Our campus is supported by our extraordinary Student Assistants – come meet them for yourself! We wanted to give them a spotlight as we head into the new year, as they are working hard behind the scenes to ensure our faculty and students are supported within the building.
This is the third and final part of our Student Assistant spotlight series that took place each Friday this March. We have several types of Student Assistant positions throughout our campus such as Communications and Event Assistants, Lab Coordinator Assistants, Research Assistants, and the Mindful Campus Ambassadors.
This final post highlights our Lab Assistants! These students work in and around our various labs on campus and assist Faculty in preparing for their classes.
We asked our Student Assistants the following questions:
What is your role as a student assistant? What is your favourite part about your role?
What made you choose your particular design focus?
What is your dream job?
Out of all the projects you have completed in your program, which one has been your favourite and why?
We hope you enjoy getting to know our team!
STUDENT ASSISTANTS
Clara Devina— Fashion and Technology, Third-Year
Student Assistant
What is your role as a student assistant? What is your favourite part about your role?
I am working on reorganizing and cataloguing the Wilson School of Design’s garment archive to create a more accessible resource where students can find reference garments and patterns. Our goal is to create an online archive where students can more easily view and access all the design references, even from off-campus.
What made you choose your particular design focus?
I chose Fashion and Technology as I was always interested in how designers/pattern makers constructed their garments. Moreover, during 2020, activewear became a massive trend everywhere which pushed me to seek and learn further about other kinds of fashion.
What is your dream job?
For now, I do not have a definite answer for it but, I would enjoy working in a place where I can constantly grow and be open to any opportunities.
Out of all the projects you have completed in your program, which one has been your favourite and why?
Out of all the projects I have done, my favourite would be the tech jacket as I learned a lot about pattern-making, prototyping, problem-solving, etc in that class. Moreover, I felt accomplished being able to do something I never thought I would be able to do.
David Henke — Fashion and Technology, Forth-Year
Student Assistant
What made you choose your particular design focus?
I just received my diploma in Fashion Apparel and Technology and now I am here at the Wilson School of Design to learn about fashion design.
How do you spend your free time outside of school?
In my free time, I enjoy sewing and creating garments from scratch, this also includes everything from making slopers, to pattern drafting, and fittings. I hope that I will be able to use my knowledge to help anyone who needs it this year.
Emma Juhala — Fashion and Technology, Third-Year
Student Assistant
What is your role as a student assistant? What is your favourite part about your role?
I am working on reorganizing and cataloguing the Wilson School of Design’s garment archive to create a more accessible resource where students can find reference garments and patterns. Our goal is to create an online archive where students can more easily view and access all the design references, even from off-campus.
What made you choose your particular design focus?
I initially joined Fashion & Tech because fashion was how I liked to express myself creatively, but I stuck around because I grew to enjoy the more technical aspects of apparel design: Line drawings, prototyping or anything that requires more of a problem-solving mentality.
What is your dream job?
Student Assistant (livin the dream)
Out of all the projects you have completed in your program, which one has been your favourite and why?
So far, my favourite project was making a tech jacket in the technical apparel class. I rank it on top because it helped me realize how much I enjoy the nitty-gritty-prototypey part of the design process. Turns out, I actually like having to look at a project from seven different angles to figure out what I did wrong.
Heidi Wilson — Fashion and Technology, Second-Year
Student Assistant
What is your role as a student assistant? What is your favourite part about your role?
My role as a student assistant entails many different kinds of tasks – no shift is ever the same! Regular tasks can include tidying labs, organizing materials, and fixing machines, but most of the time, I handle specific, one-time projects as they arise. For example, some of my recent assignments included creating tailoring samples for a style production course, digitizing and refining pattern pieces for mannequin covers, and sewing tote bags for faculty gifts – student assistants truly do it all which is why I love this job! My favourite part of this role would definitely be helping other students and staff members; I have found that my position as a student assistant has connected me more with my peers and has allowed me to positively contribute to the school’s community which is very important to me.
What made you choose your particular design focus?
I have always been a very creative person as I grew up in a family of artists, so it was always assumed that I would pursue some kind of design career; however, I was equally interested in science as I was design, leaving me torn between two career paths. Throughout high school, I excelled in both art and sewing classes as well as math and science classes. As a result, my sewing teacher suggested the Fashion Design and Technology program at the Wilson School of Design as it would cater to both my creativity and analytical qualities. Now, I am halfway through my second year, and I could not be happier about choosing this design focus – it allows me to funnel my creativity into projects that also require rational thinking, experimentation, and analysis.
What is your dream job?
At this point in my education, I feel like I am still exploring what my dream job could be; however, I have discovered an affinity for doing digital work like creating technical flats, specification packages, and digital patterns. I have also started exploring 3D modeling with CLO3D which I find very exciting. As a result, I hope to do work that allows me to use programs like that.
Out of all the projects you have completed in your program, which one has been your favourite and why?
My favourite project so far would have to be the International Designer project I completed last semester. For that assignment, I researched Alexander McQueen and designed and sewed a look out of upcycled materials which mimicked McQueen’s style. I enjoyed that project because it allowed lots of creative freedom, and it was exciting to bring my design to life using thrifted materials.
Joshua Demian — Product Design, Fourth-Year
Student Assistant
What is your role as a student assistant? What is your favourite part about your role?
I am a Studio & Production Labs Student Assistant. My favourite part of being a student assistant is meeting all the cool people at school and cultivating those relationships.
What made you choose your particular design focus?
I started my post-secondary education in graphic design, but eventually I realized that I would prefer to create tangible objects that people can use.
What is your dream job?
