Congratulations to Annika McFarlane (IDEA Grad 2022) for winning 2021 ADCC Student Competition Bronze Award in Graphic Design with 'Charred Plant-Based BBQ'.

Charred is a plant-based barbecue restaurant that celebrates the flavourful personalities of plants without sacrificing any of the flavour. These sauces would be purchased in restaurant and used at home to make plantbased cooking easy and delicious.

Check out this award-winning student graphic design project!

It’s that time of year at IDEA School of Design—practicum time! Many applicants list the practicum as being one of the key reasons they choose our school. When they leave, most graduates tell us that this Work Integrated Learning experience was a highlight of their time in the program.

Every March the Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication program’s 4th-year students head out on a 240-hour placement before they graduate.

Check out this industry practicum story!

Congratulations to Tobin Elias Eckstein (IDEA Grad 2024) for winning the 2021 ADCC Silver Editorial & Book Design Award with Blindness: Book Cover.

Course: IDES 142 Survey and Principles of Design II with instructor Vida Jurcic.

Check out this award-winning student project!

Looking for design, illustration, or interactive design education in Vancouver? Study at the IDEA School of Design!

The Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication at Capilano University in North Vancouver has a reputation for industry-ready graduates. Entry to the Bachelor of Design is competitive, and applicants must submit a portfolio and other documents through the online portal SlideRoom.

Shown above: “Pizzazz!” branding/product design by Lily Rosen (IDEA Grad 2025) as part of her application to IDEA School of Design.

Find out how to apply and check out additional samples of pieces from IDEA Grad 2025 student application portfolios.

Congratulations to Kathrin Teh (IDEA Grad 2023) for winning the 2021 RGD Student Trailblazer Award with 'Type à la Mode'.

“Since the 80s, typography has been a major player in the fashion world. Consumers wear their logo engulfed pieces with pride, feeling as though they have joined an elite and exclusive club. With the surge of the Hypebeast movement in recent years, typographic logos are all the more abundant—and important—for high-fashion brands. In this book, you will learn about the iconic typefaces used in these luxury brands and their fabulous designers.” writes Kathrin.

Check out this award-winning student design project!

The IDEA School of Design at Capilano University has built an enduring reputation for industry-prepared graduates.

Fifteen unique stories coming together for one night.

These rising stars are the real deal, and this is the premiere of their careers. The past four years have shaped their stories, proved their character, and set them on the journey of a lifetime. And now, the final act is playing out for a captive audience.

Join us on Monday, April 4th, 2022 at VIFF Centre Vancity Theatre, 5pm-7.30pm to meet them in person or visit ideagradshow.com for a sneak peek at their work.

Congratulations to Kathrin Teh (IDEA Grad 2023) for winning the 2021 RGD Student Trailblazer Award and gaining the prestigious 2022 Graphis New Talent Annual Honorable Mention with 'The Girls Kickboxing Club'.

“The Girls Kickboxing Club is an exclusive gym designed to support women by providing a fun, safe space for girls to thrive amongst each other in a comfortable and welcoming environment. Their logo is a lioness, which represents the strong, independent, and brave countenance that girls strive to encapsulate.” writes Kathrin.

Check out this award-winning student design project!

Alina Sandu (IDEA Grad 2022) shares her Week 3 blog post about her practicum at Johnnie Christmas, a Vancouver-based graphic novelist.

“One must be ready to just churn out progress to daily get the comic done, let alone meet the deadlines.” writes Alina.

Alina has been putting together social media posts and drawing in background characters on spreads.

Check out Alina's practicum story!

Congratulations to Elizabeth Lin (IDEA Grad 2022) for winning the 2020 Applied Arts Student Award Design Other (Series) with 'Introdeuce' Squamish Vocabulary Game App.

“With the need for revitalization of the Squamish language, there was an opportunity to make learning vocabulary interactive, hands-on, and appealing to students ages 8-12. Introdeuce gamifies the acquisition of vocabulary with matching cards that can be enhanced with an accompanying classroom app to deepen understanding of Squamish cultural traditions.” writes Elizabeth.

Check out this award-winning student team project!

IDEA Grad 2022 have begun their practicums!

