“Moonlit Expression” by Neeka Yazdani (IDEA BDes Grad 2026), a student spotlight story
Meet third-year student, Neeka Yazdani (IDEA BDes Grad 2026)! Her first-year self-portrait for IDES 133 - Visual Studio taught by Jay Bassan is shown above.
“I have been pushed beyond my creative limits and discovered new talents with them and it is so helpful to learn about all the different career paths I can achieve with the skills I am learning... I would recommend including a range of mediums in your portfolio.”
Read Neeka’s story and check out some of her other work for a glimpse into student life at IDEA School of Design at Capilano University.
Self-portrait, “Moonlit Expression”
These photographs are a reflection and combination of my favourite things, including dance, cool colours, and the night. When creating them, it took lots of experimentation and learning as I was very new to photography. I was lucky to get help from Charlie Wongpisethkul and Alexis Chiang to capture my theme with limited props and tools. It is also important to note that the outcome was best achieved with experimenting lighting and colour in the editing process.
“The Assignment” by Jay Bassan, Instructor
Create a mood board visualizing your Passion, Super Power, Values, Purpose and differentiation (students can use any medium for this).
“The Goal” by Jay Bassan, Instructor
To have students think clearly about how to imagine themselves as a brand and use their final self-portrait as an expression of that. This becomes one of the more interesting projects since it happens near the end of class and students are now comfortable enough with the camera.
I remind students that similar to sketching, where you decide where to put the pencil, pen, or mouse to compose your drawing, where do you put the camera to capture a moment or tell a story?
I get some interesting work.
Experience so far at IDEA School of Design
My experience in the IDEA School of Design Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication degree program at Capilano University has had many challenging and unique moments. I have been pushed beyond my creative limits and discovered new talents with them and it is so helpful to learn about all the different career paths I can achieve with the skills I am learning. I won’t lie, university as a whole has been difficult, but it is extremely worth it to see how my classmates and I have grown and will grow throughout the years.
Highlights from 1st year at IDEA School of Design
A highlight from my first year was when everyone presented their comics in our DSGN 122 class. As mentioned previously, we were put into groups to create a brand new villain based on prompts and our own ideas. It was extremely fun yet difficult to create a deep and compelling story for a villain and create it into a graphic novel. The best part was reading every other group’s stories, especially because I got to see the hard work and talent put into both the art and the writing, plus some were very emotional or funny! As hard as this assignment was, it created a better connection with the rest of the class.
Highlights from Second Year at IDEA School of Design
A highlight from my second year so far was Halloween. This year, we all got more involved with campus activities and brought lots of yummy treats to enjoy in class. More classmates committed to costumes, which allowed for fun photo opportunities. Halloween is my favourite holiday, so of course I had to do two costumes!
What is your concentration for third year and why did you pick this concentration?
I am in the Branding Concentration, and I made this choice because my 2nd year made me realize what kinds of projects I'd like to be doing in the future. I started off thinking I would be in the Illustration concentration, but I soon realized I did not want my career solely based in that and wanted to expand my horizons in branding. I also found that illustration took too much energy out of me and started neglecting the personal aspect of it. I see more opportunities for me in the branding industry and am excited to learn more about packaging and brand identity.
Featured Work
Modern Art inspired by Edgar Degas - IDES 131
This was our final assignment of the first semester in my first year and it was a great opportunity to experiment with soft pastels and integrate my love of dance. There are many things I would change today, but it is nice to reflect on my old work that I was the most proud of.
About IDES 131 Survey and Principles of Illustration I
This course introduces students to the origins of illustration through an integration of history, theory, and practice. Lectures review notable artists and their work, and illuminate the influence of society on visual expression from the Renaissance until the mid-20th century. Applied projects are based on lecture content and related mediums and techniques, including principles of light, form, and colour.
Stylistic Exploration - Ponysona - IDES 236
This illustration is one of eight that was created for the stylistic exploration project this semester. I had the chance to make self-indulgent pieces and test my limits with rendering and style. I also got the chance to tap back into my childhood interests and make them modern. This specific piece gave me the opportunity to discover new artists for inspiration and learn more about my talents.
About IDES 236 Illustration Studio II
This course focuses on the development of illustration styles for visual communication using voice and storytelling. Students are assigned targeted briefs and create conceptual solutions using moderately complex subject matter. The roles of illustrator and art director as part of a creative team are emphasized in the process of creating illustration for advertising, design, and publishing.
