Your Path Starts Here
You’ve got a sketchbook full of half-finished ideas, an eye for what looks right, and no idea yet whether you’re meant to be a fashion designer, a product designer, or something else entirely.
Foundations in Design gives you eight months, two semesters, and 30 credits to figure it out. You’ll work across drawing, colour theory, 2D and 3D design, and digital tools, building a strong portfolio one hands-on project at a time.
By the end, you’ll have more than a portfolio. Some of your coursework even transfers directly into other programs at The KPU Wilson School of Design, giving you a head start if you decide to continue here.
Program Highlights
- Coursework covers drawing, design history, storytelling, 3D form, and more, all built around hands-on projects, not just theory.
- We only admit a small group of top applicants each year, so class sizes stay small and your instructors get to know your work well.
- Applications open October 1 and close March 1. Apply early, since seats fill up fast.
- Already have a favourite discipline in mind? Three of your Foundations in Design courses transfer directly into Fashion and Technology, Product Design, or Graphic Design for Marketing, so nothing goes to waste if you continue at Wilson School of Design.
- Seats are reserved for students who stay on the program’s set course sequence, so plan carefully if life gets in the way.
- Graduates go on to study at top design schools across Canada — including Emily Carr, ACAD, and OCAD — or they continue straight into one of our other programs.
- The career paths ahead of you are wide open. Fashion, graphic, interior, and product design are obvious choices, but also museum design, event design, architectural design, interface design and more.
Want more detail? Check our FAQ if you still have questions.
Costs and Equipment
Tuition and Fees
Use our Tuition Estimator to get a sense of costs. Keep in mind there are mandatory student fees and other fees on top of tuition.
Scholarships, student loans, and other financial aid may be available. Visit Student Awards and Financial Assistance to see what you might qualify for.
Materials
Plan to spend about $500 on project materials and printing over the course of the program.
Laptop
You’ll need to supply your own laptop with specific software. Hold off on buying one, though. We’ll send you the exact specs once you’ve been accepted.
Program Timeline
Fall: Build your fundamentals
Learn the core processes, methods, and materials of design; develop your drawing skills; and start exploring how design connects to real-world context and history.
Spring: Find your direction
Dig into colour theory, human-centred design, and storytelling, then bring it all together in a 3D form studio. By the end, a dedicated portfolio course turns your best work into a showstopper that opens doors.
Throughout the program, you'll sharpen the problem-solving and critical thinking skills that carry into every design challenge ahead — in your next program, and in the studio.
Industry-Ready Skills
By the end of the program, you’ll have a polished body of work. You’ll also have a much clearer sense of which design discipline actually fits you.
Foundational Craft
You’ll build core skills in drawing, colour theory, and 3D form.
These are the same fundamentals every designer relies on, no matter which discipline they end up in.
Design Thinking & Process
You’ll learn how designers actually approach a problem.
That means process, methods, materials, and how to design with real people and their needs in mind.
Communication & Presentation
You’ll develop your storytelling skills and dive into design history and context.
By the end, it all comes together in a portfolio built to open doors.
Look Behind The Scenes
For inspiration, browse our Foundations in Design feed or search @wilsondesignkpu on Instagram to see what our community is making right now.
Ready To Get Started?
We’re looking for people with creative energy, curiosity about design, and a willingness to explore before committing to just one path. Sound like you? Time to take the next step.
To apply, you’ll need to meet our English Proficiency Requirement and submit an Entrance Package. Get all the details here: