Another Fall semester has flown by, and we have wrapped up 2024 with a bang! We’ve seen such an incredible range of boundary-pushing projects and presentations across all 8 of our programs.
Our studios, workshops and labs have been alive with activity since September! We want to celebrate all the hard work of our students and faculty with a recap of some of the amazing things accomplished this semester. 2025 promises to bring many exciting events and initiatives to life, along with this year’s Grad Show in April. Stay tuned for many wonderful stories ahead. Happy New Year from all of us at the Wilson School of Design!
Events + News
WSD New Student Orientation (Aug 27)
We kicked off the school year with a WSD Orientation Session at the Richmond Campus, welcoming all new Design students with introductions to staff and faculty and providing them with helpful information to set them up for a successful academic journey at the school. The session included the “WSD Design IQ Showdown”, a fun game that tested students’ design knowledge with trivia questions and challenges.
Interior Design Startup Week (Sept 3)
Interior Design students from all years worked together in groups on a 10-page brief to redesign the lobby and social house of the outdated Bamfield Pavilion in the Vancouver General Hospital campus. They then presented their final design solutions. (Images from @v.studydesigns on Instagram)
Dr. Herbert Grüner – New Design University (Sept 16)
What a pleasure to host Dr. Herbert Grüner, the Rector of New Design University, our respected partner institution in Austria. Dr. Grüner spent the week at KPU engaging in insightful discussions with students and faculty. The Student Exchange Agreement between our institutions was officially renewed, solidifying our ongoing partnership.
Conscious Fashion Convention (Sept 17)
The Wilson School of Design, alongside the Future Students’ Office, attended the Conscious Fashion Convention with an exhibitor booth, promoting our apparel programs and bringing awareness to our initiatives in creating a more ethical and sustainable fashion future. The event was organized by Threading Change, a youth-led not-for-profit organization that aims to address systemic injustices and inequities in the fashion industry. (Image from Instagram by @bcapparelandgearassociation)
Technical Apparel Design Canoe Trip (Sept 27)
Technical Apparel students launched the Fall semester with a group paddling trip in Deep Cove. What a wonderful way to welcome the new cohort of creatives! (Image from @normand_brouillette on Instagram)
KPU Open House (Oct 5)
Wilson School of Design was excited to take part in this year’s Open House at the Surrey campus, engaging with the community through conversations around design and our 8 programs, as well as with a fun friendship bracelet-making activity.
Halloween (Oct 31)
This spooky season students and faculty alike dressed in costume, and participated in a Halloween candy bag hunt around the Richmond WSD campus. Interior Design students organized a Halloween movie marathon in the Crit Space.
Creative Connections (Nov 2)
This free, collaborative event showcased programs in KPU’s Wilson School of Design and the Faculty of Arts. Creative Connections featured portfolio pit-stops and reviews, info sessions, hands-on workshops led by faculty, campus tours, interactive demos and an opportunity to connect with alumni working in creative industries.
Mau: Design the time of your life (Nov 12)
Mau: Design the time of your life was screened in the WSD for faculty and students. Mau is the first-ever, feature-length documentary about the design visionary Bruce Mau. The film explores his unlikely creative journey and ever-optimistic push to tackle the world’s biggest problems with design.
Vancouver Indigenous Fashion week (Nov 20-23)
Pam Himikalas Baker, the first Indigenous Designer in Residence at the Wilson School of Design, showed her newest collection at Vancouver Indigenous Fashion week. (Photo by @allenlau.photography, from @himikalas on Instagram)
Rising Women in Leadership (Nov 27)
This event was part of a KPU Melville School of Business Student Pitch Competition which aimed to engage students in interdisciplinary networking and provide insight into what it takes to innovate in today’s marketplace alongside celebrated alumni. Wilson School of Design alums Sara Jonsdottir with her business Revol Cares, and Jade Crabbe creator of Green Jade Interiors talked about their experiences as entrepreneurs.
Mahogany Chair Project
The second-year product design students crafted beautiful chairs by upcycling reclaimed mahogany wood. Their projects will be showcased in an exhibit at the Museum of Vancouver this year! (Photos by @iIrynakaraush on Instagram)
New Website Launch
This winter we launched thisiswilson.design, our new website where visitors can explore project showcases, stay up to date on the latest news and activities, and get inspired by the power of design. We are glad you are here!
