The KPU Wilson School of Design ranked 3rd in Canada according to the 2026 list of Top 10 Design Schools released by The Association of Registered Graphic Designers (RGD), Canada’s largest professional association for graphic designers.
The ranking was determined by the work of Graphic Design for Marketing students who participated in the 2025 RGD Student Awards, the nation’s largest professional design competition.
Wilson School of Design had 2 Winners and 11 Honourable Mentions from 10 students who submitted 33 entries.
Graphic Design Graduate Rowena Huang reflects on the positive impact attending the KPU Wilson School of Design had.
“When researching schools with design programs in the Vancouver area, the Wilson School of Design stood out. The main aspect of the program that caught my attention was the small cohort size—it wasn’t going to be a lecture hall filled with students and professors who didn’t know your name. As someone who feared getting lost in the masses and occasionally needed personal guidance and reassurance, this was especially important to me. Having now completed the program, I can confirm that my reasons for applying were absolutely valid.”
My relationships with my instructors were immensely valuable—they didn’t just teach, but also mentored, supported and encouraged us, equipping us with hard skills while also creating real pathways for success.
Rowena Huang — Associate RGD
“The relationships within my cohort were just as meaningful—we became each other’s support systems, proving that classmates are your first professional network. In the fourth year, the program includes a built-in three-week internship with a local agency or in-house team. My own post-grad job came from a contact I made during this process—they reached out nearly a year later when a full-time position opened up.”
“I had many incredible instructors and I’m immensely grateful to each one of them. I had a number of thoughtful conversations with Michael Cober. Beyond critiquing my work and providing guidance, Mike always made sure we were supported—whether this meant breaking down proper time management, discussing how to demand monetary compensation or simply checking in to make sure each of us was doing okay. He was always a steady voice of reason and reassurance.”
Wilson School of Design 2025 RGD Student Awards:
Winners:
Cody Garcia: City of Nanaimo – Award for Brand Design
Honourable Mentions:
Cody Garcia: Expose Films – Award for Brand Design
Eva Morenets: Loud Mixers – Award for Brand Design
Oleksandra Polska: Wink Lingerie – Award for Brand Design
Arnold Chan: RedBud Hong Kong Culture Magazine – Award for Editorial Design
Cody Garcia: Beyond Borders: Uniting Nations in Space – Award for Information Design
Eva Morenets: REI – Award for Logo Design
Julianna Mayan: Waybeam – Award for Packaging Design (Single)
Oleksandra Polska: Amongst The Shadows – Award for Placemaking Design
Rowena Huang: Out of Sight – Award for Storytelling
Rowena Huang: Out of Sight – Award for Social Good Design
Oleksandra Polska: Wink Lingerie – Award for Social Good Design
The Graphic Design program offers students the opportunity to learn how to meet the needs of a creative brief, create branding, advertising, and marketing campaigns, and understand and convey the business strategies behind every project. Students can expect to be mentored by professionals, build a solid portfolio, and exhibit their hard work in a final showcase frequented by industry professionals.
By the end of four years, graduates will have the conceptual and technical skills to tackle real-world design challenges, the people skills and negotiation savvy to work with clients and team members alike, and the confidence to continue exploring their creative future.
Explore the work of our Graphic Design students here.
Read the article from RGD: Top 10 Design Schools Based on the 2025 RGD Student Awards
