Design With Purpose
The Bachelor of Design in Fashion & Technology is a full-time, four-year program built around hands-on work, not theory alone. You’ll push your creative limits in a professional studio environment structured to turn your ideas into designs that genuinely improve lives.
The KPU Wilson School of Design accepts a limited number of students each year, so class sizes stay small. This means one-on-one attention as you grow.
Our curriculum blends fashion and technology with business courses alongside electives that explore how people actually think, communicate, and live. You’ll graduate with more than just technical skills. You’ll also understand who you’re designing for and how to sell your vision.
Program Highlights
- Seats are limited and only open up each Fall. It’s worth planning your application timeline around that.
- Coming from a two-year fashion program? You may be eligible for advanced entry. Reach out to our Program Chair to discuss your options.
- If you’re already working in the industry, you have options. Depending on availability, you can take individual courses or study part-time to build on what you already know.
- You may also earn credit for real industry experience through a Prior Learning Assessment (PLA). Our Program Chair can walk you through how that works.
- Along the way, you can study abroad through exchange partnerships with fashion schools in London, Berlin, Helsinki, Melbourne, Monterrey, and beyond.
- You’ll graduate into an industry we’re deeply connected to: from lululemon and Arc'teryx to John Fluevog, Holt Renfrew, and dozens of other B.C.-based design houses.
- Graduates go on to work as fashion designers, costume designers, and product developers, for companies as far-reaching as Nike, Nordstrom, and Volcom.
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, though keep in mind there are mandatory student fees and other fees on top of tuition. Plan to spend $600-$1,000 a year on books and materials, too.
Scholarships, student loans, and other financial aid may be available. Visit Student Awards and Financial Assistance to see what you might qualify for.
Laptop
This program is built around laptop-based learning, so you’ll need one with specific software to keep up with coursework.
Hold off on buying one, though. We’ll send you the exact specs once you’ve been accepted.
Sewing Machine
You’ll need regular access to a sewing machine throughout the program. At minimum, yours should be able to do:
- Straight stitch.
- Zigzag stitch (recommended starting second year).
- Regular stitching foot.
- Zipper foot.
- Buttonhole (nice to have, not required).
Have an industrial machine instead? Just let your instructor know at the start of the course, and we’ll work with you to make sure you can still meet the course requirements.
You’ll also want a variety of needle sizes (we’ll cover which ones in class) and an iron with steam capability — it’ll get real use during construction.
Program Timeline
Year 1: Build your foundation
You’ll learn the essentials of fashion design, textiles, pattern drafting, industrial sewing, and digital tools, alongside marketing and communications. By the end of year one, you’ll understand how the fashion industry actually works.
Year 2: Deepen your craft
Dive into production, fashion history, textile innovation, and digital drafting. Collaborate on real-world projects with local brands like lululemon and Manuel Mendoza Couture. Complete 60 credits, and you’re eligible to exit with a diploma, or keep going toward your full degree.
Year 3: Explore your path
Choose electives in business or general studies to sharpen your focus. Build on skills like draping and surface design, and start your hands-on work practicum. You can also study abroad through one of our international exchange partnerships, and come back with a broader sense of what design can be.
Year 4: Launch your collection
Research niche and global markets to inform your solo collection, using sustainable and advanced production methods. Build your portfolio and fashion line, and showcase your work to industry leaders at our graduation event.
Industry-Ready Skills
Our four-year, hands-on program takes you through the full design cycle — from first insight to finished garment.
Insight & Analysis
Learn to research like a professional, using forecasting tools like WGSN and direct connections with Vancouver-based industry experts to shape your designs before you ever cut fabric.
Garment Construction & Drafting
Sharpen your technique across a wide range of categories: from womenswear to menswear, childrenswear, swimwear, lingerie, tailoring, activewear, technical apparel, sustainable design, and innovative or technological design, plus other niche markets you may want to explore.
Technical Proficiency
Get hands-on with the equipment the industry actually uses: laser cutters, ultrasonic welders, heat presses, 3D printers, and industrial machines like flatlock and coverstitch.
On the software side, you’ll use Optitex for pattern drafting, grading, and plotting, plus the Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop) for everything from technical sketches to presentation boards.
Electives That Go Beyond Fashion
You’ll take five elective courses (15 credits) to help you build knowledge well beyond fashion. Here’s how they break down:
- At least 3 credits from a course outside of FASN at the 3000 level, or higher
- At least 3 credits from a course designated as Quantitative (approved Quantitative courses are listed in the University Calendar with the attribute QUAN, and can be found using Course Search)
Note: A single elective course may count as both Quantitative and fulfill the 3000-level requirement at the same time.
Look Behind The Scenes
For inspiration, browse our Fashion and Technology feed or search @wilsondesignkpu on Instagram to see what our community is making right now.
Ready To Get Started?
If you’re ready to be challenged and supported in a program built for design minds, Wilson School of Design is the place for you.
To apply, you’ll need to meet our English Proficiency Requirement and submit an Entrance Package. Get all the details here: