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

Check out this year’s unprecedented talent graduating from the IDEA School of Design. Schedule a meeting with our grads before April 15th, 2021 at ideagradshow.ca.

Meet first-year student, Nuha Thayyib (IDEA Grad 2024)! Her self-portrait for IDES 133 - Visual Studio taught by Jay Bassan is shown above.

“All the group discussions and critiques have been extremely helpful. IDEA has taught me the real strength of collaboration and how two minds are always better than one.” writes Nuha.

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

IDEA Grad 2021 began their in-person (and virtual) practicums this month with companies across Vancouver. Shown above: Naomi Evers (IDEA Grad 2021) at Porchlight Press.

Students are working in a wide range of branding, packaging, digital design, interactive, advertising, illustration, gaming, motion graphics, animation and retail in-house firms including 123w, Anenome Hug Interactive, Baro Drywear Jackets, Chairman Ting Industries Inc., Danica, Gamomo, If Communications, Jesters Animation, Little Mountain Animation, Metalab, Monday Creative, Pivot & Pilot, Porchlight Press, Pound & Grain, PS Brand, Rethink, Triumf and Will Creative.

Check out some highlights from their first two weeks!

Meet first-year student, Nguyen Quoc Huy Anh (IDEA Grad 2024)! His self-portrait for IDES 133 - Visual Studio taught by Jay Bassan is shown above.

“IDEA School of Design is better than I thought,” says Huy. “I love how the instructors always try their best to push students, to motivate us to think outside the box.”

Read Huy’s story and check out some of his other work for a glimpse into first-year student life at IDEA School of Design at Capilano University.

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: 3-part Book Cover Redesign by Nuha Thayyib (IDEA Grad 2024) as part of her application to IDEA School of Design.

Find out how to apply and check out additional samples of pieces from IDEA Grad 2024 student application portfolios. Let us help you prepare with Portfolio Day on Saturday, March 12!

Meet first-year student, Tiffany Zhong (IDEA Grad 2024)! Her self-portrait for IDES 133 - Visual Studio taught by Jay Bassan is shown above.

“I'm just extremely grateful to be pursuing design at IDEA School of Design – it finally feels like I'm following my passion.” she writes.

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

This year's First Year IDEA School of Design students (IDEA Grad 2024) have designed some very creative book covers for their expressive typography project for IDES 142 Survey and Principles of Design II with instructor Vida Jurcic. Here are a few, covering a variety of genres.

"1984 Book Cover" by Anais Bayle (IDEA Grad 2024) inspired by the strict, no-frills society that George Orwell describes in the novel Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984) is shown above.

Check out more from this first-year student project!

We recently caught up with George Lin (IDEA Grad 2009), for a grad spotlight on life after graduating from IDEA School of Design. Congratulations to George on his new job as Associate Creative Director at john st. advertising agency in Toronto!

“It didn’t take long for me to realize that I wasn’t cut out for Fine Arts.” writes George. “I realized that I enjoy solving specific communication problems, so I took a year off to prepare my portfolio to apply for programs in the commercial arts field.”

Check out this grad spotlight!

Meet first-year student, Che Zugazaga (IDEA Grad 2024)! Her self-portrait for IDES 133 - Visual Studio taught by Jay Bassan is shown above.

Che wanted to attend IDEA School of Design a decade ago, in her early 20s, and although it didn't turn out that way the Bachelor of Design program was always in the back of her mind.

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

Congratulations to Grace Choi (IDEA Grad 2023) for winning Applied Arts 2020 Student Award with her ‘Lord of the Flies’ book cover design created for IDES 142 - Survey and Principles of Design II instructed by Vida Jurcic at IDEA School of Design.

Check out this award-winning book cover redesign project.

Meet first-year student, Imogen Pettyfer (IDEA Grad 2024)! Her self-portrait for IDES 133 - Visual Studio taught by Jay Bassan is shown above. Congratulations to Imogen for having been acknowledged for the academic honour roll for Capilano University!

At IDEA “you are no longer the one and only art kid in your class anymore.” writes Imogen.

