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A career-oriented school for the next generation of creative professionals. Now offering a 4-year Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication and a 2-year Interaction Design diploma.

Why study design at Capilano University? 

CapU's IDEA School of Design offers a 4-year Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication degree and a 2-year Interaction Design diploma. The curriculum is rigorous and industry-focused and you'll graduate ready to stand out in the competitive job market of creative professionals.

You'll expand your skills, build an impressive portfolio and gain industry experience. You’ll learn your creative strengths and develop the business skills to prepare for your career.

You'll improve your abilities in visual communication design, illustration, branding, interactive design, art direction, UI (user interface), and UX (user experience), editorial design, publishing, digital media, character design, storyboard art, environmental design, web/app design and more.

IDEA graduates are working in a wide range of fields at many top studios and agencies in Vancouver and around the world. Others have gone on to form startup companies and successful freelance careers.

For stories about our students, grads, industry practicums, instructors, and student awards, visit the IDEA School of Design blog.

Bursaries

Will BIPOC Entrance Award

The Will BIPOC Entrance Award was established in 2022 by Will Creative Inc. to support students from underrepresented groups, including Indigenous, Black, and People of Colour, who demonstrate financial need.

Students must be enrolled in the Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication at Capilano University. This award will be distributed to up to two students annually.

Visit our Award Guide

IDEA School of Design programs

All programs offered at CapU’s IDEA School of Design take place in a studio environment or online and include one-on-one mentoring from instructors. Programs include:

Student Associations

All IDEA School of Design students are members of DesCan (Design Professionals of Canada) and the RGD (Association of Registered Graphic Designers), Canada’s foremost design associations.

Bachelor of Design students are also student members of CAPIC (The Canadian Association of Professional Image Creators), which provides advocacy for photographers, illustrators and digital artists.

Industry Experiences

All IDEA School of Design programs are career focused. We offer many opportunities to learn from and collaborate with our industry partners. All programs include a mentorship project to develop students’ skills and knowledge under the creative direction of seasoned industry professionals.

In the final semester of all programs, students complete an industry practicum where they apply the theory and skills learned at university. This opportunity helps build industry connections before graduation. Learn more about practical learning at CapU.

Andrew McDermott
Instructor, IDEA School of Design
IDEA School of Design

604 990 7820 ext. 7820
Arbutus Building, room AR308
andrewmcdermott@capilanou.ca
Ben Frey
Instructor, IDEA School of Design
IDEA School of Design

604 990 7820 ext. 7820
Arbutus Building, room AR206
benjaminfrey@capilanou.ca
Carol Aitken BA (Hons), MPub
Instructor, IDEA School of Design
IDEA School of Design

604 986 1911 ext. 3427
Arbutus Building, room AR313
caitken@capilanou.ca
Carson Ting
Instructor, IDEA School of Design
IDEA School of Design

604 990 7820 ext. 7820
Arbutus Building, room AR206
carsonting@capilanou.ca
Christina Lee Kim Koon
Instructor, IDEA School of Design
IDEA School of Design

604 986 1911 ext. 2065
Arbutus Building, room AR206
christinapaone@capilanou.ca
Dominic Prevost
Instructor, IDEA School of Design
IDEA School of Design

604 990 7820 ext. 7820
Arbutus Building, room AR206
dominicprevost@capilanou.ca
Dominique Walker BA, Dip.Dsg.+Ill., AFCA
Instructor, IDEA School of Design
IDEA School of Design

604 986 1911 ext. 7226
Arbutus Building, room AR206
dwalker1@capilanou.ca
Elyssa Schmid
Instructor, IDEA School of Design
IDEA School of Design

604 990 7820 ext. 7820
Arbutus Building, room AR 206
elyssaschmid@capilanou.ca
Gae Wakabayashi
Instructor, IDEA School of Design
IDEA School of Design

604 990 7820 ext. 7820
Arbutus Building, room AR206
gaewakabayashi@capilanou.ca
Harvey Chan
Instructor, IDEA School of Design
IDEA School of Design

604 990 7820 ext. 7820
Arbutus Building, room AR206
harveychan@capilanou.ca
Heather Jalbout
Instructor, IDEA School of Design
IDEA School of Design

604 990 7820 ext. 7820
Arbutus Building, room AR206
heatherjalbout@capilanou.ca
Jai Djwa BA, MFA
Co-Coordinator, Interaction Design, Instructor, IDEA School of Design
IDEA School of Design

604 990 7820 ext. 7820
Arbutus Building, room AR206
jaidjwa@capilanou.ca
James Cotter BA
Instructor, IDEA School of Design
IDEA School of Design

