Welcome to the first Roundup issue of the 2023/24 academic year! This first month has kicked off with a bang, and our hallways are filled once again with the buzz of student activity.
We started the new year off with some wonderful events like our New Student Orientation, which welcomed the newest of our incoming students to the Wilson School of Design family.
Our programs held “vertical start-up” studios, which means that students from all program years collaborated on some challenging games and activities together. The Technical Apparel program had a successful ‘camp-out’ where students from both cohorts participated in their annual camping trip. But, of course, it couldn’t be that easy could it? The students were required to build their own tents/sleeping structures with limited supplies such as plastic sheets, tape, string and bamboo sticks! Talk about embodying the West Coast lifestyle.
Our Mindful Campus Initiative also kicked off, and various events such as Mindful Tea Experiences and Mindful Gathering Spaces were a success. Read more about this wonderful program here.
We are excited to open our applications for the 2024/25 academic year on October 1, and look forward to hearing from and meeting with the next generation of WSD students! Come meet our students and learn about our programs at the KPU Surrey Open House on Saturday, October 14, and register to attend and win great prizes! Thank you for reading our Design Loop, we love to share with you.
In This Issue:
- Scene and Heard
- Faculty Spotlights
- Awards
- Alumni Kudos
- Upcoming Events
- As Seen On Social
MEET Emilia Steinbock – Exchange Student FROM SWEDEN
Meet Emilia Steinbock, a visiting student from Sweden, who is spending two semesters studying at The Wilson School of Design at KPU.
Steinbock arrived in January to study Technical Apparel Design where she’s further developed her idea for an avalanche airbag vest for women, a design well-suited for backcountry skiers. It’s now piqued the interest of Arc’teryx, a North Vancouver-based brand known for its leading innovations in climbing, skiing, and alpine technologies.
“It’s always hard for female athletes to find something that actually fits them well because the back is usually too long, and the straps aren’t properly adjustable for a female body. That’s where my product comes in. I’m developing a valuable product with the female as the standard that later can be developed into a unisex product.”
Emilia steinbock
Steinbock is studying Sustainable Fashion Technology at Copenhagen School of Design and Technology in Denmark. She is a lifelong skier and hopes to put her skills to use after graduation at a firm such as Arc’teryx, which has already given her positive feedback on her design.
Read the full story at KPU Newsroom
FASHION MARKETING STUDENT FEATURED in MUSEUM OF VANCOUVER EXHIBIT
Nina Rozin, a second year Fashion Marketing student, and an accomplished shoe designer, was one of a diverse group of 31 emerging and seasoned local designers and makers who were selected to create 22 objects made from vintage mahogany provided by the Museum of Vancouver. Reclaim + Repair: The Mahogany Project, curated by Propellor Studio, in collaboration with Museum of Vancouver, celebrated the creativity and craft of Vancouver’s design community, while engaging with questions central to the role of design in advancing sustainability as well as social and environmental justice. The exhibit ran until August, 2024.
Mahogony wood is such a wonder to work with. Each layer of this modern interpretation of the Chopine platform shoe, was made from a reclaimed, 100 year-old, piece of Mahogony wood. The difference in color is part of the natural look of the wood, so dramatic and majestic.
Nina rozin
Nina is no stranger to the spotlight, as she was the 1st place winner in the 2023 Upcycled Design Competition. For the competition, the Wilson School of Design partnered with Our Social Fabric, a non-profit textile recycling organization.
Participants were invited to create a three-dimensional design using recycled textiles and found objects, with the goal of making the world a better place.
Rozin, an international student from Israel, is a graduate of the London College of Fashion and is now furthering her education at KPU by studying fashion marketing. Nina created heeled boots from scratch using upcycled denim. She was inspired by French designer Roger Vivier who often worked with fabric; she wanted to elevate denim as it was originally used for workwear. It is also a very wasteful material during production, so she repurposed it to spread awareness about the fashion industry’s impact.