"I’m really enjoying my time at Chairman Ting so far, there’s lots to do, the people are wonderful and I don’t feel nearly as stressed as when I’m in school." writes Annika McFarlane regarding her practicum at Chairman Ting.

Her first week included help with production tasks like creating mural mockups, moodboarding, ideation, and some merch design.

Check out Annika's practicum story!

Congratulations to Annika McFarlane (IDEA Grad 2022) for winning the 2021 RGD Student Zulu Alpha Kilo Award for Advertising Design with 'Sierra Club BC Social Media Ad Campaign'. Shown above: Jurassic Park ad.

Check out this award-winning student advertising design project!

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

“I tried to channel the part of me that doesn’t like to be perceived into the portrait: It’s messy and chaotic, I layered many images of myself on top of each other, so that it’s hard to see the proper outlines of one or the other. I had so much fun putting this together!” writes Sophia.

Read Sophia’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.

Congratulations to Joyce Chan (IDEA Grad 2022) for gaining the 2021 RGD UX Design Award Honourable Mention with 'Cordia'.

“Cordia is a tablet app that keeps seniors with dementia happily engaged through rewarding and stress-free reminiscing activities. As an app intended to be used along with a caregiver, the product takes a unique approach to care giving similar to art therapy in hopes to improve the short-term and long-term mental state of seniors with dementia.” writes Joyce.

Check out this award-winning student User Experience Design project!

Congratulations to IDEA School of Design instructor, Dominique Walker!

In May 2021, Walker placed 2nd in the Peace and Trust exhibition at the FCA with her painting ‘Siblings’. In October, she placed 3rd in the Nature Trust of BC, Artist of the Year Exhibition with ‘Brady’s Beach Sea Stack’. This was followed by a 1st place win in the Federation’s 80th Anniversary Exhibition with ‘Nasturtiums’ and an honourable mention in the Artist’ Choice Exhibition this February for ‘Skaha Lake Trestle’ (shown above).

Check out this instructor spotlight!

Congratulations to Janelle Momotani (IDEA Grad 2022) for gaining 2021 RGD Student Advertising Design Honourable Mention with "Verified Experience".

“Teenagers and young adults who live online miss out on in-person experiences that technology just can’t replicate. Visiting New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art (the MET) is one of life’s great experiences. The Verified Experience campaign plays on social media authentication to prompt Gen Z to visit the MET in person where they can enjoy a bigger-than-life experience and truly immerse in the art.” writes Janelle.

Check out this award-winning advertising design project!

Last week, the IDEA School of Design faculty met for its first-ever retreat at the CapU Lonsdale Campus in North Vancouver at the Shipyards for two days.

Enjoy these photos by Jay Bassan (Instructor)

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

“When I was applying to the IDEA School of Design, the idea of forming a community with other artists at IDEA and exchanging feedback with them felt like a studio or company experience to me.” writes Sol.

Read Sol’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.

Congratulations to Marko Jones (IDEA Grad 2023) for winning the 2021 student RGD Design de Plume Award for Indigenous Design with “Moytel”, Indigenous Language Learning App. This project was part of Tom Duguid's IDES 244 Cross-Platform Design.

“Moytel was designed to reconnect Indigenous teens to their culture and languages. Eagle illustration by Todd Baker and frog illustration by Glen Rabena.” writes Marko.

Check out this award-winning student illustration and design project!

Looking for design, illustration, or interactive design education in Vancouver? Study at the IDEA School of Design!

The Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication at Capilano University in North Vancouver has a reputation for industry-ready graduates. Admission to the program is competitive, and applicants must submit a portfolio and other documents through the online portal SlideRoom.

Late Admission for the Fall 2022 Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication closes Wednesday, April 13, 2022.

Shown above: “You Are Loved” lettering design by Celina Zhong (IDEA Grad 2024).

Congratulations to Raha Namdari (IDEA Grad 2023) for winning 2021 ADCC Student Competition Bronze Award in Graphic Design with 'Naughty Hildegard' Illustration.

“This poster campaign was to promote the beer Naughty Hildegard. The goal was to play up the name of Naughty Hildegard in a funny way. The humour lies in bringing Hildegard to life as a character and putting her in cheeky situations.” writes Raha.

Check out this award-winning student illustration and design project!