Meet second-year student, Charis Catotocan (IDEA BDes Grad 2027)! Her first-year self-portrait for IDES 133 - Visual Studio taught by Jay Bassan is shown above.

“Admittedly, the first year felt like a sudden shove into the water... However, the more I worked with my peers and found comfort in the deep end, the more I realized we were all in the same position: anxious and afraid, but relentlessly pushing our way to the surface... Whether the tides are unforgiving or calm, I will continue pursuing the passion I love most, design,” writes Charis.

Read Charis’ story and check out some of her other work for a glimpse into student life at IDEA School of Design at Capilano University.

Meet third-year student, Louis Yau (IDEA Grad 2026)! His first-year self-portrait for IDES 133 - Visual Studio taught by Jay Bassan is shown above.

“IDEA School of Design stood out to me the most for producing the most ‘industry ready’ graduates compared any other school in the Vancouver area,” writes Louis.

Read Louis’ story and check out some of his other work for a glimpse into student life at IDEA School of Design at Capilano University.

Anya Ali Mulzet is an 18-year-old artist and first-year student in the Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication program at IDEA School of Design, Capilano University.

In this student spotlight, Anya shares their passion for art, which began in childhood, and their love for music, movies, and video games like Stardew Valley. They highlight their experiences in their first term, including an oil painting project where they painted their best friend and a memorable photography field trip to Lonsdale Quay that helped them bond with classmates.

Check out this student spotlight story!

Meet third-year student, Maren Brophy (IDEA Grad 2026)! Her first-year self-portrait for IDES 133 - Visual Studio taught by Jay Bassan is shown above.

“IDEA has been a transformative experience for me so far. My skills have grown substantially. I can’t wait to see what’s in store,” writes Maren.

Read Maren’s story and check out some of her other work for a glimpse into student life at IDEA School of Design at Capilano University.

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,” writes Neeka

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.

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!

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.

Meet second-year student, Alexis Chiang (IDEA Grad 2026)! Her self-portrait for IDES 133 - Visual Studio taught last year by Jay Bassan is shown above.

“A breakthrough moment for me was when I realized that I am my biggest enemy, and I need to toss away unnecessary doubts and just trust the process,” writes Alexis.

Read Alexis’ story and check out some of her other work for a glimpse into student life at IDEA School of Design at Capilano University.

Meet first-year student, Sarah Gee, IDEA Interaction Design Diploma Grad 2025! Her self-portrait for IDES 133 - Visual Studio taught last year by Jay Bassan in BDES is shown above.

“The IXD Diploma was a great fit for me, as I wanted to fully understand User Experience and get working on those skills, as I knew coming from a Visual Arts background, is what I lacked,” writes Sarah.

Read Sarah’s story and check out some of her other work for a glimpse into student life at IDEA School of Design at Capilano University.

Meet second-year student, Charlie Wongpisethkul (IDEA Grad 2026)! Their self-portrait for IDES 133 - Visual Studio taught last year by Jay Bassan is shown above.

“My biggest fear before coming to IDEA School of Design was being unable to be creative enough with each project or running out of ideas. But sometime in the middle of the first year I looked back at my work and thought, ‘I can actually do this,’” writes Charlie.

Read Charlie’s story and check out some of their other work for a glimpse into student life at IDEA School of Design at Capilano University.

Meet second-year student, Mena McGill (IDEA Grad 2026)! Her self-portrait for IDES 133 - Visual Studio taught last year by Jay Bassan is shown above.

“My journey at IDEA School of Design has been a transformative one. The 'real-world' environment offered here is incredibly beneficial. My art is all about crafting narratives from the echoes of old stories, and a rustic used bookstore provides the perfect stage for this artistic endeavor,” writes Mena.

Read Mena’s story and check out some of her other work for a glimpse into student life at IDEA School of Design at Capilano University.

Meet second-year student, Brendan Hurt (IDEA Grad 2026)! His self-portrait for IDES 133 - Visual Studio taught last year by Jay Bassan is shown above.

“I’ve learned more than I have in one year than I did in the last five throughout high school which tells me where my passions truly lie. The material I used as my portfolio at the time was nowhere near the level I work at now,” writes Brendan.

Read Brendan’s story and check out some of his other work for a glimpse into student life at IDEA School of Design at Capilano University.

Meet second-year student, Keira Schick (IDEA Grad 2026)! Her self-portrait for IDES 133 - Visual Studio taught last year by Jay Bassan is shown above.

“Everybody shines in different aspects so don’t shy away from your strengths. Take one project and day at a time. And try to enjoy it as well!! Managing time wisely and trying new things will get you through the year,” writes Keira.

Read Keira’s story and check out some of her other work for a glimpse into student life at IDEA School of Design at Capilano University.

From the first interview Tiffany had, the third-year diploma exit was something she asked about since she had read about this pathway from some previous IDEA School of Design blog posts.

Tiffany signed on as a Graphic & UI Designer with a local brand and digital agency called The West Harbour in May 2023. On Day 2 she was illustrating, designing, and animating a few projects.

Check out Tiffany's story!

Meet second-year student, Angelica Blanch (IDEA Grad 2025)! Her self-portrait for IDES 133 - Visual Studio taught last year by Jay Bassan is shown above.

“Everyone’s creatively strong in their own ways. One could be skilled at illustration, while the person sitting next to you is strong in their typography work. When it comes down to critique days or group assignments, it really helps to get opinions from people with different skill sets,” writes Angelica Blanch (IDEA Grad 2025).

Read Angelica’s story and check out some of her other work for a glimpse into student life at IDEA School of Design at Capilano University.

Meet second-year student, Rachel Lam (IDEA Grad 2025)! Her self-portrait for IDES 133 - Visual Studio taught last year by Jay Bassan is shown above.

“My digital media teacher in high school introduced me to multiple schools, I chose Capilano University at the end as students here have on-the-ground experience in the field upon graduation which is very important for their careers,” writes Rachel.

Read Rachel’s story and check out some of her other work for a glimpse into student life at IDEA School of Design at Capilano University.

Meet second-year student, Liza Borissova (IDEA Grad 2025)! Her self-portrait for IDES 133 - Visual Studio taught by Jay Bassan is shown above.

“After completing several projects in the first semester, I realized ‘I am a perfectionist with impostor syndrome.’ I like all creative areas and struggle with choosing a concentration,” writes Liza.

Read Liza’s story and check out some of her other work for a glimpse into student life at IDEA School of Design at Capilano University.

Meet second-year student, Ananya Eriyat (IDEA Grad 2025)! Her self-portrait for IDES 133 - Visual Studio taught by Jay Bassan is shown above.

“In Mumbai, India, students are expected to confer to the course norms and not break out. Here at IDEA, the priority is to reinterpret the scope of a course and expand the possibilities within. This has been a big change for me,” writes Ananya.

Read Ananya’s story and check out some of her other work for a glimpse into student life at IDEA School of Design at Capilano University.

Meet first-year student, Rachel Caelum (IDEA Grad 2025)! Her self-portrait for IDES 133 - Visual Studio taught by Jay Bassan is shown above.

“I first came across the IDEA School of Design by stalking the multiple class Instagram pages. I love the environment the cohort creates, it’s allowed me to come out of my shell more and grow with like-minded individuals. Getting to try a little bit of everything before choosing your focus area makes a strong multifaceted creator who can keep up in the ever-changing industry.” writes Rachel.

Read Rachel’s story and check out some of her other work for a glimpse into first-year student life at IDEA School of Design at Capilano University.