Explore stories from the IDEA School of Design
Valeriya Kim (IDEA21) wins RGD Award for Visual Web Design with Firetold educational website prototype
Congratulations to Valeriya Kim (IDEA Grad 2021) for winning the RGD Award for Visual Web Design with her educational website prototype dedicated to Reconciliation and designed with in InVision. Instructor: Judy Snaydon. Course: IDES 244—Design Studio II.
Truth and Reconciliation Week takes place between October 15–18, 2019. This important week at Capilano University demonstrates our commitment to deeper understanding and systemic change.
Thinking about pursuing a creative career? IDEA will be at GDC's 3rd Launch! Education Fair
Launch Conference 2019 is GDC BC’s annual career development conference for design students, graduates, educators, and employers.
Launch! is a two-day GDC/BC initiative aiming to help new and budding designers launch toward a successful design career. This event provides an unparalleled opportunity for attendees to learn new skills, connect with peers, receive guidance navigating their career path and inspire creative thinking.
The two-day event includes a tour of three design studios plus a tour of a local print shop, followed by an evening networking social, education fair, projects review and workshops.
IDEA School of Design Open Studio Day | Saturday, Nov 2, 2019 at Capilano University
Are you interested in a career as a graphic designer, art director, illustrator, concept artist, or interactive designer?
The Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication is a 4-year degree with exciting career outcomes for a new generation of creative professionals. Bring your portfolio, iPad, or sketchbook for some friendly feedback from our instructors!
We look forward to meeting you in November! Shown above: Brand Identity and Packaging Design by Jessica Peng, Grad 2019.
Sara Nguyen (IDEA21) wins the 2019 GDC Foundation Ray Hrynkow Scholarship
Many congratulations to Sara Nguyen (IDEA Grad 2021) for winning the 2019 GDC Foundation Ray Hrynkow Scholarship for “Cheers: Craft Sparkling Water” brand identity. Instructor: Dominique Walker. Course: Branding IDES 249. Check out her winning project!
Interview with freelance artist, illustrator and designer Andrea Armstrong (IDEA 2008, 2018)
Andrea (IDEA Grad 2008) returned to IDEA School of Design to complete her degree in 2017/2018. We recently caught up with her for an interview. Little Andrea started life in a jungle village in Indonesia. Her experience being an outsider for so much of her childhood has planted in her a deep wonder for the different ways people do life, and an appreciation for authentic diversity. She always wanted to be self-employed, so she never put much effort into getting hired by an agency. It’s not always balanced, but she loves the variety of her projects and continues to split her time between graphic design, illustration, commissioned portraiture and fine art. Check out our interview with her!
Studio Gallery 3311 Presents the ninth annual IDEA student painting exhibition
On Saturday, September 7, 2019, visual artist, illustrator, and educator, Jeff Burgess hosted the ninth annual student exhibition of works produced over the summer by IDEA School of Design students Sophie Young (IDEA21), Alison Johnstone (IDEA21), Charis Wang (IDEA20) (shown above), and Aidan Zecchel (IDEA21). Check out their recent work!
Emerging artist, Tina Trinh (IDEA22), wins 2nd place in CAPIC Rodeo 11 national Canadian student competition for her oil painting
Congratulations to Tina Trinh (IDEA22) on winning 2nd place in this spring’s CAPIC's Rodeo 11 national Canadian student competition for her oil painting and surpassing 15,000 Instagram followers! Her body of original work is rapidly growing. Shown above: ‘Sara’ oil painting. Check out more from this talented young emerging artist!
Nancy Wu shares personal stories and lessons learned on being a graphic designer + educator
Listen to Nancy Wu say “YOU KNOW” too many times on her first posted (second recorded 😉) podcast interview for @TheQuickiePodcast now on iTunes or Spotify. Lots of interesting personal stories and lessons learned. Also watch her recent video interview with her friend Pete Bella at the University of Central Arkansas (UCA) about her thoughts on being a graphic designer + design education.
