In keeping with our polytechnic mandate, the Wilson School of Design's Graphic Design for Marketing program is focused on providing enriched learning opportunities and relevant industry experiences, offered in a supportive and challenging learning environment. This ensures our graduates are positioned for success in their careers. Establishing itself as leader in graphic design education, the program is constantly evolving in alignment with industry through a rigorous academic course of study.
Industry Standards
A consistent aspect of our program, which is woven into all our teaching, is a respect for and an understanding of maintaining industry standards and ethics. Our program functions in accordance with the Design Professionals of Canada (DesCan) Code of Ethics and we look to the industry for ongoing leadership and support in these areas.
Industry Collaboration
The Vancouver area is teeming with many small, medium and large design firms. We are grateful to have strong ties with most of these companies, and we are proud to say that many of our graduates work in leading positions. Locally, we are so thankful to have access to industry who give our students access on field trips, come to our campus and provide workshops and guest speaking presentations, provide work practicum and mentorship opportunities and so much more. Many of our faculty have worked in industry and maintain strong connections to the local and national design community. These connections give our graduating students incredible resources and skills to secure meaningful employment in the field.
Program Advisory Committee
Our Advisory Committee plays an essential role in maintaining the relevance of our degree program. Education and design industry leaders provide the perspective needed to ensure our graduates are well prepared to contribute to this creative, technical and innovative industry. In conjunction with faculty, administration, and students, the role of the Advisory Committee is to help enrich the Graphic Design for Marketing program. With an ongoing voice given to our local industry leaders through our Advisory Committee, our program is able to respond quickly to changes in the marketplace and continually adapt our programming to reflect current industry needs and standards. This philosophy also applies to the technology and resources we train our students to use. We have an outstanding reputation for providing state-of-the-art industry equipment, so that when students from our program graduate, they are skilled in using the most current technology, making them work-ready. This work-readiness brings our grads to the front of the line when applying for industry positions.
Advisory Committee Members
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Carol Aitken Carol Aitken (BA, MPub) has been a practicing designer for her entire career. She has worked in various countries around the world both as an employee in design and advertising firms and, for most of her career, as a studio co-owner. She emigrated to Vancouver in the early nineties where she ran a design consultancy, and eventually transitioned into academia, teaching first at Emily Carr University of Art + Design and later at Capilano University. Today, she is co-coordinator of the Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication and chair of the IDEA School of Design at Capilano University. |
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Perry Boeker A results-driven creative thinker. I am a creative industry vetran with a proven record of achievement in strategic planning, team leadership, and new concepts development. I understand that the market is a dynamic environment that constantly requires fine tuning, to keep the best brands relevant and topical. I have the good fortune to work with world leading companies and change agents who are making a difference. The people around me constantly inspire me to be better - every day. I lead by example with a hands-on approach, encourage a creative team spirit, and have the ability to effectively mobilize the right people to achieve team goals. I am an avid sailor and Past Commodore of an international offshore sailing association and I love the outdoors. |
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Perry Chua Perry is an internationally sought-after brand designer with over 25 years of experience working with clients including Nokia, McDonald's Restaurants, Mountain Equipment Co-op and Four Seasons Private Residences. Perry has shown an uncanny ability to apply his strategic thinking to clean, compelling, innovative designs. Perry has collected his share of awards from international entities including The One Show, Applied Arts, Lotus Awards, HOW International Design Awards, ADCC and Communication Arts, among others. In addition to being interviewed by Inc Magazine for his brand expertise, Perry's work was featured on CBS News, in a segment on Design Innovation. His work can be found in international journals from Canada, USA, Spain, China and the UK. Perry has served as a part-time Branding Instructor at Vancouver Film School for three years, and is the co-author of Logo Savvy: Top Brand-design Firms Share their Naming and Identity Strategies. Perry has also authored The Best of Brochure Design 10. Both books are published by Rockport Publishers and are available in multiple languages on Amazon.com and bookstores worldwide. Perry has been a guest speaker at Vancouver Film School and Vancouver Community College. In addition, Perry has been a Guest Design Judge for both the Salazar Awards and the GDC Certification Program. |