Student Wellness
Bannock & Tea (Sept 26)
The Wilson School of Design honoured Truth & Reconciliation Day with a small gathering offering tea and bannock courtesy of West Coast Bannock. Students were also encouraged to leave a message on a Truth & Reconciliation board, commenting on what the day means to them.
Bath Bomb Workshop (Oct 9)
We were pleased to collaborate with the KPU Peer Wellness Team on hosting a 2-hour bath bomb workshop for Thrive Month, promoting positive health and wellness among students, staff and faculty at WSD and KPU.
Candles & Cocoa (Nov 27)
We brought back some of our favourite Mindful Campus activities including the hot cocoa bar and candle making to celebrate the season. Students sipped on festive drinks while creating their own beeswax candles.
Student Awards
Avery Sims, 2nd-year Fashion Marketing
Congratulations on winning the Y.P. Heung Student Exploration Award!
Erika Goguen, 3rd-year Interior Design
Congratulations on receiving the annual Quarterhorse solutions award for design innovation for your project!
Destiny Lang, 3rd-year Fashion and Technology
Congratulations to Destiny for receiving the KPU Pride Advocacy Award! Lang received the award for their 2SLGBTQIA+ advocacy, which helped secure gender-affirming care coverage for KPU students through the Kwantlen Student Association health and dental plan.
“The Pride Advocacy Award is an undeniable reminder of how important it is to keep advocating for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community,” says Lang. “Queer individuals have to fight especially hard for human rights, not only to get them but also to ensure they’re not taken away.”
Georgia Stone, 4th-year Graphic Design for Marketing
Congratulations on your honourable mention for the 2024 DesCan Vancouver Jim Rimmer Scholarship Awards!
Natalie Morton, 2nd-year Fashion Marketing
Congratulations on winning the Turnabout Award!
Paulina Jaszczewska, 4th-year Interior Design
Congratulations on winning the BermanFalk Design Inspiration Scholarship and your feature on NEWH Vancouver!
Rowena Huang, 4th-year Graphic Design for Marketing
Congratulations on winning on of the 2024 DesCan Vancouver Jim Rimmer Scholarship Awards for your project Innovate to Educate! The project includes a website and other materials supporting the United Nations’ International Day of the Girl Child, a day dedicated to celebrating the voices and power of girls, championing their rights worldwide and reflecting on the challenges they continue to face because of their gender.
Veronika Kansaka, 4th-year Graphic Design for Marketing
Congratulations on your honourable mention for the 2024 DesCan Vancouver Jim Rimmer Scholarship Awards!
Plan Your Space Design Challenge 2024
Congratulations to all of the finalists for the Plan Your Space Design Challenge including Aevin Kumar, Aimee Karlica, Erika Gogen, and Mai Hassoun!
Featured:
- – Events + News
- – Student Wellness
- – Student Awards
- – Faculty Spotlight
- – Alumni Kudos
Faculty Spotlight
Erin Ashenhurst, Graphic Design for Marketing
Congratulations to Erin for her feature in the book Fire Season III! The book is a collection of visual arts, photography, poetry and essays that creatively explore the aftermath of the MC Dougall creek wildfire in West Kelowna in 2023. Below is a photo called ‘It’s Nothing’ by Erin Ashenhurst that captures four kids playing on a beach, while across the water, the hillside smoulders.
Iryna Karaush, Product Design
Congratulations on completing your Master of Business Administration – MBA at Sustainability Management School (SUMAS)!
Lesley Pollard, Fashion and Technology
Congratulations to Lesley for completing her Master of Arts in Environmental Education and Communication! Lesley is an amazing advocate for sustainability and brings her visions and learnings to everything she does including co-leading our Upcycled Design Competition with her knowledge of the Gaia Theory.
Lindsay Norris, Product Design
Congratulations on completing your Master of Business Administration in Sustainable Fashion Management at Sustainable Management School (SUMAS)!
Natasha Campbell, Foundations in Design, Program Chair
Congratulations to Natasha for her nominations at Vancouver Fashion Week for an Industry Originator Award in the teacher category! Natasha leads from her heart, has made countless positive impacts on our students and brings new ideas and innovation to the Wilson School of Design all the time. She also moderated the Rising Women in Leadership event sharing and celebrating what makes women unique, forward-thinking, and successful. The event was a great success; we are so grateful for you Natasha!
