Welcome to the second issue of the Wilson School of Design Roundup; a compilation of updates, news and stories from across our design community. Have a story to share? Send us all the juicy details on our What’s The Scoop page. Subscribe to the Design Loop and you’ll always be in the know. Happy reading!
In This Issue
- Big Design News
- 2022 Greater Vancouver National Portfolio Day
- Volunteers Needed!
- Upcoming Events & Happenings
- Out & About
- As Seen on Campus
- Alumni Kudos
- Design Field Schools
- All-Things-KPU
Big Design News
Wilson School of Design is awarded $1 million NSERC research grant with the tireless efforts of passionate faculty Sue Fairburn, Sherman Jen Research Chair in Next-Generation Design Stephanie Phillips and Dean Andhra Goundrey. Several other faculty members contributed to the successful grant application, and will also be involved as we implement next steps: Jessica Bayntun, Victor Martinez, Iryna Karaush, Stephanie St. Loe, Erika Balcombe, Fergal Callahan (KPU Physics Dept) and recently retired faculty, Dan Robinson .
“We have a strong team that’s passionate about research,” says Andhra Goundrey, Dean of Wilson School of Design. “This will formalize our ability to expand our research capacity and build industry partnerships.” Read all about this exciting announcement here.
2022 National Portfolio Day hosted by Wilson School of Design at KPU
In-Person: Saturday November 5th, 11am to 3pm
We are so excited to have been selected (for the 3rd time) to host Western Canada’s only in-person National Portfolio Day event! As accredited members of the National Portfolio Day Association, we will welcome hundreds of high school students and those looking to apply to an art or design post-secondary program.
Taking place on our KPU Richmond Campus, (including our inspiring Design building), the purpose of this event is to provide valuable, one on one feedback to students as they prepare their portfolios. Art or Design programs typically require a portfolio for entry, so having a chance to meet one on one with school representatives provides students with invaluable direction, feedback and support. Over 25 institutions from across North America and Europe will be on hand to provide portfolio reviews and feedback to registered guests. Visiting schools include (for complete list visit our event webpage)
- Alberta University of the Arts
- College for Creative Studies
- Emily Carr University of Art + Design
- Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM
- New York School of Interior Design
- OCAD University
- Parsons School of Design/Parsons Paris at The New School
- Rhode Island School of Design
- School of the Art Institute of Chicago
- University of the Arts London
- Wilson School of Design at KPU
- York University
To register visit our event webpage here.
To learn more about the National Portfolio Day Association visit this page
Learn more about the event (filmed on our campus) in the video below.
Calling All Students! Volunteers Needed for National Portfolio Day
We are reaching out to our Wilson/KPU student community for your help as volunteers at the National Portfolio Day event on Saturday November 5th. Please consider giving a few hours of your time to help with one of our biggest and most exciting events. Volunteer roles include registration, check-in, school liaisons, crowd control, greeters and more. We will feed you, give you a free Wilson School of Design t-shirt, and you’ll feel good knowing you made a positive contribution to your design community. We’re looking for volunteers who are available from 8am to 12pm, 12pm to 4pm, or available for the whole day.
To sign up, just send us your name and availability to design@kpu.ca and we will get back to you!
Upcoming Events & Happenings
From National Portfolio Day to Design Career Expo, Information Sessions to Field Schools, check out some of our upcoming events and activities.
Our Fall series of Information Sessions are available for registration here, with more to come.
October Events
- October 14 – 4pm Virtual Portfolio Day
- October 20 – 11am Virtual Career Panel (Students & Alumni)
- October 21 – 9am THESA (Teachers of Home Economic Specialists)
- October 28 – 11am Design Career Expo (Students & Alumni)
- October 31 – 12pm Halloween On-Campus
October Information Sessions
- October 20 – 5pm Welcome to the Wilson School of Design
- October 20 – 6pm Fashion Marketing
- October 26 – 5pm Fashion & Technology
- October 26 – 4:30pm KPU: The Inside Scoop
November Events
- November 5 – 11am National Portfolio Day
- November 17 – 6pm Wilson School of Design Faculty Showcase
- November 20 – 3pm Virtual Portfolio Day
November Information Sessions
- November 17 – 6pm Fashion & Technology
- November 17 – 6pm Foundations in Design
- November 17 – 6pm Graphic Design for Marketing
- November 17 – 6pm Interior Design
- November 17 – 6pm How to Apply
- November 17 – 7pm Fashion Marketing
- November 17 – 7pm Foundations in Design
- November 17 – 7pm Product Design
- November 17 – 7pm Technical Apparel Design
- November 17 – 7pm How to Apply
Out And About
Interior Design Visits Museum of Anthropology
September 27 – Museum of Anthropology
1st Year Interior Design Students (Design Awareness 1) toured the Museum of Anthropology with a guide that shared with the group the complex task of designing for museum and exhibition spaces. They sketched and observed the collection of First Nations artifacts and toured the exhibitions ‘Xicanx’ and ‘In A Different Light- Reflecting on Northwest Coast Art’. They also had the opportunity to learn about and experience the vision architect Arthur Erikson had when designing the MOA and the future renovations plans for the site.
As Seen On Campus
Grads Give Back
Technical Apparel graduate, Hanae Yaskawa visited the DETA 5200 (Technical Apparel Design) class as a guest speaker on October 7th, 2022. As a Product Development Assistant with Arcteryx, Hanae shared her experience and perspective as a young professional in the technical apparel industry.
