Welcome to the 7th edition of the Design Loop Roundup, our wrap-edition of 2023.
The Fall semester of the 2023/24 academic year has flown by, and we’re so proud of our students and faculty. We’ve witnessed such a diversity of incredible, boundary-pushing projects and presentations across all programs. Our studios, workshops and labs have been buzzing since September, with our technology being used to capacity…we love it! The new year promises to bring many exciting initiatives to life, along with this year’s Grad Show in April. Stay tuned for many wonderful stories ahead. Happy Holidays from all of us at the KPU Wilson School of Design.
In This Issue:
- Scene and Heard – Our Student Events
- In the News
- Heather Young – Textiles for Shakespeare’s Henry V
- Erick Villagomez – “Why Metro Vancouver is Getting Uglier” The Province
- Alumni Kudos
- Upcoming Events – Our Social Fabric Upcycled Competition
- Spotted on Social
- Student Support
Vertical Studios
Our programs will typically coordinate a “Vertical Studio” some time in the beginning of the academic year as a way to create connections and support for students with their peers. All program class years (i.e: years 1 to 4) are integrated and mixed into groups, creating opportunities to meet and work with others in their program.
Interior Design Village to the Runway
The world of fashion and interior design are closely intertwined. Both are creative forms of self-expression, with one influencing the other. Fashion houses such as Gucci, Missoni, and Hermes, along with fashion brands such as Zara have long brought their runway fashions into our homes and hallways. For this year’s 2023 vertical studio project, Interior Design students reversed the trend. To prepare, students were split into teams and later gathered in Steveston Village to sketch. Students took inspiration from the natural environment, built environment, and history of the site. They captured the colours, textures, shapes, patterns, forms, and noted materiality and detailing. Students then took their sketches along with a bag of ‘mystery’ materials provided by faculty and worked together creating an original garmenture for the Spring/Summer 2024 collection.
Product Design Vertical Studio Week
The Product Design Vertical Studio was an exciting competition where our product design students, ranging from 1st to 4th year, collaborated in teams. During this week-long event, our students dove into teamwork and innovation, making the most of our labs and workshops. The week was a fantastic chance for collaboration, mixing with peers, sharing knowledge, flexing in leadership roles, practicing empathy and showcasing their talents. Their challenge was to design an interactive social intervention to engage the School of Design population. The design was to be accessible, disruptive, non-destructive, non-offensive, safe, environmentally friendly and fun. Each team designed an installation.
Halloween Fun
Festivities were in full swing as faculty and students showcased their amazing costumes at the Halloween Runway. The level of creativity and innovation displayed by our design community was inspiring!
National Portfolio Day
The 2023 Greater Vancouver National Portfolio Day, hosted by the KPU Wilson School of Design was a huge success with over 700 attendees and 20 participating schools! It was held on Saturday November 18th at our beautiful campus. It is always so rewarding to connect with so many aspiring designers and artists, and to provide support on their educational journey. We are so grateful to our fantastic staff, volunteers, and the many KPU teams involved in hosting an event of this scale so smoothly.
Product Design User Testing
Year 2 Product Design students spent one of their classes conducting User Testing. Each group posed a research question that they could test with a simple 2×1 research design – an approach they’ll use in their design projects going forward, including their Capstones. Tests ranged from audio bleed levels with overhead headphones, tent set-up times, keyboard, helmet comparisons and various dexterity-related questions. All the students completed the TCPS-2 Certificates this term: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans. Big thanks to the many WSD students who dropped by and volunteered to be participants! It was a great hands-on day of learning!
New Media Gallery Field Trip
On October 26, 3rd-year Graphic Design for Marketing students, along with faculty members Carley Hodgkinson and Erin Ashenhurst, visited the New Media Gallery (newmediagallery.ca) in New Westminster for a curatorial tour of their exhibit, “Measure”.
