Year one, done! First year students share advice to the incoming Fall 2019 cohort
We hope you’re enjoying summer and are looking forward to the Fall 2019 term at IDEA School of Design in North Vancouver, BC.
We asked first year students to share some advice to the incoming cohort for Fall 2019 back in April. Here’s a couple of fun group shots with most of the class of 2022 in the life drawing room along with some of their advice.
“Go out of your comfort zone and really challenge yourself for this year. You’ll probably find times where you don’t like a project at all/think this isn’t me, but it’s at that time where you can shine the brightest and overcome any obstacle. Good luck on first year, remember to schedule well, and don’t drink too much coffee.”
“Don’t worry about impressing people by your skills or knowledge. Instead, concentrate on making friends and trying your best to learn everything you can!”
“Things that have always come naturally to you will suddenly feel challenging, but that’s because you’re learning and improving. Don’t doubt yourself when things get hard. And a pro tip - start working on your projects the day they are assigned - it’s way easier that way. ”
“Don’t be afraid to ask people for help with things you aren’t good at yet. Everyone comes into the program with different strengths and weaknesses and it can be intimidating to show people your work when you know it isn’t great yet, but the more you show your classmates your work the more you will learn from them.
On a more practical note, use your class time wisely. Try to come to class with your brainstorming done so you can spend the days at school executing and getting feedback. You’ll make better use of the hours you spend at school, which will help with the school-life balance. I’m still working on this now but I definitely learned it the hard way!
Get uncomfortable! Try and push yourself to use new mediums and ideas that you aren’t used to. Whether it’s using photography, collage, origami, knitting or anything, think of how you can find solutions beyond the 2D world. This is the time to experiment!”
“Get all of your work done early. Don’t compare yourself to others. Find the strengths of your classmates and use them to your advantage.”
Most of the class of 2022 at IDEA School of Design
“Don’t be afraid to use and experiment with each and every tool provided. Spend time exploring things you’ve never tried before and push your creativity beyond relying on the medium you’re most used to. An IDEA teacher told me in the first months of school: Now is the time to experiment and take risks. The more you push yourself now, the stronger you’ll be in the upcoming years of IDEA and beyond!”
“Put effort and learn time management. Also, take advantage of the fact that it’s the first year and experiment.”
“My advice is to make good connections with your fellow classmates! You are learning, they are learning, and even if they may seem intimidating, asking for feedback and for their “hot spicy takes” is always a good way to keeping growing and action that will not hurt. But other than your classmates, make sure to be best friends with time management too (sleep will thank you).”
“It sounds cliche, but work hard and have fun doing it. You’ll be here to do what you love, so be passionate and use your time to improve and better your craft. Most importantly have fun with your classmates and your work! It really is a great time.”
“Time management is key in this program. Your classmates are a great source of help and information, so take advantage of it. Different people have different strengths and you can get a lot of help from them.”
The Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication is a four-year degree program offered by the IDEA School of Design. The focus of the Bachelor of Design at Capilano University is career preparation. The Bachelor of Design allows students to specialize in branding, illustration or interactive design, and offers a flexible curriculum to meet individual student goals.
