Second-year students (IDEA Grad 2024) offer their advice to students considering applying to IDEA School of Design
Entry to the Bachelor of Design is competitive, and applicants must submit a portfolio and other documents through the online portal SlideRoom.
Second-year students (IDEA Grad 2024) offer their advice to students applying to the Bachelor of Design (BDes) program at Capilano University. We hope a first-hand student perspective will give you more insight and direction on the application process.
Applications for Fall 2022 open Friday, November 5, 2021. Explore CapU Virtual Open House is on Saturday, November 20, 2021 (10 a.m. – 6 p.m.).
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Tara Asadi
Do your fair share of research on the program: like looking at student projects from each year (you can usually find accounts that share these works when searching IDEA School of Design on Instagram) or checking out sites or blogs related to the program! After all, your post-secondary years are going to be a time where you change the most, and seeing how others have grown in their experience can give insight as to how you might.
Anais Bayle
Your portfolio for IDEA School of Design should include the work you are most proud of and especially work that showcases and a wide array of skills. Variety in style and medium showcases your creative thinking ability, which is arguably the most important skill you will need in IDEA School of Design. Your portfolio does not have to look perfect; you are not (yet) a professional designer, but the effort you put into making it pays off.
Attend open houses if you can, you will get a better sense of what the program entails and if it is right for you. Look at past and current student work, which you can find through our cohorts’ Instagram pages and the IDEA School of Design blog. Don’t be afraid to get in touch with current students, we are more than happy to help you!
Max Beauchesne
Participate/visit in the idea open house info sessions since you'll be able to connect with teachers, current IDEA School of Design students, and get your portfolio critiqued. Be sure to have a variety of portfolio pieces.
Lucy Benson
Use the people around you and reach out to students/ teachers/ and alumni of IDEA School of Design. Everybody is so loving and welcoming that you’re sure to be met with great advice and helpful critiques. It is important to be focused and excited about your application — ask lots of questions, give and take critiques, research what people have done in the past, and look into what types of careers and work is expected in the applied arts field. Most importantly — create, create, create! Make what you love, try new things, and show off what inspires you! Hope to see you soon!
Joanne Cuevas
Give yourself enough time by starting early to plan each portfolio piece and get those references as soon as possible. For me, attending the portfolio review sessions was motivation to apply to the program.
I found it helpful for feedback to decide the most suitable pieces to include in my portfolio while also getting a feel for the work environment at Capilano University. If you still have questions, you can always reach out to the coordinators or students of IDEA School of Design. Lastly, don’t forget to get insight from others on your application before submitting and submit without expectations. It’ll be done before you know it, so enjoy the process and be proud of the work you’ve created!
Tobin Eckstein
Take the time to build some solid portfolio pieces – think beer label designs, editorial illustrations, book covers, etc. Connect with working artists and art instructors, ask for their critiques. Make sure you’re prepared to give up a lot of sleep and socialization; it’s worth it if this is really what you want to do.
Freya Emery
Feel free to get in touch with current students, alumni, and staff for any questions or worries you have. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and take risks, in both your art and your actions. But don’t forget to have fun and remember that if you choose to go into this Bachelor of Design program not only will you learn lots, but you’ll make a new family along the way. Happy Applying!
Aibhlin Fowlie
Open your brain, expect to learn a lot, learn how to take critiques, and don’t be afraid of going outside your comfort zone.
Tina Ganguly
IDEA School of Design’s Bachelor of Design program is a great place to explore your skills and different media and techniques. Try to experiment with different styles to build your portfolio.
Sarah Harley
Just do it. :)
Emma Heckman
Be open to exploring and trying all different types of art and design. If you are serious about applying to the IDEA School of Design, make sure to apply during the early admission period.
Vicky Hu
Use your resources wisely, whether these resources are connections with peers/teachers, or online/physical resources that are provided to you. Show your strongest points in your work and discover your path of focus through creating.
Chloe Khan
Make sure to go to the open houses, to make sure if this course is right for you. It is an amazing course but there is a whole lot of work and information. Also, try to learn how to give and take constructive criticism, it will greatly benefit you and your peers.
Valentina Kruglikovskaya
Drawing. Lots of drawing. Also, be prepared to forget all the social life you’ve had before. Saying that, get ready to make some new great friends who will teach you almost as much as your instructors through peer reviews.
Natasha Lee
Know what to expect in the program!
IDEA School of Design’s Bachelor of Design program is unique due to its mixture in both design and illustration, so if you already specialize in either design or illustration, I would highly suggest getting to know the opposite element before applying! This can be as simple as doing a little bit of research or making up some projects on your own to see if you would enjoy studying both fields!