The shoes grabbed the attention of Gloria Macarenko of CBC where Nina was interviewed about the completion and her shoes that were on display at the Museum of Vancouver. Listen to the interview here!
“It’s inspiring to think about how [we can] portray through fashion the idea of small steps leading to something bigger and better for all of us”
Nina Rozin, CBC Radio
STudents Out and about – Museum of Vancouver
1st year Interior Design students had a guided tour of the Museum of Vancouver: ‘c̓əsnaʔəm the city before the city’, ‘That Which Sustains Us’ and other exhibitions for their Design Awareness course.
FACULTY PRESENTS AT Barcelona Design Conference
Our very own Sue Fairburn (Product Design Faculty & WSD Research) had the opportunity to travel to Barcelona at the beginning of September for a design conference. Read about her experience below!
“Attending a conference the first week of class is a crazy idea because it involves preparing your lectures and reaching out to students across time zones. But, it’s also an amazing way to start the term, to get perspectives on design education and to share some of the learnings that arise from projects within WSD. So – off I went to Spain.”
“I’d always wanted to visit Elisava – a Design & Engineering Design school in Old Barcelona – and we’ve had students from Elisava come to our program on international exchanges”
Sue Fairburn
Why Barcelona?
“Well – I was there to present a paper co-authored with Susan Christianen (Iceland/Analogue Astronaut) and Bailee van Rikxoort (Product Design Alumni of WSD). The paper was about a project that generated ways to extend learning through extreme contexts. In this case, a Lava Tube in Iceland is an analogue environment for The Moon. “
“The conference was the 25th International Engineering & Product Design Education conference on ‘Responsible innovation for Global Cohabitation’. The paper was a Case study about the FULLAIR / ECHO project (2021 – Year 3 Product Design Students) where a team of 10 students researched, designed and prototyped an inflatable habitat for a crew of 3 Analogue Astronauts to stay 2 nights in a Lava Tube in Iceland.”
“All of this was in partnership with a group of young scientists /grad students working with the European Space Agency on a project known as CHILL-Ice. We all learned so much through the project – both students and faculty and writing and presenting the paper was insightful and satisfying, as it provided the opportunity to reflect and frame our learnings, then share those learnings and engage with other Design Educators. It also all relates to one of the research themes in Research and Design (RAD) at KPU’s Wilson School of Design. “
“Thank you to the RAD for the Knowledge Mobilization support to attend and present the paper.”
Reach out to Sue Fairburn if you’d like to learn more about this project or to get involved in this area of design!
New Book Collaboration – Victor G. Martinez
Victor G. Martinez (Product Design Faculty) recently had the opportunity to collaborate on a book Feminist Designer On the Personal and the Political in Design. Congratulations Victor!
In ‘On being a male feminist designer,’ Victor G. Martinez explores his journey towards understanding feminist issues in design and the role men can play in promoting change. He highlights the complexity of privilege and power dynamics, emphasizing that discrimination is often experienced at the intersection of multiple identities. Martinez’s awakening to gender inequalities occurs through personal experiences and stories of women facing discrimination, harassment, and assault. His realization extends to design when he discovers the lack of female representation in ergonomics data, leading to potential safety issues for women in car design. Martinez draws parallels between feminism and Indigenous cultures, identifying shared values of collaboration and context in both. In his Design Studio course, Victor challenges traditional design principles by prioritizing empowerment, collaboration, respect, authenticity, and equity. The essay also addresses opposition to feminism and encourages action to amplify marginalized voices.
Martinez concludes by providing actionable steps for male feminist designers, emphasizing the importance of confronting toxic behaviours, recognizing systemic barriers, listening to women, gathering diverse data, attending relevant conferences, and creating opportunities for marginalized voices. Overall, Martinez’s essay underscores the need for male allies in feminism and the transformation of design practices toward greater equity and social consciousness. It calls for introspection, active engagement, and collaboration to create a more just world.
