Graphic design students at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) are using their skills to visually spread awareness about Canada's residential school history.
Students at KPU's Wilson School of Design presented thoughtful and visually compelling infographics on the topic as part of their final projects in the GDMA 3100: Information Design course this semester.
“Working on this project was an incredible insight, and will be something that I will carry with me for the rest of my career as a student and as a professional,” says Gavin Ruim, a third-year Graphic Design for Marketing student.
The project is open-ended, allowing students to choose their own focus and medium with which they portray the infographic. This semester, students touched on themes such as violence, genocide and healing through informative booklets, video documentaries, cards and more.
For his project, Ruim chose to create a travelling exhibit to honour and highlight the voices and stories of survivors, and lay bare the legacy left behind by Canada’s residential schools. Designed to be displayed in museums or cultural centres, Ruim’s project features various wooden panels engraved with personal accounts from survivors, along with informative statistics and research.
“I wanted to put the spotlight onto the voices of the survivors in a way that could not be avoided, ignored or diminished,” says Ruim.
The projects have also been recognized beyond the classroom, with 34 national and international design awards received by 17 students since 2019.
“When I initially introduced this project, I wanted it to be something that’s more impactful and could have potential to be a candidate for the students’ portfolios,” says Wilson School of Design instructor Michael Cober, who introduced the project in 2019. “Over the years, I’ve seen a range of incredibly meaningful and powerful projects from the students.”
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 communication design field.