website redesign, email layout, an annual report layout, sat in on a client conference call and is enjoying learning Sketch. Read his practicum story.

Jackie Kai Ellis graduated from IDEA School of Design at Capilano University in 2004 and ran a thriving design firm in Vancouver for several years when in 2011 she closed her company and set off to Paris to pursue her life-long love of baking. Her memoir comes out tomorrow, March 6 2018! Check out her story and podcast on Vancouver Is Awesome.

Shown above from left to right: Laura Pummell, Ryan McDiarmid, Mark Pilon, Michael Wenninger, Emily Powers, Ashley Loo, Jominca Engelbrecht, Jacqueline Duck, and Cynthia Vo. Photo by Dacosta Bayley.