Illustration / Design Course in Vancouver, Canada

Capilano University:
Founded in 1968, Capilano University's main campus is in North Vancouver, nestled in a natural environment on the slopes of the North Shore and only a 20-minute drive from downtown Vancouver. The beauty of the campus and the quality of education attract students from around the world. Capilano University welcomes international students from more than 60 countries each year. Capilano University provides a solid academic foundation and is committed to developing new and innovative programs in response to market demand.

Illustration / Design: Elements & Applications (IDEA) Diploma
IDEA is a career-based 3-year diploma program offering instruction in both communication design and applied illustration. This dual training not only sets IDEA apart from other post-secondary design programs, but also gives students a lifelong edge in the job market.

IDEA courses emphasize hands-on experience, using both traditional and digital media. All instructors are professional graphic designers, illustrators or industry consultants. In this demanding, full-time cohort program, students are given a strong theoretical foundation and learn how to develop and apply concepts, manage complex projects and meet current industry expectations, both creatively and technologically.

Recognized for high job-placement success and strong career relevancy, the IDEA program has an applied project focus. The curriculum integrates many extras such as industry guest speakers, workshops, demonstrations, presentations, field trips, studio tours and attendance at special events. An exchange program to Bisen College in Hokkaido, Japan, is offered in the summer between second and third year. IDEA is intensely practical, and intense. Students should be prepared to put in 10 to 12 hour days.

In first year, students work on design and illustration fundamentals in a traditional studio environment. They each receive a comprehensive colour kit of artists' materials, a Nikon digital camera and a 3-year membership in the Society of Graphic Designers. In second and third years, students acquire digital skills in state-of-the-art Macintosh labs where each student has their own workstation, a new Macintosh computer and drawing tablet, and the latest versions of Adobe Creative Suite software.

Students graduate with their computer hardware, software and peripherals, fully prepared to begin exciting careers in the world of communication design