Foundations in Design Certificate
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Description
The Foundations in Design (FIND) program offers students the opportunity to develop the fundamental knowledge, insights and skills common to the field of design and its diverse disciplines and to explore and assess educational and career options.
The FIND program celebrates diversity of thought, philosophy, values and learning styles with a curriculum emphasizing personal development, creative problem solving and critical and contextual thinking.
Based on the four cornerstones of exploration, self-diagnosis, transition and fundamental skill development, some goals of the FIND program include:
- Broaden knowledge of the options, opportunities and requirements within the field of design and its various disciplines.
- Develop creative problem solving and critical thinking skills, visualization and teamwork skills.
- Encourage informed choices regarding future studies and career paths.
- Enable students to develop their own voices through the formation and expression of their ideas verbally and visually.
- Encourage self-expression respecting social, cultural, environmental, economic and ecological contexts.
- Broaden knowledge and understanding of the theories, methodologies and processes common to all disciplines of design.
Student Profile
The FIND program offers a comprehensive introduction to design studies and practice that is particularly appropriate for:
Graduates of secondary school
Students interested in a career in the field of design but who have not yet determined which discipline would suit them best. Students who have decided on a specific career path but need to expand their foundational skills and improve their portfolio as a means of gaining access to further design studies.
Current post-secondary students
Students in other design or related programs such as Marketing, Business, Public Relations, Journalism, Advertising, Fine Arts, Social Sciences/Humanities wishing to complement their discipline specific knowledge and skills with Foundations in Design learning outcomes (which include creative problem solving skills, critical and contextual thinking skills, conceptualization and visualization skills and team skills). Some FIND courses are designated general education or breadth courses.
Graduates of post-secondary programs
Recent graduates from any discipline seeking to complement their discipline specific studies with the fundamental design skills mentioned above and supported in an interdisciplinary learning environment, stressing integration, collaboration and synthesis.
Mature students
- Mature students seeking a transitional program where they can explore career and educational opportunities in the field of design and its diverse disciplines.
- Mature students seeking an opportunity to explore alternative career and educational options in design or to complement or enhance their professional development.
- Mature students, working professionals, and Art/Design Educators interested in complementing and enhancing their professional development in areas such as creative problem solving, critical and contextual thinking, conceptualization and visualization capabilities (see Content).
- Students who do not qualify for other design diploma or degree programs at Kwantlen or other institutions and are looking for an opportunity to upgrade or begin their studies.
Entrance Requirements
In addition to Kwantlen's general admission requirements students must also:
- Submit transcripts of secondary and/or post-secondary education including Art, Design and Academic courses (Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) of design-related experience is available).
- Submit a portfolio. Your portfolio should reflect your creative interests. The following are suggestions as to what you may want to include and are intended to be a guide only. There is no minimum or maximum number of projects to include – just show us what you're really excited about.
Portfolio Content
- Do you enjoy drawing and/or painting a variety of things either real or imagined? How about including some photos/scans of these.
- Do you enjoy working with your hands on things like sculpture, pottery, textiles, woodworking, printmaking, sewing/costume design, garden/landscape design, room decorating or model making? You may want to include some photographs of some of these.
- Do you relax by doodling visually in a sketchbook or journal? How about including some photos/scans of some of the pages out of one or two of these.
- Are you excited about photography? Have you taken interesting pictures that show your eye for composition? Definitely include the best of these. Black and white or in colour, they're all good.
You must also include a written statement that reflects your interests about design and if possible, includes your personal goals as well as your educational and career goals.
You may submit a digital, or a physical portfolio. Enrolment and Registrar Services will notify you of the date for portfolio submission, along with detailed instructions pertaining to the 'Technical parameters for portfolio submission'.
The FIND program needs to retain your portfolio for two to three days, so if you are applying to more than one program or institution, it is your responsibility to coordinate your portfolio submissions. However, as the FIND program requests scans or photos, not original artwork, most applicants do not have issues with competing portfolio review timelines.
Portfolio Review
The portfolio review for entry into the FIND program generally takes place in April for:
- Students who are applying directly to the program
- Students who are referred by the Graphic Design for Marketing (GDMA) program to the Foundations in Design program as an opportunity for upgrading.
Note: Students who do not qualify for the GDMA program and select the Foundations in Design option will need to submit their portfolios to Foundations in Design for review. They will be notified of that date by Admissions.
Applications are accepted for the Foundations in Design program from November 1 to March 31. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply as early as possible. Students who apply to GDMA and are referred to FIND will keep their original application date.
Note: All Foundations in Design students who apply to GDMA on November 1 will have an opportunity for an early portfolio review in February provided they meet the English requirement for GDMA.
Please contact the Enrolment & Registrar Services office at 604.599.2000 for further details and answers to questions you may have.
Content
Refer to timetables as course offerings may change year to year. Design professionals may contact the Program Coordinator to access individual courses of interest without applying for the complete program. Access is determined by permission of the Coordinator and an availability of space.
In order to reflect the recent change in program name from Interdisciplinary Design Studies (IDDS) to Foundations in Design (FIND) and to allow for a period of transition, the new course acronyms and numbers as well as the old course acronyms and numbers have been listed for convenience.
| Foundations in Design (FIND) | was Interdisciplinary Studies |
| FIND 1100 Design Methods and Materials | IDDS 1160 Design Methods and Materials |
| FIND 1110 Visualization, Drawing and Rendering | IDDS 1161 Visualization, Drawing and Rendering |
| FIND 1120 Interdisciplinary Design History** | IDDS 1162 Interdisciplinary Design History I** |
| FIND 1130 Design Explorations** | IDDS 1163 Design Explorations** |
| FIND 1140 Colour Theories** | IDDS 1164 Colour Theories** |
| FIND 1150 Designing for Humanity** | IDDS 1165 Designing for Humanity** |
| FIND 1160 Communication through Visual Language | IDDS 1166 Communication through Visual Language |
| FIND 1200 Two Dimensional Design | IDDS 1260 Two Dimensional Design |
| FIND 1210 Three Dimensional Design | IDDS 1261 Three Dimensional Design |
| A choice of: (select one only) | |
| FIND 1220 Interdisciplinary Design History II** | IDDS 1362 Interdisciplinary Design History II** |
| FIND 1230 Drafting for Design* | IDDS 1363 Drafting for Design |
*Note: Students must choose either FIND 1220 or FIND 1230 to complete their certificate requirements.
**Note: University designated breadth courses.
Additional Information
Returning Foundations in Design students and students who successfully qualify for a seat in Foundations in Design have priority registration. Registering on your date and time (as per your instructions from Admissions) is extremely important as some seats may be made available to students from other Kwantlen programs taking designated Foundations in Design breadth courses. These students will not have priority registration nor qualify for the Foundations in Design Certificate.
Costs
In addition to tuition, students should be prepared to spend approximately $300.00 to $500.00 for project materials and photocopying during the program.
Graduation
Upon successful completion of this program (27 credits of Foundations in Design courses and 3 credits of specified electives) students are awarded a Certificate of Foundations in Design.
Professional Development Courses:
Earn Professional Development credits in a fun & relaxing atmosphere taught by Kwantlen’s top faculty. A $40.00 application fee is required for new applicants to Kwantlen. Returning applicants are required to pay a $20.00 application fee.
IDDS 4100 Design Education Theory & Methods for Teachers
Courses are offered at Kwantlen's Richmond Campus.