WESTERN LIVING DESIGNER OF THE YEAR – JAMIE DAWES
Congratulations to Jamie Dawes, a 2016 Fashion and technology graduate, for being named one of Western Living’s Designers of the Year! Jamie started her low-waste apparel brand Fyoocher in 2020. Her designs and brand has been named “One to Watch!”
Interior Design Students Win IDC PROPEL AWARDS
Congratulations to Josh Swanson & Alyssa Scott, 4th year Interior Design students, announced as two of the first group of 2023 Propel Emerging Leaders Program Participants.
Propel is a national competition created exclusively for emerging leaders, providing the opportunity for engagement in discussions and connections with influential representatives in the interior design community.
Selected participants are invited to attend the 2023 IDC Design Symposium and will have the opportunity to hear inspiring keynote presentations and panel discussions, and network with their peers, industry professionals, and the IDC board.
In addition, each participant will be announced as part of a promotional series on IDC’s social media platforms, in newsletters, and honoured at the IDC Annual General Meeting on Oct. 27, 2023.
Innovation in Design Thinking Student Competition Award of Merit – Alyssa Scott
This awards program was created exclusively for Canadian interior design students. The purpose of the Innovation in Design Thinking: Student Competition is to provide students with a national platform to demonstrate the value of interior design and illustrate the positive impact design has on the users of the spaces, supported by evidence-based research.
Below is Alyssa Scott‘s winning piece ‘Yúustway Healing Center; to take care of one another/each other.’ Congratulations Alyssa!
Caprice Succurro – 2023 Fashion Marketing Grad
Congrats on starting a new role as Associate Merchandising Manager at Aritzia!
Cassidy Jarosinski – 2021 Interior Design Grad
Congrats on obtaining your NCIDQ (National Council for Interior Design Qualification) Certification!
Chelsea Manansala – 2018 Fashion and Tech Student
Congrats on starting a new position as a Designer at Lululemon!
Destiny Lang – Current Fashion and Technology Student
Congrats on starting a new position as Pride Peer Leader with the Student Health Promotion department at Kwantlen Polytechnic University!
Jacqueline McComb – 2015 Fashion Marketing Grad
Congratulations to Jacqueline McComb on her new position as Graphic Designer at DarkRoast Design!
Justyna Lam – 2023 Fashion Design and Tech Grad
Congrats on starting a new position as a Junior Technical Developer at Sugarhouse Creative!
Kiran Karwal – 2022 Interior Design Grad
Congrats on starting your Master’s degree in Ephemeral Architecture at ELISAVA in Barcelona, Spain!
Maggie Wong – 2017 Fashion and Tech Grad
Congrats on starting a new position as Associate Technical Designer at Aritzia!
Marlo De Vaal – 2023 Fashion Marketing Grad
Society for the Museum of Original Costume (SMOC) Board Member Published in Clothes Line Finds
Natasha Quiring – 2023 Interior Design Grad
Congrats on starting a new position as a Junior Interior Designer at CHIL Interior Design!
Zachary Chao – 2023 Fashion and Tech Grad
Congrats on starting a new position as an Assistant Technical Developer on the Mainline Women’s Performance Team at Lululemon!
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Saturday, September 30, 2023
Each year, September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
The day honours the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process.
We encourage our community to find a local event to participate in and discover how to observe this vital day. Here’s a list of events taking place in the Lower Mainland.
While this video below was shared for last year’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the messages still ring true. Take a few moments to watch.
Join us for the KPU Open House! There’s so much for you to discover.
Know someone interested in Design? Come meet with us, connect with our students, learn about our programs…and make a custom button while you’re there! At Kwantlen Polytechnic University, we’re home to many programs and courses you can’t find at other institutions. Join us at the Surrey campus and get to know our faculty, students, and staff as they share hands-on demos and engaging stories. Representatives from the Future Students’ Office and KPU International will be on hand to answer all your questions and to help with your application. Registered guests will be entered to win incredible prizes, including free tuition! Apart from the Wilson School of Design, attendees will have a chance to tour the campus and learn about over 120 programs available at KPU.