This field trip was part of GDMA 3140 Interactive Technologies and Society, in which we look at how technology influences culture and the place of designers in mediating that space. The exhibit was a beautiful mix of art, design, engineering and science. Students spent the longest time staring at the piece in the photo, in which every possible RGB spectrum colour was generated by AI-driven code.
NEWH Vancouver Region Scholarship
Congratulations to interior design student, Caitlyn Defalco, for winning The NEWH Vancouver Region scholarship! This scholarship is for students pursuing a career in the hospitality industry.
“My first ever event was a student round table in my first year and I loved it! It really helped me realize that interior Design within Hospitality was my direction going forward and I learned so much from the panel, this made me want to volunteer with NEWH.”
Caitlyn (from newhvancouver on Instagram)
Guest Speaker – Edita Hadravska
We love hosting industry professionals on campus. They provide such valuable critique, insights and current viewpoints to our students. Recently, we welcomed Edita Hadravska, Head of Product Design at Kits eyewear. Edita joined this year’s Technical Apparel capstone research students to provide input on their design directions – with topics ranging from tech apparel to increased usability of female urinary devices, to base layers for managing thermal comfort and performance by competitive female fencers.
With almost 20 years experience in soft and hard goods design with various local industries (Arc’teryx, Aritzia, etc.) Edita’s input was super helpful and inspiring. We look forward to welcoming her back again in 2024 to explore project collaborations. In her words ” it was so fun – I am honoured to come in anytime! ”
LEGO CHALLENGE
1st year Interior Design students were tasked with creating abstract Gothic cathedrals made out of giant lego! They had only 10 minutes to work together to create their masterpieces. Great mind-bending challenge!
BOLD LEAPS STUDENT INTERVIEWS
Wilson School of Design students were recently interviewed for a TV segment featuring a former WSD student: Kenneth Wyse, aka Kendall Gender! The show, titled “Bold Leaps” focuses on celebrities from all areas talking about the path to their dreams. Kendall Gender is a performer, host, model and LGBTQIA2S+ activist, and is best known for being on Season 2 of Canada’s Drag Race, where she placed in the top 3. Our students were asked to share their journey of following their dreams in the design industry. Stay tuned to see more information on @boldleaps on Instagram.
MUSHROOM STOOL DEBUT
Interior Design grads, Mike & Yvonne Lukowski launched their new product, a solid cork mushroom-shaped stool, at the 2023 Interior Design Show, to great acclaim. The Pause Company has a focus on children’s furniture, designing products using sustainable practices with Cork.
ELLA TAYLOR, SPEAKER AT CREATIVE MORNINGS
On November 3, Graphic Design for Marketing (GDMA) 2021 Alumna Ella Taylor was featured as the Keynote Speaker at Creative Mornings Vancouver. Ella spoke on the topic of Rhythms, beautifully connecting her personal history to her growing confidence and finding her voice as a young designer. This is a rare opportunity and we are so proud to have the school so well-represented! The event was sold out, with approximately 160 people in the SFU Woodwards audience, including current 4th-year students, recent grads, and GDMA faculty. Marga Lopez, the President of DesCan (and GDMA faculty) and a founding member of Creative Mornings, was the event emcee.
SPACES UNCOVERED – EPISODE 10
Alexa Bustamante, 2014 Interior Design graduate and Director of Business Development at Contemporary Office Interiors, has created another episode of her show “Spaces Uncovered.” In this game-show-style episode, three top industry professionals (Michelle Roundell, Kenna Manley & Liam Briggs) in the Interior Design and Project Management Industry participate in a game of ‘Never Have I Ever’ to uncover what they really feel about hot industry topics relating to their roles and professions. Tune in to watch this fun and thrilling episode that digs deep on industry questions that most are afraid to answer with full honesty.
Heather Young – Textiles for Shakespeare’s Henry V
Faculty member Heather Young contributed to the Shakespeare’s Henry V at Bard on the Beach. The textile base was primarily burlap and over 400 burlap sacs were used for the piece.
