IDEA School of Design
A career-oriented program for the next generation of creative professionals, with optional concentrations in branding, illustration and interactive design.
Why study design at Capilano University?
CapU's IDEA School of Design offers a 4-year Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication degree. The curriculum is rigorous and industry-focused and you'll graduate ready to stand out in the competitive job market for creative professionals.
In the program, you'll expand your skills, build an impressive portfolio and gain industry experience. You’ll learn your creative strengths and grow the business skills to prepare for a career in visual design.
You'll improve your abilities in branding, graphic, or communication design, art direction, illustration, interactive design, UI, and UX design, book and editorial design, publishing, in-house design, digital media, concept art, environmental design and more.
IDEA graduates are working in a wide range of fields, plying their trade at 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.
IDEA School of Design program
This highly regarded program offers a dual curriculum in design and illustration, a studio environment, and one-on-one mentoring from instructors.
Student Associations
All IDEA students are members of the GDC (Graphic Designers of Canada) and the RGD (Association of Registered Graphic Designers), Canada’s foremost design associations.
They are also student members of CAPIC (The Canadian Association of Professional Image Creators), which provides advocacy for photographers, illustrators and digital artists.
Study Abroad
We encourage and support our students with the exploration and study of design, arts and culture in cities outside B.C. Currently we offer a study abroad partnership with two schools in Japan. Our third-year students also plan an annual trip to a cultural hub, with past trips to New York City, Toronto and Mexico City.
Industry Experiences
The Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication is career-focused. We offer many opportunities to learn from and collaborate with our industry partners. For example, third-year students are enrolled in a mentorship project that develops their skills and knowledge under the creative direction of a seasoned industry professional.
Before graduating, fourth-year students complete an 8-week practicum in a design or illustration studio or agency environment.
Andrew McDermott
Instructor, IDEA School of DesignFaculty of Fine and Applied Arts
IDEA School of Design
604 990 7820 ext. 7820
Arbutus Building, room AR308
andrewmcdermott@capilanou.ca
Ben Frey
Instructor, IDEA School of DesignIDEA School of Design
Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts
604 990 7820 ext. 7820
Arbutus Building, room AR206
benjaminfrey@capilanou.ca
Carol Aitken BA (Hons), MPub
Co-Coordinator, Bachelor of Design, Chair, IDEA /Coord. Bach Sch. DesignFaculty of Fine and Applied Arts
IDEA School of Design
604 986 1911 ext. 3427
Arbutus Building, room AR207
caitken@capilanou.ca
Christina Lee Kim Koon
Instr, Co-Coordinator Bachelor of DesignIDEA School of Design
Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts
604 986 1911 ext. 2065
Arbutus Building, room AR206
christinapaone@capilanou.ca
Dominic Prevost
Instructor, IDEA School of DesignIDEA School of Design
Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts
604 990 7820 ext. 7820
Arbutus Building, room AR206
dominicprevost@capilanou.ca
Dominique Walker BA, Dip.Dsg.+Ill., AFCA
Instructor, IDEA School of DesignFaculty of Fine and Applied Arts
IDEA School of Design
604 986 1911 ext. 7226
Arbutus Building, room AR206
dwalker1@capilanou.ca
Gae Wakabayashi
Instructor, IDEA School of DesignIDEA School of Design
Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts
604 990 7820 ext. 7820
Arbutus Building, room AR206
gaewakabayashi@capilanou.ca
Heather Jalbout
Instructor, IDEA School of DesignFaculty of Fine and Applied Arts
IDEA School of Design
604 990 7820 ext. 7820
Arbutus Building, room AR206
heatherjalbout@capilanou.ca
Jai Djwa BA, MFA
Instructor, IDEA School of DesignFaculty of Fine and Applied Arts
IDEA School of Design
604 990 7820 ext. 7820
Arbutus Building, room AR206
jaidjwa@capilanou.ca
James Cotter BA
Instructor, IDEA School of DesignFaculty of Fine and Applied Arts
IDEA School of Design
604 986 1911 ext. 7223
Arbutus Building, room AR206
jcotter@capilanou.ca
James Neufeld
Instr./Lab Supervisor, School of DesignIDEA School of Design
Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts
604 990 7820 ext. 7820
Arbutus Building, room AR206
jamesneufeld@capilanou.ca
Jay Bassan
Instructor, IDEA School of DesignFaculty of Fine and Applied Arts
IDEA School of Design
604 990 7820 ext. 7820
Arbutus Building, room AR206
jatinderbassan@capilanou.ca
John Lau
Lab Supervisor/InstructorFaculty of Fine and Applied Arts
IDEA School of Design
604 986 1911 ext. 2009
Arbutus Building, room AR217C
jlau@capilanou.ca
Judy Snaydon CGD, BA (Hons)
Instructor, IDEA School of DesignFaculty of Fine and Applied Arts
IDEA School of Design
604 986 1911 ext. 7221
Arbutus Building, room AR206
judysnaydon@capilanou.ca
Leanna Crawford
Instructor, IDEA School of DesignIDEA School of Design
Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts
604 990 7820 ext. 7820
Arbutus Building, room AR206
leannacrawford@capilanou.ca
Mark André Stokoe BDes
Instructor, IDEA School of DesignIDEA School of Design
Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts
604 990 7820 ext. 7820
Arbutus Building, room AR206
markstokoe@capilanou.ca
Martin Batten
Instructor, IDEA School of DesignFaculty of Fine and Applied Arts
IDEA School of Design
604 990 7820 ext. 7820
Arbutus Building, room AR206
martinbatten@capilanou.ca
Nancy Wu BFA
Instructor, IDEA School of DesignIDEA School of Design
Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts
604 990 7820 ext. 7820
Arbutus Building, room AR206
nancywu2@capilanou.ca
Pascal Milelli
Co-Coordinator, Bachelor of DesignFaculty of Fine and Applied Arts
IDEA School of Design
604 986 1911 ext. 7182
Arbutus Building, room AR313
pmilelli@capilanou.ca
Shayne Letain
Instructor, IDEA School of DesignFaculty of Fine and Applied Arts
IDEA School of Design
604 986 1911 ext. 7224
Arbutus Building, room AR206
sletain@capilanou.ca
Tom Duguid BA
Instructor, IDEA School of DesignIDEA School of Design
Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts
604 990 7820 ext. 7820
Arbutus Building, room AR206
tomduguid@capilanou.ca
Vida Jurcic
Instructor, IDEA School of DesignFaculty of Fine and Applied Arts
IDEA School of Design
604 986 1911 ext. 7225
Arbutus Building, room AR206
vidajurcic@capilanou.ca
Vivien Anayian BSE
Instructor, IDEA School of DesignSchool of Humanities - Art History
IDEA School of Design
Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts
604 990 7820 ext. 7820
Arbutus Building, room AR206
vanayian@capilanou.ca
Zoe Evamy
Instructor, IDEA School of DesignFaculty of Fine and Applied Arts
IDEA School of Design
604 990 7820 ext. 7820
Arbutus Building, room AR206
zoeevamy@capilanou.ca
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Contact
Have questions about this school?
IDEA School of Design
604 990 7820 Arbutus Building, room 206 idea@capilanou.ca
Student Information Services
604 984 4900 604 984 1798 (fax) Library Building, room LB152 registration@capilanou.ca