Megan Lo
It's important to stay organized and use a calendar so you won’t miss any assignment due dates or important events. Make sure to overestimate how long a project might take you to avoid stressing out about all the work you’ve been procrastinating on. Networking will also help you get involved with the community and meet people who can help you after graduation. Lastly, just have fun and stay creative!
Michelle Lussier
Take the time to create a portfolio that you believe is strong but also one that you personally enjoy. All the pieces contained within the portfolio do not have to be perfect—IDEA School of Design is not looking for perfection, they’re looking for creativity.
Clarice Mah
I applied to the IDEA School of Design as an early applicant. Applying to this Bachelor of Design program was my highest priority, so I took the time to attend an info session and portfolio day, as well as life drawing classes. I learned from all these events, the Capilano website, and IDEA social media that the program looks for students who are curious, motivated, self-directed, and passionate learners. It was also important to present a versatile portfolio, so I included all of my best work using a wide range of mediums whether that be sculpture, watercolour, or digital work. It took me about a month to two months to fully complete my SlideRoom application including taking time out of my grade 12 year (I missed a week of school).
Kathleen Manuel
Portfolio building may seem intimidating, but I want to let you know now that you can have fun with it by creating things that you personally enjoy. Sketch some scenes while watching your favourite movie, go to your favourite bubble tea place and do some life drawings, the possibilities really are endless!
Imogen Pettyfer
When considering applying to the IDEA School of Design, the main thing to be aware of is that your classmates will have a huge impact on you during your four years here, either through support or light-hearted competition. Here in the Bachelor of Design program, we call ourselves the IDEA Family, closely interacting to help each other improve through the program in many different learning styles. You will find like-minded individuals with who you can connect with together and perhaps make lifetime friendships.
Arsheya Seraji
Get good at time management right away, because you’ll quickly realize things become way harder if you don’t.
Antonia Scott
Having pieces that are illustrative and displaying design work you have done is important for your portfolio, but so is your ability to work in different mediums and styles. This highlights your creativity and ability to ‘think outside the box.’ Try having a more varied portfolio. Being able to learn and experiment with new concepts, styles, and materials is an especially important skill to have when entering the IDEA School of Design.
Nuha Thayyib
My biggest advice to any incoming idea applicants is to not stress out, I believe that as long as you're putting your best work forward it will make the impact you want it to. I advise presenting a diverse portfolio that highlights your strengths; shows the use of different mediums, techniques and displays a range of experimentation. Personally, I used paintings done in both acrylic and watercolor, digital work including product branding and logo design, pencil drawings, henna, and I even submitted a project planning/brainstorming sheet to showcase my creative process. Another tip is to use the descriptions, I cannot stress this enough but never present your work without a brief summary of your process, pieces are way more recognized when viewers understand the story and process behind the final piece. Lastly, don’t be afraid to reach out, you can easily find all of us on Instagram (@ideatwentyfour), and just shoot us a DM! Good luck, I hope to see all of you on campus next year!
Vylan Tran
Research a lot about the IDEA School of Design to know whether it’s the right program for you and take a look at the IDEA blog or the Instagram pages to see what projects you’ll be working on during your time in the program. You might also find examples of portfolio pieces from students who were accepted into IDEA. Also, push yourself out of your comfort zone when creating your portfolio and experiment, a lot!
Jordan Van Bergen
Don’t be afraid to reach out to students and instructors in the IDEA School of Design and ask questions about anything and everything! Everybody is incredibly friendly and willing to support you and give advice. One of the best things about this program is being part of this tight-knit community of creative people.
Ethan Woronko
Create a diverse portfolio. Test out different styles, mediums, or subjects. In IDEA School of Design, experimenting and going out of your comfort zone is all too common so diversifying your talents is key.
Tiffany Zhong
Attend an info session and go to a portfolio review! It’s so useful to get an instructor from the Bachelor of Design program to look over your work because it’ll help you figure out what else you’ll need to fill out your portfolio. Also, stop overthinking it and just get drawing! Even if you don’t make it into IDEA School of Design, you’ll have a whole application experience under your belt for the next try.
Celina Zhong
When considering applying for the IDEA School of Design, do your research. Check out the Instagram page @capuidea and see how graduates of the program are doing. If IDEA seems like the right fit for you, compile a versatile portfolio. Ask yourself, does it showcase experimentation, creative and conceptual thinking, and execution skills? Don’t be afraid to ask for feedback, as you learn more from others than you do yourself. Lastly, do yourself a favour and start early!