Hanae’s Red Dot Award-winning capstone project prior to graduation was the Resilience Climbing Pants, outdoor paraclimbing pants for climbers living with spinal cord injuries.
Mentors Connecting
“Our current fashion marketing students will be successful in a variety of career roles! On October 12th, France, Jess and Katrina, mentors and grads, detailed recent in person buying trips to NYC, post pandemic retail shifts and what skills and attributes local companies like @hillsdrygoods and @hillsofkerrisdale require!”
As posted on Fashion Marketing instructor Sharon Greeno’s Instagram account. Thanks for capturing and sharing these fantastic moments.
Alumni Kudos
We get pretty giddy over here when we learn of our grads being recognized and forging new paths in their careers. Plus, we love LinkedIn, because it keeps us up to date with our alumni! See below for alumni updates. Join us in a collective congratulations. And if you’re a WSD student, grad or faculty and have a LinkedIn account, be sure to choose Wilson School of Design as your place of work or study from your profile options.
Fashion Marketing Grads Taking Off!
Faculty members Jimmy Choi and Sharon Greeno visited 2019 Fashion Marketing graduate, Michael Bardaro, who recently opened a curated vintage store in New Westminster.
Uncommon Vintage is a boutique store that sells reworked and upcycled vintage, streetwear, and designer apparel and accessories. They strive to reduce textile waste and pollution while offering products at an inclusive price.
Visit Uncommon Vintage and support not just a graduate of the Wilson School of Design, but sustainability too.
Toby Russell
2016 Fashion & Technology Grad
Celebrating 4 years at Arc’teryx – Current Role: Senior Manager, Product Development
*Toby is also a member of the Advisory Committee for the Fashion & Technology program
Jordan Kidd
2021 Graphic Design for Marketing Grad
Celebrating 1 year at Herschel Supply Company as Junior Graphic Designer
Design Field Schools
As a polytechnic university, nothing could illustrate a polytechnic education like participating one of our International Field Schools. We are experts in hosting these global events and have been leaders at providing global experiences for many years. See below to learn about three exciting opportunities in 2023.
Our New York Field School, running from May 23 to June 1st, 2023, will have a fashion and apparel focus and will be taught in FASN 3900, a 3 credit, special topics course at KPU. In this field school, New York City will be our classroom. It will provide opportunities for participants to engage with the fashion industry on an international level. There have been a number of changes in the fashion industry resulting from the global pandemic and this will be a chance to explore and experience these industry shifts and changes firsthand on an international level in New York City. This field school is open to both KPU and non-KPU students. Not a KPU student but want to join in? Get in touch! Applications are now open.
December 1 – Applications Close
Interested in learning more? Details here
Over two weeks in Colombia (April 21 – May 3, 2023) you will visit significant cultural locations and design projects such as the Gold museum in Bogota historic centre, the modern city of Medellin, examples of vibrant contemporary Colombian design, bamboo architecture of the coffee region, and the historic walled city by the sea Cartagena. Through these excursions and guest lectures, you will gain insight into the history and culture of the region as well personal and global issues related to design. For more information visit this page. Application deadline December 1st.
Visit Colombia’s Amazon Rainforest and experience its rich biological and cultural diversity. After a cultural tour of Bogota, you will travel south to the Calanoa Natural Reserve where you will engage in creative activities, trek and canoe into the forest, and learn indigenous knowledge from local guides and shamans. This 6-credit course and field school uses an interdisciplinary approach to explore themes of sustainability, conservation, community development, and indigenous perspectives. Field school runs from May 5 to May 18, 2023. Applications close on December 1st. For more information visit this page.
All-Things-KPU
Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) will establish an office of anti-racism as its president promises to implement the recommendations of the institution’s Task Force on Anti-Racism (TFA).
The task force was established in July 2020 amidst global protests about race-based state violence. Today (Oct. 7), the task force presented its final report with 64 recommendations to address systemic racism. The recommendations function as both a call to action and a guide that will help the KPU community take ongoing, meaningful steps to transform the institution.
“This is a bold report which inspires an equally bold response,” says Dr. Alan Davis, KPU president and vice chancellor.
“I will do all I can to ensure that KPU will support the implementation of these recommendations.” President Alan Davis – Read the full story here
KPU Newsroom
The Great BC ShakeOut Drill takes place on Thursday, October 20, 2022 at 10:20am. The Office of Emergency Planning encourages the entire KPU community to participate in the drill for one minute.
The drill begins with the activation of KPU’s emergency notification system. If you are on campus, alarms will sound for 60 seconds from the yellow Emergency Beacons and you will receive a desktop notification. If you have downloaded the KPU Safe App you will also receive a push notification through your phone.
How can you participate?
- When you hear the alarms and/or you receive a push notification on your phone, drop to the ground, take cover under a table or desk and hold on for 60 seconds as if a real earthquake was occurring.
- While taking cover, look around and imagine what would happen in a major earthquake. What would fall? What would be damaged? What steps can be taken to make your environment safer? Consider what to do after the shaking stops.
- After the drill, have a colleague take your picture or take a selfie of you taking ‘cover and holding on’ under a table or desk and send to the Office of Emergency Planning for a chance to win an emergency preparedness kit.
If you have any questions about emergency preparedness at KPU, contact the Office of Emergency Planning.
For more information on the Great BC ShakeOut and for other resources visit ShakeOut BC and Prepared BC.
