For first-year student, Jamie Kusack, life at Capilano University’s IDEA School of Design has really helped her feel invigorated about her work and excited to create more art. She found the oil paint self-portrait assignment (shown above) incredibly daunting but absolutely fell in love with the medium after the first day using it.

Read Jamie’s story for a glimpse into IDEA School of Design at Capilano University—a 4-year degree program with an enduring reputation for industry-prepared graduates. Late Applications for Fall 2020 open Feb 14, 2020!

Snag happens every second Tuesday at The American pub and cafe in Vancouver, run by Ian Kaart (IDEA Grad 2019) and his business partner Alejandro. Snag brings together IDEA School of Design students both past and present for a creative social. Emily Carr students also participated in this event.

Andrea (IDEA Grad 2008) returned to IDEA School of Design to complete her degree in 2017/2018. We recently caught up with her for an interview. Little Andrea started life in a jungle village in Indonesia. Her experience being an outsider for so much of her childhood has planted in her a deep wonder for the different ways people do life, and an appreciation for authentic diversity. She always wanted to be self-employed, so she never put much effort into getting hired by an agency. It’s not always balanced, but she loves the variety of her projects and continues to split her time between graphic design, illustration, commissioned portraiture and fine art. Check out our interview with her!

On Saturday, September 7, 2019, visual artist, illustrator, and educator, Jeff Burgess hosted the ninth annual student exhibition of works produced over the summer by IDEA School of Design students Sophie Young (IDEA21), Alison Johnstone (IDEA21), Charis Wang (IDEA20) (shown above), and Aidan Zecchel (IDEA21). Check out their recent work!

Congratulations to Tina Trinh (IDEA22) on winning 2nd place in this spring’s CAPIC's Rodeo 11 national Canadian student competition for her oil painting and surpassing 15,000 Instagram followers! Her body of original work is rapidly growing. Shown above: ‘Sara’ oil painting. Check out more from this talented young emerging artist!

Visual artist, illustrator, and educator, Jeff Burgess mentors four IDEA School of Design students in his studio one day a week over the summer. The students participating this summer are Sophie Young, Aidan Zecchel, Alison Johnstone and Charise Wang. We visited his studio in the early weeks to capture some images of the work being created and interview the students. We hope you enjoy!

First year IDEA School of Design student, Joyce Chan is really grateful to be in such a comprehensive program where she gets to learn about creative thinking, photography and life drawing in her first year. Being a first year student in Capilano University’s Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication is both a reward and a challenge for her.

Joyce has always been interested in photo manipulation shown above in her self portrait inspired by a quote by author Mark Manson. Read her story.

For first year student, Alina Sandu, life at Capilano University’s IDEA School of Design is like living in the fast lane. Self-portrait (shown above). Read Alina’s story for a glimpse into a student’s life in art school.

Study design in Vancouver! Early Applications for Fall 2019 are now open. SlideRoom closes midnight, Wednesday, January 23rd, 2019 for Early Admission Applications to the Bachelor of Design at Capilano University.

Jeff Burgess mentors four IDEA students in his studio one day a week over the summer which he's been doing for eight years now. The purpose is to create a body of small works that are then exhibited early in September where the students sell their pieces for reasonable prices. Check out the recent paintings by IDEA students Jominca J Engelbrecht, Nicole Shewchuk, Graeme Duckett (shown above), and Heather Haughn including photos from the show!

Capturing ‘wildhood’ has been a main theme in the recent work of fourth generation landscape painter, Dominique Walker. Dominique current teaches in the IDEA School of Design at Capilano University. Check out her recent exhibit.

Kathy Ager is a Canadian-born artist based in Amsterdam who graduated from IDEA School of Design in 2007. She was encouraged by instructor Kiff Holland and has recently transitioned into painting mixing the classical with pop contemporary. Represented by Thinkspace Gallery in LA, her first group show in the US opens June 9, 2018 at Antler Gallery in Portland, Oregon. Check out her interview with us.

Wild animals have become a way fine artist and IDEA Grad07 Jennifer Sparacino showcases “the intense presence of immediacy of living in the moment—they are simply being.”

IDEA School of Design alumnus Jess Pollard wins the ARENA mural battle for her 2 hour live painting of a crying, cartoon dog painting a fierce, more realistic dog at SNAG!

This past summer, IDEA instructor and established painter-illustrator Jeff Burgess mentored 4 IDEA students in his studio: on Mondays, Lilian Leung and Brendan Walsh, and on Thursdays Jeremy Browns and Tony Yu.

Andrew Young (Grad 11) has a new show at Catalog Gallery with some amazing work based on "lost and found adolescence."

José Rivas (Grad 11) painted live throughout the day.