Tiffany Zhong (IDEA Grad 2024) was selected for the mural community grant from Student Affairs!

“They were looking to create a mural in the reception area of the space to welcome students looking to access a variety of services. They wanted a design that was colourful, lively, and warm that encapsulates CapU student life,” writes Tiffany.

Check out Tiffany’s mural project!

It's back to school for Grad 2025! Get to know the personalities of our first double cohort, IDEA Grad 2025, through their taste in music and music videos! We wish them all ultimate success as they continue their IDEA experience! Applications for IDEA School of Design Fall 2023 will open in November!

It's back to school for Grad 2025! Get to know the personalities of our first double cohort, IDEA Grad 2025, through their taste in music and music videos! We wish them all ultimate success as they continue their IDEA experience! Applications for IDEA School of Design Fall 2023 will open in November!

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.

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

“I first came across the IDEA School of Design by stalking the multiple class Instagram pages. I love the environment the cohort creates, it’s allowed me to come out of my shell more and grow with like-minded individuals. Getting to try a little bit of everything before choosing your focus area makes a strong multifaceted creator who can keep up in the ever-changing industry.” writes Rachel.

Read Rachel’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.

First year students (IDEA Grad 2025) created their own modernist take on band posters in IDES 142 — Survey and Principles of Design with Vida Jurcic.

It was their chance to learn the ins and outs of Illustrator while having some fun with colour, type and geometric shapes.

Check out some of the top projects!

Shown above: “Map of the Soul: 7 — BTS, performing live for the first time in 2 years” Band Poster in the Swiss Style by Ariana Thompson (IDEA Grad 2025).

Instructor, Judy Snaydon is retiring! Check out this farewell story written by IDEA School of Design Co-Coordinator, Carol Aitken and faculty! Illustration (shown above) by Raha Namdari (IDEA Grad 2023).

Some say you can’t teach it, but renowned pop surrealist painter/graphic artist and CapU IDEA School of Design grad Camilla d’Errico thinks you can.

The colouring pages represent Camilla's journey at IDEA School of Design at CapU, which she credits with teaching her how to be both a designer/artist and build a business like a boss.

Download one – or all – of the colouring pages to join. You can either post the finished colouring image on Instagram and tag @capilano and @camilladerrico, or you can email a picture of the results to marketing-digital@capilanou.ca. Winners will be announced on May 17, 2022.

In case you missed it or if you want another look, check out either the highlights or the full version of Capilano University IDEA School of Design’s Grad Show 2022!

Ladies and gentlemen, meet the next big things. 15 perfectly designed stars, 4 years in the making. These rising stars are the real deal, and this is the premiere of their careers.

Congratulations to Annika McFarlane (IDEA Grad 2022) for winning 2021 ADCC Student Competition Bronze Award in Graphic Design with 'Charred Plant-Based BBQ'.

Charred is a plant-based barbecue restaurant that celebrates the flavourful personalities of plants without sacrificing any of the flavour. These sauces would be purchased in restaurant and used at home to make plantbased cooking easy and delicious.

Check out this award-winning student graphic design project!

It’s that time of year at IDEA School of Design—practicum time! Many applicants list the practicum as being one of the key reasons they choose our school. When they leave, most graduates tell us that this Work Integrated Learning experience was a highlight of their time in the program.

Every March the Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication program’s 4th-year students head out on a 240-hour placement before they graduate.

Check out this industry practicum story!

Congratulations to Tobin Elias Eckstein (IDEA Grad 2024) for winning the 2021 ADCC Silver Editorial & Book Design Award with Blindness: Book Cover.

Course: IDES 142 Survey and Principles of Design II with instructor Vida Jurcic.

Check out this award-winning student project!

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

Shown above: “Pizzazz!” branding/product design by Lily Rosen (IDEA Grad 2025) 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 2025 student application portfolios.

Congratulations to Kathrin Teh (IDEA Grad 2023) for winning the 2021 RGD Student Trailblazer Award with 'Type à la Mode'.

“Since the 80s, typography has been a major player in the fashion world. Consumers wear their logo engulfed pieces with pride, feeling as though they have joined an elite and exclusive club. With the surge of the Hypebeast movement in recent years, typographic logos are all the more abundant—and important—for high-fashion brands. In this book, you will learn about the iconic typefaces used in these luxury brands and their fabulous designers.” writes Kathrin.

Check out this award-winning student design project!

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

Fifteen unique stories coming together for one night.

These rising stars are the real deal, and this is the premiere of their careers. The past four years have shaped their stories, proved their character, and set them on the journey of a lifetime. And now, the final act is playing out for a captive audience.

Join us on Monday, April 4th, 2022 at VIFF Centre Vancity Theatre, 5pm-7.30pm to meet them in person or visit ideagradshow.com for a sneak peek at their work.

Congratulations to Kathrin Teh (IDEA Grad 2023) for winning the 2021 RGD Student Trailblazer Award and gaining the prestigious 2022 Graphis New Talent Annual Honorable Mention with 'The Girls Kickboxing Club'.

“The Girls Kickboxing Club is an exclusive gym designed to support women by providing a fun, safe space for girls to thrive amongst each other in a comfortable and welcoming environment. Their logo is a lioness, which represents the strong, independent, and brave countenance that girls strive to encapsulate.” writes Kathrin.

Check out this award-winning student design project!

Alina Sandu (IDEA Grad 2022) shares her Week 3 blog post about her practicum at Johnnie Christmas, a Vancouver-based graphic novelist.

“One must be ready to just churn out progress to daily get the comic done, let alone meet the deadlines.” writes Alina.

Alina has been putting together social media posts and drawing in background characters on spreads.

Check out Alina's practicum story!

Congratulations to Elizabeth Lin (IDEA Grad 2022) for winning the 2020 Applied Arts Student Award Design Other (Series) with 'Introdeuce' Squamish Vocabulary Game App.

“With the need for revitalization of the Squamish language, there was an opportunity to make learning vocabulary interactive, hands-on, and appealing to students ages 8-12. Introdeuce gamifies the acquisition of vocabulary with matching cards that can be enhanced with an accompanying classroom app to deepen understanding of Squamish cultural traditions.” writes Elizabeth.

Check out this award-winning student team project!

IDEA Grad 2022 have begun their practicums!

"I’m really enjoying my time at Chairman Ting so far, there’s lots to do, the people are wonderful and I don’t feel nearly as stressed as when I’m in school." writes Annika McFarlane regarding her practicum at Chairman Ting.

Her first week included help with production tasks like creating mural mockups, moodboarding, ideation, and some merch design.

Check out Annika's practicum story!

Congratulations to Annika McFarlane (IDEA Grad 2022) for winning the 2021 RGD Student Zulu Alpha Kilo Award for Advertising Design with 'Sierra Club BC Social Media Ad Campaign'. Shown above: Jurassic Park ad.

Check out this award-winning student advertising design project!