A graphic design project telling the story of forgotten Chinese railway workers has won a 2025 Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) graphic design graduate an award.
Three graduates and students of the Wilson School of Design at KPU’s Graphic Design for Marketing program were also praised by the Design Professionals of Canada.
Graduates Rowena Huang and Cody Garcia, along with current students Julianna Mayan and Jessica Araizav, were recognized at the 2025 DesCan Vancouver Jim Rimmer Scholarship Awards.
Huang, a 2025 grad and also a winner from last year, won for her museum exhibition project Out of Sight. The project examines the exploitation of Chinese railway workers in Canada during the 1800s.
“While researching this topic, it shocked me how little information is out there. It just went to show how necessary this exhibit would be — there is no documentation of the names of the men, their living conditions, or the real death toll, because no one cared. They truly were out of sight,” says Huang.
“My hope is that the exhibition is able to convey the story of these people who are often forgotten, and bring them to the forefront.”
Out of Sight also won at the DesCan Vancouver Salazar Student Awards earlier this year.
Huang is now about to start a position as a junior graphic designer — a job she landed from contacts made during a three-week internship in her final semester at KPU.
“I think the internship experience in fourth year is so valuable for this very reason. So many job opportunities, especially in our industry, come by as a result of networking and connections, which our instructors and program give us direct access to,” says Huang.
Fellow 2025 grad Garcia, along with Mayan and Araizav, earned honourable mentions.
The awards were presented Nov. 20 at LaSalle College Vancouver, where Wilson School of Design instructor Matt Heximer was the guest speaker. Heximer teaches strategic marketing communication design in KPU’s Graphic Design for Marketing program.
“Our faculty focuses on preparing students for the realities of the industry. We place an emphasis on strategic thinking, simulate hands-on client work, and then reinforce it with internship experience. By the time they graduate, the students are confident, job-ready, and a part of the design community. It’s been incredibly rewarding to see their thoughtful work recognized so consistently,” says Heximer.
The Jim Rimmer Scholarships have been awarded since 2009 to creators of projects supporting community programs, non-profit organizations, or environmental or social causes. Students who are currently enrolled, or have graduated within the last year from a design program in B.C. are eligible.
The Bachelor of Design in Graphic Design for Marketing at KPU is a four-year degree program offered through the Wilson School of Design that prepares graduates for a wide range of positions in the visual communications field.
The work and creativity of KPU graphic design students has also been recognized with a variety of other awards.