IDEA Talks is a tradition to close out first year, before we set students loose for summer. Students are asked to bring an original or colour printout of their favourite 2 projects from this past year from any class, and be prepared to share 3 personal highlights from the past year, too. As IDEA Talks is part of IDES 132 Survey and Principles of Illustration II, attendance is anticipated and expected. Classroom critiques in a creative community are a highlight for IDEA School of Design students. Shown above: Self Portrait in Oil by Siobhan Barry.

Here are some favourite projects and highlights from IDEA Grad 2026!

“Oystercatcher” by Ethan Woronko (IDEA Grad 2024) is a top packaging and menu design project in IDEA School of Design’s IDES 362 Visual Communication Studio I: Branding Concentration with Dominique Walker.

Check out this top student packaging and menu design project from our branding concentration!

“Soya” by Celina Zhong (IDEA Grad 2024) is a top packaging and menu design project created in IDEA School of Design’s IDES 362 Visual Communication Studio I: Branding Concentration with Dominique Walker.

“Welcome to the Li family household. From our culinary practices, to the way we set the table, we bridge the future of sustainability with Chinese tradition, rooted from our unique emigration story right here in Vancouver,” writes Celina.

Check out this top student packaging and menu design project from our branding concentration!

“Cactus Flower” by Alison Koo (IDEA Grad 2024) is a top packaging and menu design project in IDEA School of Design’s IDES 362 Visual Communication Studio I: Branding Concentration with Dominique Walker.

Check out this top student packaging and menu design project from our branding concentration!

“Hue” by Anais Bayle (IDEA Grad 2024) is a top packaging and menu design project in IDEA School of Design’s IDES 362 Visual Communication Studio I: Branding Concentration with Dominique Walker.

Check out this top student packaging and menu design project from our branding concentration!

Looking for design, illustration, or interactive design education in Vancouver? Study at the IDEA School of Design!

The Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication at Capilano University in North Vancouver has a reputation for industry-ready graduates. Admission to the program is competitive, and applicants must submit a portfolio and other documents through the online portal SlideRoom.

Early Applications for The Bachelor Of Design In Visual Communication September 2023 are now closed. Late Applications close on April 10, 2023. Applications for The Interaction Design Diploma September 2023 will close on June 6, 2023.

Shown above: “Extra ripe pair of pears” animated illustration by JJ Eng (IDEA Grad 2025).

2nd-year students (IDEA Grad 2025) created a fun poster project in Tom Duguid’s typography class. Students were to utilize the theme of either the past or the future, and apply typography to a quote or saying that implied either the past or the future. Shown above: “The Woman I Shall Become” (George Sand) typography poster by Ava Shahres

“I wanted to depict the two sides of a woman, from her youth to her elderly age. Within this silhouette, I did hand lettering to evoke a scattered feel. Much like memories, there is no rhyme or reason, but they come together to create a bigger picture. The ‘I’,” writes Ava Shahres (Instagram: @bastanipop)

Check out some of Tom’s favourites from this project!

Meet second-year student, Rachel Lam (IDEA Grad 2025)! Her self-portrait for IDES 133 - Visual Studio taught last year by Jay Bassan is shown above.

“My digital media teacher in high school introduced me to multiple schools, I chose Capilano University at the end as students here have on-the-ground experience in the field upon graduation which is very important for their careers,” writes Rachel.

Read Rachel’s story and check out some of her other work for a glimpse into student life at IDEA School of Design at Capilano University.

Second-year students (IDEA Grad 2025) explored the process of Risograph printing with Erica Wilk of Moniker Press in IDES 247 Survey and Principles of Typography.

For this typography project, they created postcards featuring an illustrated drop cap. Historically used to indicate a new block of text within passages of copy, these letterforms’ potential for decoration and flourishes have crossed over into artwork in their own right.

“Q is for Quail” by Kyle Rask is shown above. Check out some recent student work from IDEA Grad 2025!

The first-year students (IDEA Grad 2026) just handed in their Swiss Typographic style band posters for IDES 142 - Survey and Principles of Design II. They make an inspiring and colourful wall in the First Year room at the IDEA School of Design at Capilano University.

The next IDEA School of Design Virtual Portfolio Day is February 11, 2023!

Early Applications for The Bachelor Of Design In Visual Communication September 2023 are now closed. Late Applications opened on January 27, 2023 and close on April 10, 2023. Applications for The Interaction Design Diploma September 2023 will close on June 6, 2023.