604 986 1911 ext. 7223
Arbutus Building, room AR206
jcotter@capilanou.ca
James Neufeld
Instr./Lab Supervisor, School of Design
IDEA School of Design

604 990 7820 ext. 7820
Arbutus Building, room AR206
jamesneufeld@capilanou.ca
Jay Bassan
Instructor, IDEA School of Design
IDEA School of Design

604 990 7820 ext. 7820
Arbutus Building, room AR206
jatinderbassan@capilanou.ca
John Lau
Lab Supervisor/Instructor
IDEA School of Design

604 986 1911 ext. 2009
Arbutus Building, room AR217C
jlau@capilanou.ca
Leanna Crawford
Instructor, IDEA School of Design
IDEA School of Design

604 990 7820 ext. 7820
Arbutus Building, room AR206
leannacrawford@capilanou.ca
Mark AndrĂ© Stokoe BDes
Instructor, IDEA School of Design
IDEA School of Design

604 990 7820 ext. 7820
Arbutus Building, room AR206
markstokoe@capilanou.ca
Mark Pilon
Instructor, IDEA School of Design
IDEA School of Design

604 990 7820 ext. 7820
Arbutus Building, room AR206
markpilon@capilanou.ca
Martin Batten
Instructor, IDEA School of Design
IDEA School of Design

604 990 7820 ext. 7820
Arbutus Building, room AR206
martinbatten@capilanou.ca
Matt Heximer
Instructor, IDEA School of Design
IDEA School of Design

604 990 7820 ext. 7820
Arbutus Building, room AR206
donaldheximer@capilanou.ca
Nancy Wu BFA
Instructor, IDEA School of Design
IDEA School of Design

604 990 7820 ext. 7820
Arbutus Building, room AR206
nancywu2@capilanou.ca
Nida Fatima
Instructor, IDEA School of Design
IDEA School of Design

604 990 7820 ext. 7820
Arbutus Building, room AR206
nidafatima@capilanou.ca
Pascal Milelli
Instructor, IDEA School of Design
IDEA School of Design

604 986 1911 ext. 7182
Arbutus Building, room AR206
pmilelli@capilanou.ca
Paul Brokenshire
Instructor, IDEA School of Design
IDEA School of Design

604 990 7820 ext. 7820
Arbutus Building, room AR206
paulbrokenshire@capilanou.ca
Ramin Shadmehr BA, MEd, PhD (Candidate)
Dean, Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts
Dean's Office - Faculty of Fine & Applied Arts
School of Motion Picture Arts
IDEA School of Design - IDEA Program
School of Animation & Visual Effects
School of Performing Arts

604 990 7941 ext. 7941
Arbutus Building, room AR202
raminshadmehr@capilanou.ca
Rick Etkin
Instructor, IDEA School of Design
IDEA School of Design

604 990 7820 ext. 7820
Arbutus Building, room AR206
richardetkin@capilanou.ca
Shayne Letain
Instructor, IDEA School of Design
IDEA School of Design

604 986 1911 ext. 7224
Arbutus Building, room AR206
sletain@capilanou.ca
Teresa Szymborska
Administrative Lead
School of Motion Picture Arts
School of Performing Arts
School of Animation & Visual Effects
Dean's Office - Faculty of Fine & Applied Arts
Faculty of Fine and Applies Arts
IDEA School of Design - IDEA Program

604 986 1911 ext. 7141
Arbutus Building, room AR202
teresaszymborska@capilanou.ca
Tim Hoffpauir
Instructor, IDEA School of Design
IDEA School of Design

604 990 7820 ext. 7820
Arbutus Building, room AR206
timothyhoffpauir@capilanou.ca
Tom Duguid BA
Instructor, IDEA School of Design
IDEA School of Design

604 990 7820 ext. 7820
Arbutus Building, room AR206
tomduguid@capilanou.ca
Vida Jurcic
Instructor, IDEA School of Design
IDEA School of Design

604 986 1911 ext. 7225
Arbutus Building, room AR206
vidajurcic@capilanou.ca
Vivien Anayian BSE
Instructor, IDEA School of Design
IDEA School of Design

604 990 7820 ext. 7820
Arbutus Building, room AR206
vanayian@capilanou.ca
Zoe Evamy
Instructor, IDEA School of Design
IDEA School of Design

604 990 7820 ext. 7820
Arbutus Building, room AR206
zoeevamy@capilanou.ca

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Get in touch with us!

About this program

IDEA School of Design
604 990 7820
Arbutus Building, room 206
idea@capilanou.ca

General inquiries

Student Information Services
Library Building, room LB152

604-984-4900
604-984-1798 (fax)
registration@capilanou.ca