I’ve got a few dream jobs, including (but not limited to): being a designer at companies like Apple and Yeezy, and being a movie director.
Out of all the projects you have completed in your program, which one has been your favourite and why?
In retrospect, my favourite project was probably the rescue inflatable we made with the Coast Guard in my third year. The whole design process was so fun: from ideating and sketching concepts, to prototyping and bringing them to life. Solving any problems that came up and figuring out how to improve our designs was challenging and invigorating.
Matt Whatley— Product Design, Second-Year
Student Assistant
What is your role as a student assistant? What is your favourite part about your role?
I mostly work out of the shop completing various projects for the school while also helping students with woodworking and their projects. I enjoy finding solutions to an issue and creating them in an efficient way.
What made you choose your particular design focus?
I was a carpenter for 10 years before coming to the Wilson School of Design which gave me some comfortability when working with wood, tools and the process.
Out of all the projects you have completed in your program, which one has been your favourite and why?
My favorite project has been the Mahogany chair project we did first semester of second year, I wanted to challenge myself by making a cantilevered seat out of wood.
Megha Patel— Fashion and Technology, First-Year
Student Assistant
What is your role as a student assistant? What is your favourite part about your role?
As a student assistant at the Wilson School of Design, I play a crucial role in supporting student learning and maintaining our sewing labs and workshops. In this position, I am actively involved in creating useful products, developing creative ideas, and contributing to ongoing projects. Additionally, I am responsible for ensuring cleanliness and maintain stuff in the labs and workshops. One of the most enjoyable aspects of my role is assisting students and sharing valuable tips and tricks related to sewing and support the faculty members.
What made you choose your particular design focus?
Before enrolling in fashion designing at Wilson School of Design, I completed my computer engineering degree. Despite my technical background, I have always had a love for creative pursuits like sewing, painting, and other art forms. As I attracted more towards creativity, I chose to blend my tech skills with my passion for fashion. I truly enjoy the entire process of creating clothing, incorporating both technology and creativity.
What is your dream job?
I have always dreamed of working with a specialized company for the fashion garment as a designer because the fashion industry is filled with numerous projects and creative opportunities, and I would like to engage my self toward this world.
Out of all the projects you have completed in your program, which one has been your favourite and why?
My favorite project was the ‘One Shirt at a Time Project.’ I enjoyed my learning journey for this project as it provided me with valuable insights into the target market and forecast validation. It also allowed me to engage in creative activities, such as visualizing the mood board, designing raw sketches, and selecting one among all to work on until the completion of the project. Additionally, I was responsible for developing the pattern for the shirt and selecting the fabric based on the needs of the target market.
Michael Walmsley — Product Design , Second-Year
Student Assistant
What is your role as a student assistant? What is your favourite part about your role?
As a student assistant in the workshop, I spend a lot of my time working with my hands and other student assistants to design and build furniture to help keep the school organized and functioning. I also spend a fair amount of my time helping other students in the workshop. This might mean helping a student adjust or set-up certain equipment, making cuts on the table saw for students, or even just lending an extra set of hands to those who need it! My favourite part of working as a student assistant is all the hands-on work I get to do, and with so many different projects coming up work never gets boring.
What made you choose your particular design focus?
I’ve always been a creative person, and until high school, I didn’t even realize that you could get a degree in design. I chose product design because I’ve always enjoyed hands on prototyping, and I love working with a variety of materials. When I’m not at the school chances are I’m outside, either climbing, running or skiing depending on the weather, and I hope to combine my passion for the outdoors with my love of design!
What is your dream job?
My dream job would be anyway that I can help create truly sustainable outdoor equipment, that lets people enjoy the places they love, without contributing to the climate crisis.
Out of all the projects you have completed in your program, which one has been your favourite and why?
Over the fall my class and I had a great woodworking and furniture design project with the Museum of Vancouver, and while it was super busy in the shop, I loved seeing every team’s designs come to life, and watching everyone’s woodworking skills improve! This project was probably my favourite one yet (even though I had to bleach my hair to cope with the stress), we got to work with some gorgeous wood, and even got to collaborate with some cool designers and artists in Vancouver for a few classes!
Tomas Gonzalez Fierro — Product Design, First-Year
Student Assistant
What is your role as a student assistant? What is your favourite part about your role?
I assist in the Design workshop, for students and faculty who need help with production, trying to figure out ways to do things, facilitate tools and materials, and operate machinery that requires a bit more experience, like the table saw. My favourite part is helping design and build jigs because when a jig is good for one student, it will help many others with the same constraint.
What made you choose your particular design focus?
I got a Product Design Diploma back in Chile in 2007, but never worked as a designer. Instead, I traveled and fell in love with gastronomy working as a cook, fascinated with its pace and technology, and everything about food, always seeing things from a product design perspective, with the solid idea of contributing to future food security.
What is your dream job?
It would have to be a constant challenge between applying my knowledge and acquiring some more, with a mix of aesthetic language in the menu with a good amount of science as a main ingredient, social influence for protein, territory recognition, and sustainable transformation for garnish, and a good vibe for seasoning. With some entrepreneurship as a side dish.
Out of all the projects you have completed in your program, which one has been your favourite and why?
Last term we had to re-design a kitchen utensil. Find something that could be improved and if possible, help some people with physical challenges, so we chose a garlic press for people with arthrosis. The solution we found after analyzing a huge number of products and ways to crush garlic, was changing the gesture from pressing to twisting, with ergonomic handles that recognize the natural hand shape, diminishing the effort needed by the user. That’s with the concept, because the prototyping was even more exciting, trying and learning many different techniques to refine the product to the final proposition shown in a short clip.
Learn more about our dynamic programs here.