Happy Year of the Rabbit from IDEA School of Design! Shown above “Happy Lunar New Year 2023” illustration by Natasha Lee (IDEA Grad 2024). Check out additional “Year of the Rabbit” student illustrations from first-year and second-year students!

Are you considering applying to IDEA School of Design? IDEA School of Design Virtual Portfolio Day is February 11, 2023

Are you a student at IDEA School of Design? The deadline for Valentine’s Day student illustrations is Friday, February 10, 2023. Please contact James if you are interested in submitting an illustration for our blog.

In IDES 243 Design Studio I, the second-year students learn how to work with grids, imagery, and infographics to creatively tell the story of an organization's successes, dreams, needs, and vision. The students learn how to research and distill information and present it in an engaging graphic form.

Check out some of Vida’s favourite Annual Report design projects from IDEA Grad 2025 Cohort 1!

Happy New Year from IDEA School of Design at Capilano University!

“A Sweet Winter Break” digital illustration GIF (shown above) by Christine “Tin” Raganit (IDEA Grad 2025 Cohort 1).

“One of my favourite parts of this semester was making a gif in Shayne Letain's Digital Illustration class so I was excited to make another one. Now it's time to enjoy a break filled with Christmas cheer, sweet treats, and no deadlines! Happy holidays!” writes Tin.

Mark your calendars! The next IDEA School of Design Virtual Portfolio Day is February 11, 2023! Early Applications for September 2023 will close on January 25, 2023.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from IDEA School of Design at Capilano University!

Digital illustration (shown above) by Alison Koo (IDEA Grad 2024).

Mark your calendars! The next IDEA School of Design Virtual Portfolio Day is February 11, 2023! Early Applications for September 2023 will close on January 25, 2023.

Meet second-year student, Liza Borissova (IDEA Grad 2025)! Her self-portrait for IDES 133 - Visual Studio taught by Jay Bassan is shown above.

“After completing several projects in the first semester, I realized ‘I am a perfectionist with impostor syndrome.’ I like all creative areas and struggle with choosing a concentration,” writes Liza.

Read Liza’s story and check out some of her other work for a glimpse into student life at IDEA School of Design at Capilano University.

The first project in IDES 142 Survey and Principles of Design II with Vida Jurcic was to create a movie poster that conceptually represents the theme and storyline of the plot. They were free to use any design or illustration style.

Check out some conceptual movie poster redesigns by IDEA Grad 2025 Cohort 2 including “Taste of Cherry. طعم گیلاس.” by Narci (shown above)!

The second project in IDES 142 Survey and Principles of Design II with Vida Jurcic is a chance for students to interpret a story creatively using imagery and typography to reflect the theme. Students draw upon what they have learned so far in the Survey of Design. It’s also a chance for illustrators to shine.

Check out some book cover redesigns by IDEA Grad 2025 Cohort 2 including “Macbeth by William Shakespeare” by Catherine Rosales (shown above)!

Meet second-year student, Ananya Eriyat (IDEA Grad 2025)! Her self-portrait for IDES 133 - Visual Studio taught by Jay Bassan is shown above.

“In Mumbai, India, students are expected to confer to the course norms and not break out. Here at IDEA, the priority is to reinterpret the scope of a course and expand the possibilities within. This has been a big change for me,” writes Ananya.

Read Ananya’s story and check out some of her other work for a glimpse into student life at IDEA School of Design at Capilano University.

We’re thrilled to feature some work from first-year IDEA School of Design students (IDEA Grad 2026)! Shown above: “Harvest Moon” by Mena Mcgill (IDEA Grad 2026). Early Applications for IDEA School of Design Fall 2023 begin November 4, 2022, on SlideRoom. Explore CapU, the in-person open house for CapU’s IDEA School of Design is Nov. 19, 2022!

In First Year Survey and Principles of Design, there is often a project to parallel the design movement studied. As part of an exercise to understand the "psychedelic" movement, which began in Haight-Ashbury, San Francisco in the mid 1960’s and had an effect, not just on music, but also on many aspects of popular culture, the students created an album cover to reflect the spirit and aesthetic of the genre.

Shown above: “Pathé” by Stacy Zhang.

Here are a few 60s album cover projects from IDES 142 Survey and Principles of Design II with Vida Jurcic.