Emotional Portrait of Andy Poystila - IDES 237
In this project, we were tasked with capturing emotions through a digital illustration. Our class took the time to take photos of each other with dramatic lighting to use as references for the final outcome. This project took an outrageous amount of time to capture the realism, but it was extremely worth it!
About IDES 237 Digital Illustration
This course introduces digital illustration techniques for static and dynamic media. Students gain an understanding of the strengths of digital technology in contemporary conceptual illustration and motion graphics. Technical skills using image-making and motion graphics software are introduced through a variety of in-class exercises and projects with targeted briefs.
Sunshine Coast Lavender Re-Brand - DSGN 320
This mentorship project was the perfect opportunity for me to practice my packaging skills and push myself to come up with innovative mockups while staying close to my own passions. The experience with my mentor was very enlightening and I was able to learn a lot about the careful steps it takes to consider sustainable product packaging, brand voice, and accessibility to retailers.
I feel more confident now when it comes to product packaging, even though it was my first time tackling cosmetics. This truly feels like a passion project for me and having Laura as my mentor is the best choice that could’ve been made.
If I had more time, I would attempt creating a gift box bundle that features each product, especially as it is gifting season right now.
For Sunshine Coast Lavender’s future projects, I would start with the refillable pouches they offer for their products and then expand on their soap collections as those are very popular too.
A huge thank you to Laura Prpich for being the most supportive and enthusiastic mentor I could have!
About DSGN 320 Professional Development I
Students work on developing personal branding and self-promotional materials, and will be paired with industry mentors to undertake comprehensive design, illustration, or interactive projects. The emphasis will be on creating exceptional work with distinctive concepts.
Why did you choose IDEA School of Design over other schools?
I chose the IDEA School of Design’s Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication degree program at Capilano University over others because it covers a large range of design and introduces you to unique perspectives and people. I found that other programs would not give me such an extensive experience, especially because I went in not being completely sure what I wanted to specify in.
About IDEA School of Design at Capilano University
IDEA School of Design offers two career-oriented programs for the next generation of creative professionals.
The Bachelor Of Design In Visual Communication is a four-year undergraduate degree with a variety of career outcomes in the creative field. Students can specialize in branding, Illustration or interactive design in upper years.
The Interaction Design Diploma is a two-year program with career outcomes in the field of digital product design and user experience. The focus is on creativity, design thinking, and problem-solving.
“The purpose of your portfolio is to demonstrate your creative potential. We assess portfolios on drawing skill, design and creativity.”
Advice for those considering applying to IDEA School of Design
When applying to the IDEA School of Design Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication degree program at Capilano University, I would recommend including a range of mediums in your portfolio. Don’t be afraid if they aren’t amazing, it’s better to show your willingness to try new things. It’s also quite helpful to have personal connections to your artwork! Last but not least, be prepared to constantly step out of your comfort zone and start relationships with a class full of creatives like you!
"Breakthrough Moments" at IDEA School of Design
Midway through the second semester of my first year, I was involved in a difficult yet extremely inspiring group project. It was the first time I was rendering digitally for a comic, so I was dealing with a huge learning curve. I was lucky to have a supportive group that taught me so much about storytelling and illustration. It made me realize that the teaching of skills doesn’t just come from our instructors, but from our fellow students as well. It is incredibly important to reach out and take inspiration and help from your classmates, and this strategy has made me better as a designer, and illustrator, and can help with soft skills too.
Creative Life outside of IDEA School of Design
For my outside life, I grew up pursuing dance as a passion, a mix between ballet and jazz primarily. At around 15 years old, I decided to quit dance classes because I would need to dedicate myself to it full-time, and that would get in the way of my career goals. During high school, I discovered another form of dance through K-pop and explored it casually, eventually running the dance club in my junior and senior years. After graduation and until the present, I don’t have too many opportunities to get back into classes but when I have the time, I love to indulge in ballet classes in hopes of rebuilding my strength and flexibility.
What's your favourite music video?
My favourite music video is the Black Swan Art Film by BTS, performed by MN Dance Company, which is the song I took inspiration from for self-portrait photography. The music video begins with a quote that truly resonates with me, “a dance dies twice — once when they stop dancing, and this first death is the more painful,” by Martha Graham. The video combines classical music and modern dance to create an emotional and uncomfortable story.
For more on Neeka
Insta: @yaz.artstudio
Behance: behance.net/neekayazdani83
