The IDEA School of Design at Capilano University has built an enduring reputation for industry-prepared graduates.

With work that combines conceptual originality with strong execution, the 2020 graduates are primed to show what they’re capable of achieving and contributing.

Join us on Monday, April 6th, 2020 to meet them in person or visit ideagradshow.com for a sneak peek at their work.

IDEA School of Design Grad 2020 students are now in their 2nd week of industry practicums. Nada's first brief at Rethink was for The Canadian Men’s Health Foundation. She was briefed on the concepts for the campaign and was tasked with creating moodboards to accompany a few separate visual directions for them. Check out Nada's practicum story!

Two of our grads work at Brandever Strategy Inc. in Vancouver. We asked them to share some advice to IDEA School of Design students as they prepare for summer internships (3rd year) and industry practicums (4th year).

Many thanks to Emily Pedriks, Creative Director at Brandever (IDEA Grad 2014) and Claire Tam, Graphic Designer + Illustrator at Brandever (IDEA Grad 2015) for the stylish photos and for giving our students invaluable career advice!

Congratulations to Jennifer Panata (IDEA Grad 2020) for gaining the RGD Honourable Mention for Placemaking Design for her CapU Mental Health promotional poster duo!

Check out her award-winning project!

IDEA Grad20 are ready for practicum lift-off! 4th-year practicums starts Monday, February 24, 2020! The final course in our four-year degree program is an eight-week full-time placement in a local company.

We hope some of these practicums will end in job offers. We expect that all placements will give our students' résumés a boost and provide some excellent professional references. Shown above: IDEA Grad 2020.

We wish our students all the best as they transition from school to work and will keep you abreast of how our students are getting along in their new roles in the coming weeks.

For first-year student, Jamie Kusack, life at Capilano University’s IDEA School of Design has really helped her feel invigorated about her work and excited to create more art. She found the oil paint self-portrait assignment (shown above) incredibly daunting but absolutely fell in love with the medium after the first day using it.

Read Jamie’s story for a glimpse into IDEA School of Design at Capilano University—a 4-year degree program with an enduring reputation for industry-prepared graduates. Late Applications for Fall 2020 open Feb 14, 2020!

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

Entry to the Bachelor of Design program at Capilano University is competitive, and applicants must submit a portfolio and other documents through the online portal SlideRoom.

Shown above: Turmeric Latte Recipe watercolour outlined in fine liner by Natasha Jones (IDEA Grad 2023).

Entry to the Bachelor of Design program at Capilano University is competitive, and applicants must submit a portfolio and other documents through the online portal SlideRoom. Late Applications for Fall 2020 open February 14, 2020. Shown above: “Alpaca” digital illustration by Alina Sandu (IDEA Grad 2022).

Check out some more Valentine’s themed artwork from our first and second-year students!

Congratulations to Sara Nguyen (IDEA Grad 2021) for winning the Applied Arts 2019 Student Award for Editorial Design and 2019 Silver Award – Editorial & Book Design - The Advertising & Design Club of Canada (ADCC) Student Competition with "Type Unwrapped: A Commentary on Candy Bars". Instructor: Heather Jalbout. Course: IDES 247: Survey and Principles of Typography. Check out her multiple award-winning project!

Congratulations to Charmaine Cheng, Art Director & Designer at Rethink Communications Vancouver (IDEA Grad 2019) for winning the RGD Award for Concept Development with her Rosedive Skateboard School for Teen Girls brand identity and art direction project. Check out her multiple award-winning project!

Two of our grads work at Vancouver’s Cossette Creative Marketing and Communications Agency in Vancouver. Many thanks to Janice Callangan and Shanene Lau for providing us with some fun photos and for giving our students invaluable career advice!

Shown left to right: Janice Callangan (IDEA Grad 2017), Shanene Lau (IDEA Grad 2018).

Every Fall IDEA School of Design at Capilano University welcomes a new crop of first-years. As well as learning about creative thinking techniques, drawing and painting skills, and basic design principles, the students learn about the origins of communication design and illustration. In our four first-year survey classes they learn about how mankind went from verbal storytelling and cave paintings to Tweeting and Snapchat.

Shown above: Grad 2023 celebrating their hard work over the Fall term. Check out this story!

Entry to the Bachelor of Design program at Capilano University is competitive, and applicants must submit a portfolio and other documents through the online portal SlideRoom. Late Applications for Fall 2020 open February 14, 2020.

Shown above: “Happy Lunar New Year” illustration by Michelle Viet (IDEA Grad 2023).

Snag happens every second Tuesday at The American pub and cafe in Vancouver, run by Ian Kaart (IDEA Grad 2019) and his business partner Alejandro. Snag brings together IDEA School of Design students both past and present for a creative social. Emily Carr students also participated in this event.

Rachel Wong (IDEA Grad 2021) went on a two-week field school exchange through Capilano's study abroad program to Vietnam and Cambodia. It wasn't one of the design-focused study abroad programs that IDEA provides (Germany/Japan), but a tourism-focused one open to the entire university.

“It was truly a life-changing experience like no other and I would highly recommend anyone who has the opportunity to apply for this field school.” she writes.

Check out her story!

Are you interested in a career as a graphic designer, art director, illustrator, concept artist, or interactive (UX/UI) 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 February! Slideroom reopens February 14, 2020 and closes April 15, 2020. Shown above: Femsplain social app design by Rhian Tate (IDEA Grad 2019).

Third-year IDEA students were put to task, over a 3-class UI design sprint. Students from IDEA Grad 2021, were given the challenge to make financial data analysis motivating and easy to understand for a niche user group! Shown above: CoinHub personal finance app UI design by Haluka Yagi (IDEA Grad 2021). Instructor: Christina Lee Kim Koon (IDEA Grad 2010).

Check out some of our favourites from this UI Design project!

Study design in North Vancouver at IDEA School of Design!

Entry to the Bachelor of Design program at Capilano University is competitive, and applicants must submit a portfolio and other documents through the online portal SlideRoom.

Shown above: “So controversial, yet so brave” scanned pencil sketch with digital colouring portrait of comedian Eric Andre by Raha Namdari (IDEA Grad 2023).

Find out how to apply and check out additional samples of pieces from IDEA Grad 2023 student application portfolios.

Congratulations to Laura Pummel (IDEA Grad 2019) for gaining RGD Honourable Mention for Concept Development with her branding, advertising, guerrilla installation and website design project Richter Days. Check out her project!

Six of our grads work at Vancouver’s Rethink Communications, an independent creative agency. Many thanks to our talented alumni for sneaking onto a set during someone else's shoot to provide us with this amazing group photo and for giving our students invaluable career advice!

Shown left to right: Alex Bakker (IDEA Grad 2014), Charmaine Cheng (IDEA Grad 2019), Max Littledale (IDEA Grad 2018), Jake Gauthier (IDEA Grad 2013), Pamela Rounis (IDEA Grad 2010) and Ashley Visvanathan (IDEA Grad 2018).