“I said, ‘Yes, I can do this,’ but really had no idea what I was saying yes to. Which was terrifying but exciting at the same time. I came to the realization that I could do large-scale textile and I learned that it’s okay to jump in and be scared.”
Young has worked in the Bard costume department for years and was commissioned to help Amir Ofek and his team to source, stitch and hang the textile installation.
Heather did her Master’s degree in fashion design and textiles and ran the beloved Vancouver fashion label Dust for a decade. While she now teaches fashion at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, she’s also the founder of The Craft Lab, which offers workshops to encourage community-building around traditional and experimental textile practices. Her interest in foundational practices such as natural dyeing, and foraging and growing plants animates her work as an educator in the Industrial Design program at Emily Carr. These interests are also part of why she finds working in theatre so satisfying.
The textile contributed immensely to the 360° stage for the Shakespeare production and brought Henry V to life.
“It was amazing. I loved it. It was magical.”
Heather Young
Read the original article by Perrin Grauer from ECUAD here.
Erick Villagomez – “Why Metro Vancouver is Getting Uglier” The Province
Erick Villagomez, Urban designer and professor at Kwantlen Polytechnic University and UBC contributed to The Province’s article on “Why Metro Vancouver is getting uglier” He explains how imagery tricks such as Birds Eye View make architecture appear less visually imposing on a space.
“To get anything built, developers first have to sell it through images.” Developers often emit background buildings or exaggerate lighting to make a space seem “more spacious and pleasant.”
What can be done to combat misleading visuals, which often lead to uglier buildings?
The most basic step is to help the public, politicians and planners become more literate about the under-the-radar manipulative techniques often used in developers’ presentations. “With 3D,” Villagomez said, “it becomes much easier for everyone to accurately visualize how a new building would fit into an existing neighbourhood.”
Villagomez rightfully maintains it’s time for developers, architects and illustrators to be “held accountable” when they tamper with artistic renderings in a way that misleads an uninformed citizenry. Such city-altering visuals may need to be regulated.
“Architects should ‘sign and seal’ renderings intended for public consumption,” Villagomez says. “This accountability should extend to post-construction.”
Read the original Article by Douglas Todd from The Province here.
Mackenzie Gooch – 2018 Graphic Design for Marketing Grad
Congrats on starting a new role as Senior Designer at Free Agency Creative!
Jordan Kidd – 2021 Graphic Design for Marketing Grad
Congrats on your 2-year anniversary as a Junior Graphic Designer at Herschel Supply Company!
Janiece Lofstrom – 2018 Fashion and Technology Grad
Congrats on 5 years in Technical Development at Lululemon!
Skylar Mann – 2022 Fashion Marketing Grad
Congrats on starting your new role as a Content & Social Media Specialist at Pela!
Josh Swanson – Current Interior Design Student
Congrats on being a finalist in Western Living Magazine’s Design Awards!
Natalli Wan – 2022 Fashion Marketing Grad
Congrats on starting a new role as Trims Associate at Aritzia!
Our Social Fabric Upcycled Competition 2024
The Wilson School of Design is excited to announce this year’s Design Competition in partnership with Our Social Fabric, a local textile recycling initiative. In the spirit of this year’s theme, “Gaia”, eligible participants will create a 3-dimensional design using recycled textiles and found objects.
“Gaia” is originally from Greek mythology, meaning Mother of all Life or Earth Mother.
Scientist and environmentalist James Lovelock’s Gaia Theory suggests that the Earth is a self-regulating, interconnected system made of living organisms that work together to make Earth inhabitable for life. The importance of Gaia Theory is understanding how human actions impact the balance of this self-regulating ecosystem and the environment we live in.
