IDEA School of Design—Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication at Capilano University A career-oriented program for the next generation of creative professionals, with concentrations in branding, illustration and interactive design.Launched in 2014, Capilano University’s in the Faculty Of Fine & Applied Arts at IDEA School Of Design is a 4-year degree program with exciting career outcomes for a new generation of creative professionals. The curriculum is rigorous and industry-focussed; students graduate with highly relevant knowledge and skills. We are a Vancouver Art & Design school ranked #1 of the most mentioned post-secondary Western Canadian design schools.Capilano University’s IDEA School of Design has always had a strong connection with the creative industry in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.In 2018 we deepened our involvement through the launch of our fourth-year practicums. The final course in our four-year degree program is an eight-week full-time placement in a local company. The degree replaces, and builds upon, the successful IDEA (design and illustration) diploma program, which has gained a reputation throughout Canadian art and graphic design schools for effective, career-ready graduates.Our students win many industry awards and scholarships every year.
New for the degree are opportunities to specialize in branding, illustration or interactive design beginning in third year, and a two-month practicum in fourth year. All-day classes in dedicated studios provide students with an intense learning experience, a close peer-support network, and a high level of faculty feedback. The IDEA Experience—A Close-Knit CohortStudents become part of a close-knit cohort as they move together through the program. The commitment level is high, and the supports this commitment with dedicated labs and professors who go the extra mile for students. This makes for a distinctly demanding – and rewarding – learning environment.Students are expected to work long hours and to become totally immersed in developing skills and learning new ones in a professional, collaborative studio environment. The reward is that graduates are superbly trained, highly employable designers and illustrators, ready to begin successful and exciting careers in the creative industry.Students have come from across Canada to attend our program, and we’ve welcomed from the United States, Mexico and further abroad—including Kazakhstan and Indonesia.
To get an idea of what your costs would be to attend our program, check out the University’s. 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! Entrance ApplicationsEntry to the Bachelor of Design program at Capilano University is competitive, and applicants must submit a portfolio and other documents through the online portal.Please submit no fewer than 15 images of recent work, which may be self-generated or assignments from school or another program. We suggest a minimum of 3 drawings. The remaining submissions can be any combination of photography, painting, design, video, 3D work (e.g.
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Jewellery, sculpture), collage, animation or interactive design (e.g. Website, app). The purpose of your portfolio is to demonstrate your creative potential. We assess portfolios on drawing skill, design and creativity.