Congratulations to Tiffany Zhong (IDEA Grad 2024) for winning the 2022 RGD Student Trailblazer Award and 2022 Jim Rimmer Awards Honourable Mention with 'Untwist The Truth - Reconciliation Project' completed with Anaïs Bayle (IDEA Grad 2024) and Ethan Woronko (IDEA Grad 2024).

“Our campaign responds to the TRC call to action #62 concerning education in all its parts. It aims to grab the Canadian public's attention and get them to reflect on what they’ve learned in school and encourage dialogue using the visual metaphor of a twisted textbook page,” writes Tiffany.

Check out this award-winning student advertising design group project!

Capilano University (CapU) has launched a new two-year Interaction Design diploma. The program connects design and technology to prepare students for a career in in-demand fields.

Applications for fall 2023 enrolment are open and interested students can apply now.

Learn more and apply today!

Congratulations to Kyle Rask’s team for winning the Brand Battle for Good! We asked Kyle to share his experience with this one-part conference and one-part idea hack-a-thon event to develop the most innovative, creative, and implementable solutions to Vancouver’s social isolation issues.

Check out Kyle’s story!

Several students in our first year, IDEA Grad 2026, had previous careers including a professional cross-country skier, pastry chef, and hairstylist. As part of our student blog committee, Sarah Gee (shown above in her previous career as a hair stylist) helped pull together this backstory on what inspired them to change careers and join the IDEA School of Design.

Check out this story for a glimpse into student life before and during IDEA!

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.

Congratulations to Tiffany Zhong (IDEA Grad 2024) for winning 1st place in the CAPIC Rodeo 14 student contest for Illustration with “Morning Melancholy” self-portrait (shown above)!

“This portrait was part one of two for an assignment to convey contrasting emotional interpretations for Jeff’s IDES 236 - Illustration II course.” writes Tiffany.

Many congratulations to Capilano University's IDEA School of Design students who continue to dominate the CAPIC student awards in illustration!

Check out this award-winning student illustration project!

Apply today to study user experience and user interface design in Vancouver!

The IDEA School of Design has launched a new program — a 2-year diploma in Interaction Design at Capilano University. Enrollment is open now and the program starts in the Fall of 2023.

Shown above: Chainmail—Anyone's Digital Wallet by Alexandra Westcott (IDEA Grad 2022)

Learn More & Apply Today!

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!

Congratulations to Michelle Viet (IDEA Grad 2023) for winning 3rd place in the CAPIC Rodeo 14 student contest for Illustration with “Mia the Bold” (shown above)!

“This project was an exercised-based assignment to explore and develop a personal style and voice with an emphasis on interpreting human emotions and feelings,” writes Michelle.

Many congratulations to Capilano University's IDEA School of Design students who continue to dominate the CAPIC student awards in illustration!

Check out this award-winning student illustration project!

Congratulations to Natasha Lee (IDEA Grad 2024) for winning both the RGD q30 design Award for Brand Design and RGD Premise Award for Strategic Design with Bugbites Granola Brand!

“Bugbites is an imaginary cricket granola brand created for the North American market that is constantly looking for new, sustainable products but is particularly squeamish about eating bugs! The goal was to introduce the many benefits of including protein-rich crickets into our diets in a fun and friendly way. The branding addresses the public fear about eating bugs while appealing to their sense of greater good and sustainability.”

Check out this award-winning student design and branding project!

Study design in North Vancouver at IDEA School of Design!

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

Applications for Fall 2023 open Friday, November 4, 2022. Come checkout the in-person open house for CapU’s IDEA School of Design - Nov. 19 2022 CapU Campus. Shown above: “Embrace” watercolor painting by Louis Yau (IDEA Grad 2026)

Find out how to apply and check out additional samples of pieces from a typical student application portfolio.

Congratulations to Anna Tsybulnyk and Lera Kim (IDEA Grad 2021)!

Battle of the Brush brings in multiple teams of artists who compete in a time-limited competition before their spontaneous collective works are displayed and judged by you, our local art connoisseurs! Battle of the Brush 39: Season 8 Episode 2 was held at Heritage Hall on Main Street in Vancouver, BC on Friday, 23 September 2022.

Check out this grad spotlight!

“Batten down the hatches, mateys! Vida Jurcic (Founder of Hangar 18 and instructor at the IDEA School of Design at Capilano University) joins Sean to talk about her brushes with Arnold, the dangers of Dinosaur Park, and what models do in their spare time.” — Sean Schumacher, Assistant Professor of Graphic Design, Portland State University School of Art + Design, Host and Producer of Did I Do That?

Listen to Vida’s new podcast!

About 50% of graphic designers spend their time working on projects for multiple clients: they might be designing packaging for vegetarian sausages on Monday, coming up with logo ideas for a new housing development on Wednesday, and redesigning a website for a pharmacy on Friday. The other 50% of graphic designers work in-house. This means that rather than working for an agency or studio that serves many businesses, they work directly for a brand that produces and sells products, or provides services.

Check out this IDEA alumni story by Judy Snaydon!

Are you interested in a creative career as a graphic designer, illustrator, or UX/UI designer?

Come checkout the in-person open house for CapU’s IDEA School of Design - Nov. 19 2022 CapU Campus. A career-oriented school for the next generation of creative professionals. Now offering a 4-year Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication and a 2-year Interaction Design diploma.

Congratulations to Natasha Lee, Alison Koo, and Quoc Huy Anh (Alex) Nguyen (IDEA Grad 2024) for winning the 2022 student RGD Design de Plume Award for Indigenous Design with “End Stolen Choices” PSA campaign. This project was part of Tom Duguid's IDES 244 Cross-Platform Design at Capilano University’s IDEA School of Design.

“End Stolen Choices is a PSA campaign that gives a platform to the Indigenous women who have been affected by forced sterilization and alerts the public that this horrific human rights violation still exists in our society today.”

Check out this award-winning student illustration and design project!

Mikaela Johnson (IDEA Grad 2022) was just offered a permanent position as a designer at Native Shoes several weeks ago and is 🤙 “feeling pretty good about it!”

Congratulations, Mikaela!

Check out this grad spotlight!

Get to know the personalities of IDEA Grad 2026 through their taste in music and music videos! We wish them all ultimate success as they embark on a 4-year Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication degree. Applications for IDEA School of Design Fall 2022 will open in November 2022.

Special thanks to MESH and Sarah for making the group photo happen during lunch hour!

In third year at IDEA School of Design at Capilano University, students choose their concentration. Concentrations include branding, illustration, UI/UX and non-concentration. Check out this blog story to find out why IDEA Grad 2023 chose the concentrations they did!

Jenna Weind (IDEA Grad 2025 Cohort 1) was commissioned to do a mural this summer.

“I was commissioned to do a mural with full creative freedom for the size of 12’3” w and 8’1” t. I took around 16 hours to complete, I used chalk markers and chalk paint.” writes Jenna.

Check out this story including the original sketch and some process work.