Teresa Cantu (IDEA20) gains RGD Honourable Mention for Packaging Design
Congratulations to Teresa Cantu (IDEA Grad 2020) for gaining the RGD Honourable Mention for Packaging Design for her “Scotch & Ginger” branding project.
Teresa incorporates storytelling of Celtic mythology into her product packaging for a fictitious barber shop with Scottish roots. This was a very fun project for Teresa and she learned that thorough research is extremely important in design.
Annika McFarlane (IDEA22) gains RGD Honourable Mentions for Social Good Design and Print Design
Congratulations to Annika McFarlane (IDEA Grad 2022) for gaining the RGD Honourable Mentions for Social Good Design (The Calm Commute) and Print Design (Collectible City Shopping Bags).
Joyce Chan (IDEA22) gains RGD Honourable Mention for Print Design with “The Great Gatsby” book cover design
Congratulations to Joyce Chan (IDEA Grad 2022) for gaining the RGD Honourable Mention for Print Design for her “The Great Gatsby” Book Cover Design.
Some great final projects from IDES 142 Survey and Principles of Design II, a study of the global dialogue of design movements
The final project in the First Year Design Survey course is for students to design a shopping bag to represent a country, city or geographical location.
There was some extraordinary work created overall, showcasing both the students' design and illustration skills. Check out a few of the standout projects including ‘Istanbul’ (shown above) by Geraldine Yaris.
IDEA School of Design welcomes the class of 2023!
We asked the graduating class of 2023 to share how they felt on Day 1 and what they were excited to learn at IDEA School of Design. Meet IDEA23!
Haluka Yagi (IDEA21) wins Global Class of Top Talent Adobe Design Achievement Award
Congratulations to Haluka Yagi (IDEA Grad 2021) for winning the Global Class of Top Talent award from Adobe! Braille Literacy Canada Community Report was her first big design project in 2nd Year at IDEA School of Design at Capilano University. This fictional community report incorporates braille and braille imagery throughout the book to familiarize the reader with this non-verbal form of communication. Check out this award-winning project!
Carol Aitken returns as IDEA School of Design Co-Coordinator after one year sabbatical
Carol Aitken returns in the Fall 2019 term as the Co-Coordinator of IDEA School of Design after a year’s sabbatical. She returns to Capilano University with “the conviction that our Bachelor of Design program is one of the best out there – not just in Canada, but in the world”. Find out what she got up to last year. Welcome back, Carol!
Year one, done! First year students share advice to the incoming Fall 2019 cohort
We asked first year students to share some advice to the incoming cohort for Fall 2019. Here’s a fun group shot with most of IDEA22 in the life drawing room. Read their advice.
Four IDEA School of Design students selected for Jeff Burgess' annual summer mentorship
Visual artist, illustrator, and educator, Jeff Burgess mentors four IDEA School of Design students in his studio one day a week over the summer. The students participating this summer are Sophie Young, Aidan Zecchel, Alison Johnstone and Charise Wang. We visited his studio in the early weeks to capture some images of the work being created and interview the students. We hope you enjoy!
“Hidden worlds, we share” – the Bird Series summer exhibition by Zoë Evamy
Zoë Evamy’s summer exhibition "Hidden worlds we share", water media paintings of landscapes and birds is up at The Old School House Art Centre, Qualicum Beach until June 22, 2019. Framed poster prints of the 8 bird paintings are up at the Sea to Sky Gondola Summit Lodge until July 30, 2019.
Jessica Peng interviews her practicum host and IDEA alumna Diana Castañeda, senior designer at TRIUMF
Jessica Peng (Grad 2019) interviews her practicum host and IDEA alumna Diana Castañeda (Grad 2014) about her role at TRIUMF, Canada's particle accelerator centre, and her take on graphic design as a career.
IDEA School of Design 2019 Grad Show—A Retrospective in Photos
The 2nd Bachelor of Design Grad Opening Gala was held at Harbour Centre Lobby, downtown Vancouver on April 8, 2019. The show ran April 8–12, 2019. Here are some photo highlights.