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Shinead D'Souza Meet Shinead D'Souza, a Vancouver-based art director with a passion for creating impactful design experiences. As a leader in her field, Shinead is known for her exceptional eye for detail and her ability to bring big ideas to life. In her current role as Senior Art Director at Clio, Shinead manages the brand design team and is responsible for overseeing the design and art direction of high-quality, effective and data-driven brand and advertising initiatives. Shinead is also an industry mentor who has worked with organizations like the RGD. Being a big believer in passing on knowledge to the next generation of up-and-comers, mentorship has become an integral part of her design practice. Shinead uses her experience to inspire and guide teams and designers towards producing the best work of their lives. Outside of her work, Shinead enjoys being bossed around by her kiddo, taking her dog for long forest walks and trying out new flavours of potato chips. |
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Patrick Ho Patrick is an alumnus of Emily Carr’s graphic design program. After engaging with the discipline for over a decade, he found himself engaging mainly with words and storytelling. Over the ensuing years, that fusion of the visual and literary continues to inspire him to create brands for consumer products and services with a bunch of smart and talented people at Dossier, a brand and innovation design firm. |
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Karin Jager Karin is motivated by her students, peers, and the potential for future-focused design education. Joining UFV in 2012, Karin launched the 2-year design diploma and, recently, the BFA GDD Major – a flexible design degree. Her career path into academia began at Capilano University, where she developed the IDEA diploma in 2001 and co-authored the BDes in Visual Communication in 2012. Karin holds a graduate degree in post-secondary leadership from SFU, where she began her design education research. Her design practice in corporate communication and social design, service as GDC’s VP Education National (2012–2014), and contribution as an expert reviewer of design programs in Ontario, BC (DQAB), and Alberta (CAQC), has given her an enriched perspective. |
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Alanna Munro Alanna Munro is an independent type designer and lettering artist. She received a degree in communication design from Emily Carr in 2013 and after working for a few years as an interaction designer at Signals Design Group she started specializing in typographic projects. She began freelancing as a graphic designer while working on her own typefaces and launched her own type foundry in 2020. Alanna is passionate about accessible, well-made fonts and sharing typographic knowledge and literacy with everyone. |
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Andrew Passas Andrew is a creative director/ art director/ graphic designer / person living and working in Vancouver, BC. He is currently working with lululemon making secret things and can't talk about it because of NDA's. When he isn't working he's chasing his son Alder around the house to eat a meal or wash up with little success. This bio is poorly written because he's a picture man so cut him some slack. |
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Candace Pawson Candace completed her studies with a Visual Communications diploma and obtained her degree in the Graphic Design for Marketing program in 2017 from Kwantlen. She is a versatile and multi-disciplinary creative, specializing in branding, identity systems, and integrated marketing campaigns. Currently a senior graphic designer at Ion Design, Candace assumes a pivotal role in managing clients across various sectors, including provincial, municipal, non-profit, and hospitality. Candace enjoys well crafted copywriting, uncovering thoughtful design concepts that revolve around storytelling and user experience and finds design challenges that create positive social and environmental change the most rewarding. Originally from the Midwestern state of Iowa, Candace immigrated to British Columbia in 2013. In her leisure time, she cherishes time spent outdoors with her husband and their energetic twins. |
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Carolyn Phoenix As a strategic creative consultant and Managing Director of Wiseblood, Carolyn brings more than a decade of experience in strategic account management, where she has built a strong track record of success. She has led digital and brand initiatives for a variety of major clients, including Honda, Johnson & Johnson, Nintendo Canada, The University of British Columbia, Labourers International Union of North America 1611, Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation, Simon Fraser University, First Nations Health Authority, and the BC Cancer Agency. From mobile app development to integrated marketing campaigns, Carolyn has worked across varied sectors including civic, non-profit, health, lifestyle and technology. She applies strategic insight to a deep understanding of industry needs to successfully engage cross-functional teams and partners. |
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Kim Ridgewell Kim is a multi-disciplinary creative, specializing in branding, identity and packaging design. She works with clients both big and small, and loves supporting entrepreneurs in creating and launching new brands and products. The One Show, Clios, ADCC, London International, Cannes, The Juno Awards, Communication Arts and Applied Arts have all recognized her work. Kim's ongoing participation in the creative industry includes speaking and presenting on designing for the future and volunteering for organizations that encourage equality and inclusivity in the creative industry. When not at her desk, she can be found running up mountains or bobbing out at sea. |