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Grad 2026 IDEA Talks: Favourite projects and highlights from IDEA School of Design first year students

IDEA Talks is a tradition to close out first year, before we set students loose for summer. Students are asked to bring an original or colour printout of their favourite 2 projects from this past year from any class, and be prepared to share 3 personal highlights from the past year, too. As IDEA Talks is part of IDES 132 Survey and Principles of Illustration II, attendance is anticipated and expected. Classroom critiques in a creative community are a highlight for IDEA School of Design students. Shown above: Self Portrait in Oil by Siobhan Barry.

Here are some favourite projects and highlights from IDEA Grad 2026!

Psychedelic Album cover by Siobhan Barry

This project was really fun for me because I got to think about making art in the style of one of my favourite eras of art and music (the 60s and 70s). I took an illustrative approach and really noticed that what I'd learned throughout the semester from instructors and my peers helped guide me to the final product. I incorporated a lot more detail, shading, and complexity than I've ever tried working with before. I like how the finished piece looks both in terms of the assignment, and the overall style. I'd like to emulate a more colourful, decorative style like this in future work!

Self Portrait in Oil by Siobhan Barry

Before coming to IDEA School of Design, my background was mainly in graphic design and digital art. Adjusting to traditional mediums was a steep learning curve for me, and felt really challenging at times, but ultimately really improved my overall creative technique. This was my second attempt at an oil painting for an assignment, and compared to the result of the first one, I felt like I improved and got the hang of working with oil! I'm proud of how it turned out. 

“Multi-faced Woman” modern art-inspired illustration by Rachel Lu

100 Emotions: The 100 Project by Rachel Lu

“Deftones” Psychedelic Vinyl Album Cover Design by Sophia Pan

Illustration by Jessica Baik

“100 Desserts” by Jessica Baik

“Lighthouse Keeper: The Big Storm” illustration by Amilia McGill

“Coraline” movie poster by Louis Yau

Rudyard Kipling’s “The Jungle Book” watercolour book cover design by Louis Yau

Book cover design for George Orwell’s 1984 by Jerry Kambashi

Shopping bag design for the country of South Korea by Jerry Kambashi

Shopping bag design for the country of Iran by Neeka Yazdani

Edgar Degas modern art-inspired painting by Neeka Yazdani

IDEA School of Design Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication Class of 2026