Competition Details & Dates
Initial Concept Submissions Due – Friday, February 9, 2024
Finalists Announced – Friday, February 16, 2024
Final Design Submissions Due – Thursday, April 18, 2024
Winners Announcement Event – Tuesday, April 30, 2024 (on WSD campus)
For more information visit https://www.kpu.ca/osfcomp
HEIDI WILSON – KELOWNA MADE FASHION SHOW
Heidi Wilson, a second-year Fashion and Technology student created a collection for the Kelowna Made Fashion Show this August. Her brand name is Jade Mcbride Designs and she showcased her building process on her Instagram. Due to the Kelowna Forest Fires, the runway was cancelled for the event. The collection is featured on her Instagram @jademcbridedesigns.
“It has been one of the greatest challenges, yet most rewarding things I’ve done…” Wilson says she balanced working two jobs over the summer and completing her collection. “I couldn’t be more proud of what I’ve created. Something tells me this is only the beginning…”
Congratulations on your hard work and your stunning collection Heidi!
Interior Design Cardboard Chair Project
The interior design students designed and created cardboard chairs for one of their projects this semester. It was wonderful to see all the different designs line the hallways of the school! Below is a reshared post from Drew Forbes sharing a glimpse into her cohorts’ projects and her final chair!
“We have loved seeing the cardboard chair projects showcased around the Wilson building! So much hard work and creativity went into these designs.
Well done Drew!”
“The project that has loomed over me since I started my degree is done the cardboard chair project!! Such a fun day #interiordesign #wilsonschoolofdesign”
Donor Support Night
Every year we celebrate our Donors and industry connections for supporting our campus and students!
“Thank you again to our amazing Wilson School of Design donors and industry partners for attending our special Donor and Industry Reception! We had a fantastic time celebrating your generosity and commitment to student success.”
Repost from @wilsondesignkpu on Instagram
VESSI GUEST SPEAKER
“It was an honor to have Tony Yu the cofounder of Vessi as a guest speaker in my fashion marketing class at The Wilson School of Design at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. His expertise and insights into the industry were incredibly valuable for my students and me.
I am excited to share the Q&A session we filmed with him on our Alice in Industryland podcast channel coming soon!
Thank you, Tony Yu for your time and for inspiring the next generation of fashion marketers!”
Post from Alice Scheuerman on LinkedIn
THE TEAM THAT SPINS TOGETHER… THANK YOU!
Huge thanks to Interior Design instructor Mark Pritchard and Equinox Fitness for giving our students and faculty an opportunity to destress and bring some wellness into our lives! In what has become an annual tradition, Equinox has generously offered a custom class to our team, right when we need it the most!
“A fun team building and de-stressing afternoon Anthem cycling class with students, alumni, staff, leadership, and friends of The Wilson School of Design at Kwantlen Polytechnic University at Equinox West Georgia Street.”
Post from Mark Pritchard on LinkedIn
Mindful Campus Initiative Fall 2023
The Mindful Campus Initiative is in full swing! In addition to completing mindfulness for resilience courses offered through the Centre for Mindfulness Studies, students (and staff) have been participating in a variety of wellness-related activities this fall.
These have included mindful tea experiences, making bath bombs, tasting bannock with cedar jelly, participating in Pilates workshops, taking part in a mindful mending workshop, attending weekly mindful gathering spaces and more!
The Mindful Campus Peer Ambassador team has been instrumental in supporting these events and actively connecting with fellow WSD (and KPU) students. We look forward to several more events and activities before the winter break.
Through the Mindful Campus program, students will have access to a wide range of video resources to support their mindfulness practice until we return in January. We look forward to seeing the Peer Ambassadors complete their intensive training in the new year, allowing them to begin co-facilitating our Mindful Gathering spaces!
For more visit kpu.ca/design/mindful-campus
Meditation Tips for ADHD/Trouble Focussing
The Mindful Campus Initiative practiced meditation every Friday this semester to help calm the body and focus the mind. Over the exam and holiday season, take the opportunity to pause and practice mindfulness with some of these meditation tips!
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.
