Design Fundamentals first year class took a field trip to Porchlight Press on October 3, 2024. Check out this story!
IDEA School of Design Grad 2025 Field Trip to NYC
Zoë Evamy and Jesse Schilperoort had the privilege of chaperoning twenty one students from the IDEA School of Design at Capilano University on their Field Trip to NYC. It’s an annual trip and part of the 3rd year curricular course in ‘Design Thinking and Research’. Students are required to complete a visual essay. The week-long field trip gives students an opportunity to experience travel abroad and exposure to some of the major Art Museums, collections, exhibitions and cultural establishments in the world. Check out this story!
“The significance of names--and why I changed mine” — Jai Djwa at TEDxCapilano U Live
IDEA School of Design’s Jai Djwa spoke about the transformative power of changing his name at TEDxCapilano U Live on April 30, 2024. Check out this story and listen to his talk.
IDEA School of Design’s Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication Grad 2025 shares their advice
We asked IDEA School of Design’s Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication Grad 2025 to share advice for students in first, second and third year and wish them a successful 4th and final year! Check out this story!
IDEA School of Design’s Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication Grad 2026 chooses their concentration!
We asked IDEA School of Design’s Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication Grad 2026 which concentration they chose for third year and why. Check out this story!
Advice to First Years and Summer Highlights from IDEA School of Design’s Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication Grad 2027
We asked IDEA School of Design’s Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication Grad 2027 for their summer highlights and advice to first-year students. Check out this story!
IDEA School of Design’s Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication welcomes Grad 2028! Check out their playlist!
IDEA School of Design welcomes the Bachelor of Design graduating class of 2028! Get to know their personalities through their taste in music and music videos!
IDEA School of Design at Capilano U welcomes the Interaction Design Diploma Class of 2026! Check out their playlist!
IDEA School of Design at Capilano University welcomes the Interaction Design (IXD) diploma program class of 2026! Get to know their personalities through their favourite music.
Check out this story!
From canvas to convocation: The design journey of CapU student Natasha Lee
As an illustrator, Natasha Lee found herself questioning the meticulous nature of the graphic design courses during her first year in the Bachelor of Visual Communication and Design degree in the IDEA School of Design.
Check out this grad spotlight story!
Vylan Tran's (IDEA Grad 2024) third week Industry Practicum at Minivillage
Capilano University's IDEA School of Design has a strong connection with the Vancouver creative industry including fourth-year practicums. The final course in our four-year degree program—IDES 490 Industry Practicum—is an eight-week full-time placement in a local Vancouver 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.
Check out this practicum story by Vylan Tran (IDEA Grad 2024) at Minivillage!
Meet your peeps at IDEA School of Design's Monthly Networking Meet-ups: Coffee, Confections and Connections
Your IDEA School of Design network is one of your most valuable resources; from the alumni working in industry to your peers in different years. 2nd and 3rd-year students can give newer students advice, tips and tricks about Capilano University’s Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication program in North Vancouver, while 1st-year students bring fresh energy and questions. IDEA School of Design’s “Monthly Minglers” help students connect over coffee and confections and build their network. Plus… IDEAs are awesome!
Check out this story about student life at IDEA School of Design!
You're invited to the IDEA Grad Show 2024
The IDEA School of Design at Capilano University has built an enduring reputation for industry-prepared graduates. The grads of 2024 are ready to export their final, FINAL files. Don’t forget to ⌘-S the date and download your grad show tickets now! Experience the evolution of 26 grads, where every sketch, click, and color has led to this moment.
IDEA GRAD SHOW 2024
VIFF CENTRE
1188 SEYMOUR STREET
APRIL 08 2024
Imogen Pettyfer's (IDEA Grad 2024) first week Industry Practicum at We The Collective
Capilano University's IDEA School of Design has a strong connection with the Vancouver creative industry including fourth-year practicums. The final course in our four-year degree program—IDES 490 Industry Practicum—is an eight-week full-time placement in a local Vancouver 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.
Check out this practicum story by Imogen Pettyfer (IDEA Grad 2024) at We The Collective!
IDEA Interprets “Danger”—Grad 2026 Poster Exhibit runs March 7—April 7 2024
After a five year intermission—the 2026 graduates at Capilano University’s IDEA School of Design bring back IDEA Interprets, an annual poster show that explores a single theme through typography and illustration. This year’s theme: Danger.
March 7—April 7, 2024
Wednesday to Sunday, 11 am—5 pm
Ferry Building Gallery
1414 Argyle Ave
West Vancouver
Celebrating culture through food and flavours: Inspiring a CapU student’s award-winning brand design
It has been an illustrious year for CapU IDEA School of Design student Celina Zhong. The fourth year Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication student has received a long list of awards for her design project titled Soya Fusion, most notably the 2023 DesCan Jim Rimmer Scholarship and 2023 RGD Q30 Design Award for Brand Design.
Check out this story!
Wanting a career-focused education, Siobhan Barry (IDEA Grad 2026) returned to university for a second undergrad and has learned to seek advice and input from classmates
Meet second-year Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication student, Siobhan Barry (IDEA Grad 2026)! Her self-portrait for IDES 133 - Visual Studio taught last year by Jay Bassan is shown above.
“A big shift happened when I began to seek advice and input from classmates who are skilled in the areas I am weak in. I began to really lean into asking for help. It has enhanced my work, learning, and process immensely,” writes Siobhan.
Read Siobhan’s story and check out some of her other work for a glimpse into student life at IDEA School of Design at Capilano University.
Happy Valentine's Day 2024 from IDEA School of Design!
Check out some student illustrations for Valentine’s Day. Shown above: Valentine’s Day illustrations by Yohahnah Loker and Alisa Nguyen (IDEA Grad 2025).
Capilano University’s IDEA School of Design offers a 4-year Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication degree and a 2-year Interaction Design diploma. Our curriculum is rigorous and industry-focused — that’s why we are known for the quality and industry-readiness of our graduates.
Late Admission runs Feb 1, 2024 - April 2, 2024. The IDEA Grad Show is April 8/9, 2024.
Happy Lunar New Year 2024 from IDEA School of Design!
Happy Year of the Dragon from IDEA School of Design! Shown above “To Celebrate the Lunar Year” illustration by Charlie Wongpisethkul (IDEA Grad 2026).
Samantha Yeung (IDEA Grad 2025) and team win first place in Community & Connection Track and Best Design Award at nwHacks 2024 for an anonymous social journaling app
Samantha Yeung (IDEA Grad 2025) had the opportunity to participate in nwHacks, Western Canada's largest 24-hour hackathon, last month. Her team (Robbie Laughlen, Franklin Ma and Alvicorn Tsang) won first place in the Community and Connection Track and Best Design Award of nwHacks 2024.
nwHacks is Western Canada’s Largest Hackathon held January 20 - 21, 2024 at UBC.
Samantha worked on the research, user experience and interface design, and presentation for yapyap. UI illustrations and some icons were created in Adobe Illustrator, and the wireframes and high-fidelity prototype were all done in Figma.
Check out this story!
The Best Annual Report Design Projects from IDEA BDes Grad 2026 Students
IDEA School of Design’s Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication (Grad 2026) students at Capilano University were tasked with designing compelling annual reports or community reports using either illustration, photography or interesting graphic treatments and typography. It was an opportunity for them to learn how to do research, use grids and consider appropriate art direction for their chosen company or organization.
Check out some of the best projects from Vida Jurcic’s 2nd Year IDES 243 Design Studio I course. Shown above: ShareGrocer Annual Report by Siobhan Barry.