Information Sessions
We kick off the recruitment season with several Information Sessions. Stay tuned as more sessions are announced.
Technical Apparel Design – Tuesday, October 3, 7:00pm-8:00pm
For International Students Only
This information session is hosted by KPU International and will focus on the specifics required to apply to the Technical Apparel program as an international student. To attend, please email us, and we will respond with a Zoom Link.
Interior Design – Wednesday, October 18, 5:30pm – 7:00pm
On campus – Wilson School of Design (5600 Kwantlen St, Richmond, BC)
Wilson School of Design – Thursday, October 26, 5:00pm – 6:00pm
Online – Join us to learn about our programs, resources and the many exciting opportunities to future-proof your design education. Register here.
National Portfolio Day Saturday, November 18, 11am to 3pm
The Wilson School of Design is thrilled to once again be named as host for the Greater Vancouver National Portfolio Day event on Saturday, November 18.
If you know someone who is thinking of pursuing a post-secondary education in art or design, they will likely have to include a portfolio of their work, as part of their application. The National Portfolio Day events provide students with a unique opportunity to meet one-on-one with professional representatives. These reps are there to answer questions about their programs, and most importantly, give feedback on how to improve a portfolio so it will be a successful part of their application.
Participating schools at our event:
- Alberta University of the Arts
- ArtCenter College of Design
- California College of the Arts
- College for Creative Studies
- Concordia University
- Emily Carr University of Art + Design
- KPU Entertainment Arts
- NSCAD University
- OCAD University
- Otis College of Art and Design
- Pacific Northwest College of Art at Willamette University
- Parsons School of Design/Parsons Paris at The New School
- Ringling College of Art & Design
- School of the Art Institute of Chicago
- School of Visual Arts
- University of the Arts London
- Wilson School of Design at KPU
Learn more about the event and register here.
We love to follow the online posts of our students, faculty and alumni. Here are a few really cool posts!
Interior Design Field Trip to Avenue Road Furniture
“Thank you @sandra.kalil and team at @avenueroadfurniture for having us in your beautiful showroom (designed by @ac.do) today. Our students left feeling informed and inspired. @markwpritchard @wilsondesignkpu @sandra_bitelli @kwantlenu“
Seng Sengsavanh, Interior Design Faculty
Married Interior Design Alumni Debut at IDS Conference
Mike Lukowski and Yvonne Lukowski, married Interior Design grads, debuted their new design collection of mushroom stools at the interior design conference for their brand Pause Company!
“We’re thrilled to announce our debut at the prestigious @idsvancouver design show! Get ready to immerse yourself in the world of design as we unveil our latest masterpiece – the Cork Mushroom Stool!
Our Cork Mushroom Stool is a fusion of nature and craftsmanship, embodying the beauty of sustainable design. Its unique form and eco-friendly materials make it a must-have for any design enthusiast.”
See more at pausecompany.com!
Technical Apparel Camping trip
“Design begins with connections… people, materials, environment. First and second year #DETA Design for Technical Apparel students start their year with a build your tent and camp out night so last night they gathered, collaborated, built, wandered and slept… and for some it was their first time camping! Thanks for organizing @demolition!”
Sue Fairburn, Design Faculty
“Designing a shelter- Design for Technical Apparel 2023 camping trip @wilsondesignkpu. This is what our cohort start-up looks like.”
Jessica Bayntun, Technical Apparel Faculty
Interior Design Alumni Reunion
” We were thrilled to join the Interior Design Class of ’93 for their 30-year reunion celebration on Friday, June 16th! The group gathered on campus at the Wilson School of Design, and enjoyed a tour of the now 5-year-old building (with a trip down memory lane to see their old classrooms)!
It was wonderful to see the bond they have with each other and with @KwantlenU is as strong as ever.”
Have a scoop for us? We’d love to hear from you. Use our What’s The Scoop Form to share your stories with us! Or, feel free to reach out to Communications & Events Coordinator, Gabrielle Durning by email.