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

Join us online Saturday, March 13 2021 from 1:00-3:00 pm for a short portfolio prep talk and open Q&A. Using Zoom breakout rooms, digitally share your portfolio or sketchbook for some friendly 1-1 feedback from our faculty!

RSVP today! We look forward to seeing your portfolio!

Happy Valentine's from IDEA School of Design! Check out some first-year student work from IDEA Grad 2024 students and RSVP for our upcoming IDEA Virtual Portfolio Day!

Freya Emery (IDEA Grad 2024) created “Let's be mushy”, a Valentine’s-themed digital illustration shown above.

Note: SlideRoom closes April 14, 2021. No submissions for Fall 2021 (IDEA Grad 2025) will be accepted after Wednesday, April 14, 2021.

Happy Lunar New Year of the Ox from IDEA School of Design at Capilano University! Lunar New Year 2021 falls on Friday, February 12th, 2021, and celebrations culminate with the Lantern Festival on February 26th, 2021.

Shown above: “Year of the Ox” illustration by IDEA School of Design student Imogen Pettyfer (IDEA Grad 2024).

Check out some first-year student illustrations celebrating the Year of the Ox!

Congratulations to Courtney Lamb (IDEA Grad 2020) for winning 2020 RGD SoGood Pivot Award for Information Design with 'Quakeable' App Design.

Quakeable simplifies the process of creating an emergency plan to help people stay safe and connected during an earthquake. The user-friendly format delivers essential information in an easily-digestible format to support safe decision-making and appropriate action in the event of an earthquake.

Check out this award-winning student project!

Congratulations to two IDEA School of Design grads for their amazing illustrated office mural collaboration project where every dot in the composition makes mathematical sense!

Last August, Diana Castaneda (IDEA Grad 2014) art directed a piece conceived and illustrated by Lillian T. Zhang (IDEA Grad 2019) for a shared office space for the Physical Sciences Division of TRIUMF, Canada’s particle accelerator centre.

“Connected” was created for the co-sharing space occupied by researchers and scientists of the Physical Sciences department at TRIUMF. The concept for “Connected” draws from the work culture and people at TRIUMF, each has its own very focused disciplines that contribute to the same purpose of innovation.

Check out this Grad spotlight story!

We’ve reached a milestone with the most ever received applications for Fall 2021. Thank you for your interest in IDEA School of Design at Capilano University!

Send us your mailing address and we'll send some swag your way while supplies last, as a thank you for your interest in our program.

Note: SlideRoom reopened Jan 25, 2021 and closes April 14, 2021. No submissions for Fall 2021 (IDEA Grad 2025) will be accepted after Wednesday, April 14, 2021.

Congratulations to Aidan Zecchel (IDEA Grad 2021) for winning the 2020 Jim Rimmer Scholarship with 'Level the Playing Field', a campaign aimed to raise awareness around the challenges of youth homelessness. Aidan is currently completing his studies at IDEA School of Design at Capilano University.

This campaign uses sports metaphors in portraying homeless youth as society's underdogs. The underdog is a relatable character archetype for most in one way or another, positioning them as such helps to engage viewer empathy.

Check out this award-winning student project!

Last fall, Langara College Design Formation Grad Michelle Taylor transferred to 2nd Year (IDEA Grad 2023) of CapU’s IDEA School of Design Bachelor of Design. We caught up with Michelle to ask her about her experience so far.

“Mini Amigos” (shown above) by Michelle Taylor (IDEA Grad 2023) as part of her application to transfer to IDEA School of Design from Langara Design Formation.

“This drawing is of two Guatemalan dolls I have had since birth. The medium I chose for this drawing is a fine liner with tips of varying sizes to create the impression of different textures and materials.”

Check out this student spotlight story!

Capilano University and Langara College announce new pathway partnership for Design in Visual Communication degree.

Capilano University and Langara College are pleased to announce a partnership to establish a pathway for Langara graduates to complete a bachelor degree at CapU in less than three years of full-time study. The partnership allows graduates of Langara’s Design Formation Diploma to transfer to CapU and complete a Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication.

First-year Langara Design Formation students exploring form and materials through basic design elements and principles (shown above).