Sue Fairburn, Product Design
Congratulations to Sue and she embarks on an exciting Education and Research Leave this 2024/2025 academic year. Her journey started with a 3-week residency at Spaces House Himalayas. As part of her own research in New Extremes, she’ll be wandering on land, learning from communities and investigating climate, ecology and the body in relation to weather and the local environment. Sue will also be visiting Educational Institutions and meeting with Faculty in India and Austria during her travels. We are so happy to support Sue on this educational adventure!
Victor Martinez, Product Design
Congratulations to Victor on receiving one of KPU’s ‘Chancellor’s Chair’ awards. This 3-year $60,000 grant will further Victor’s work on Systemic Design for sustainable development. Victor and his FutureXplorations Research Group are focusing on community-based research to untangle complex challenges to help fix anything from adapting farming practices, so they are more resilient to addressing economic inequalities within the community!
Alumni Kudos
- Alex Wyse, Fashion and Technology, 2022
- Congratulations on your first collection with MEC debuting in-stores!
- Bella Sanchez, Graphic Design for Marketing, 2024
- Congratulations on your awards including the Trailblazer Award by RGD Canada, The Global Creative Finalist with Arts Thread, and an honourable Mention for the DesCan Jim Rimmer Awards!
- Brianna Hernandez Bevan, Fashion Marketing, 2024
- Congratulations on your new position as Assistant Merchandiser at Gordon Fabrics Ltd!
- Cali Martin, Graphic Design for Marketing, 2023
- Congratulations on all the recognition for your project for Van Westen Estate Vineyards done here at The Wilson School of Design including winning one of the 2024 Pentawards Silver Award and 1st Place with Dieline!
- Gaby Hébert, Technical Apparel, 2020
- Congratulations to you and your team on the launch of Mustang Survival’s EP 6.5 Ocean Collection!
- Hailey Bassiri, Interior Design, 2024
- Congratulations on receiving the Sandy Fraser Endowed Award for Outstanding Design from the Wilson School of Design!
- Hailey Bell, Interior Design, 2024
- Congratulations on your winning entry for Interior Designers of Canada 2024 Innovation in Design Thinking Student Competition!
- Hanna Story, Fashion and Technology, 2024
- Congratulations on being in the top five finalists for the 2024 Canadian Arts & Fashion Awards in the student category!
- Kitty Chen, Interior Design, 2024
- Congratulations on winning the AWMAC BC KPU Student Millwork Design Award!
- Leanne Babcook, Interior Design, 2019
- Congratulations to you and your team at Earls Kitchen + Bar for receiving the IDC Value of Design Award (VODA) Honourable Mention for Innovation in Hospitality Design for ‘Yorkville Earls Restaurant + Bar’!
- Lexi Chang, Fashion and Technology, 2021
- Congratulations on showcasing your collection for HAZI HAUS at Vancouver Fashion Week!
- Selmaire Barnard, Interior Design, 2019
- Congratulations on your NCIDQ certification from CIDQ (Council for Interior Design Qualification)!
- Shannon Savage, Fashion and Technology, 2004
- Congratulations to you and your team at Left on Friday for designing the Olympic Swimsuits worn by the Canadian Beach Volleyball Team for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris!
- Zia Somjee (2015) and Kristian Hay (2014), Graphic Design for Marketing
- Congratulations to both of these grads and co-founders of the uber-successful Zak Creative Agency, and for speaking at Type Brigade, part of this year’s Design Vancouver Festival!
Upcoming
We have so much to look forward to in the new Spring semester! On January 28th, we are hosting on-campus informational sessions for all 8 of our programs. (Join us here). Come learn about our programs, tour the campus, and get tips on building your portfolio. February is an exciting month as some students will walk the stage to graduate at the KPU Surrey Campus for their convocation ceremony. Graduates will later show off their amazing work and finished portfolios at the 2025 Grad Showcase in April hosted at Wilson School of Design KPU Richmond campus. We hope to see you there!
Our Field Schools are an amazing way for our current students to take their studies outside of the classroom. Field Schools are exciting opportunities that involve travelling with a group of fellow students to another country and then studying a topic there in depth. It’s also a great chance to see if you’d like to take part in longer exchange programs! Learn more about what KPU International offers here.
