KPU design students put creativity and craftsmanship on display at 2025 grad show

More than 100 graduating Kwantlen Polytechnic University students filled the Wilson School of Design (WSD) with their final capstone projects on April 24 and 25, showcasing innovation, craftsmanship, and the fruits of their education. 

The vision for this year’s WSD grad show was “Seeds of Innovation,” reflecting students’ growth and transformation throughout their post-secondary journey. This concept was developed by the fourth-year graphic design for marketing cohort, which worked collaboratively to market the event. 

“Rooted in the creative landscape, we began as seedlings. Over time, we’ve nurtured our skills and forged unique paths across seven dynamic design programs. Our collective journey has shaped a diverse garden of creativity, reflected through an interwoven network of flora,” read a statement in the event’s pamphlet from KPU graphic design student Georgia Stone, who took creative direction on the show. 

Attendees could browse the work students produced in all seven WSD programs — fashion marketing, fashion and technology, foundations in design, graphic design for marketing, interior design, product design, and technical apparel design.  

One such student was Katrina Hui, a fashion and technology student who created “Serenity,” a clothing line of dance wear for mature women aged 50 to 65. 

As someone who has practised Chinese dance for over a decade, Hui saw mature women at her dance school struggle to find garments that fit properly and were comfortable to wear. 

“Their bodies start to change. So my collection has a lot of semi-compression garments that help cinch things in … [giving you] that nice hour glass shape while not compromising mobility,” she said. “On top of that is a more flowy garment, so the silhouette is more streamlined.”

The clothing worn in Chinese dance is also often not machine washable, something Hui aimed to change in her “Serenity” line by finding and using fabrics that hold up in the wash. This led Hui to visit local fabric manufacturers and dance classes to conduct in-person research and learn which materials were most suitable for the garments she wanted to create. 

Hui also spent time with synthetic dyes to colour her “Serenity” line and learned different techniques, such as ombre dying. 

“This program is a lot of work,” Hui said. “I think it’s definitely a really good program to go into, especially if you want to do more technology-based fashion design.” 

The works of fashion and technology students like Hui were also featured in the “CLO” runway, an animated fashion show where models presented the student-made clothing. 

In the product design cohort, students showcased their skills by creating innovative prototypes. Among these students was Karman Bains, who presented “Stream,” his packable outdoor footwear brand. 

Inspired by the trend towards ultra-functionality in footwear and outdoor apparel industries, Bains wanted to explore the packability constraints people may face when outdoors or participating in activities like hiking or camping. This led him to go hiking and spend time outdoors to immerse himself in this environment. 

“Just being in that environment, I realized … [people need] packability. It shouldn’t just be for equipment or bags or apparel. It could align with trends in the footwear industry.”

Bains was able to create a pair of shoes that loop around and snap in on themselves, making the shoes foldable and easy to pack. 

“I was able to prototype this in just 16 hours, even though this was a year-long project, because I was able to leverage some support in the industry,” said Bains, who works as a junior footwear designer at Vessi. 

Bains said he is very grateful for the support he received from his colleagues at Vessi to execute this project. He also said being able to devote his attention to one topic for a long period of time, as with “Stream,” allowed him to grow more confident in his capabilities. 

With graduation on the horizon, Bains is looking towards attending graduate school to further his education in design. 

Using critical thinking, industry-relevant tools, and marketing skills, students in the graphic design for marketing cohort showcased their education by presenting a portfolio of work they’ve created throughout the year. 

Sasha Polska’s portfolio highlighted various projects, including a brand for post-mastectomy lingerie, beer packaging, and mockups for a mushroom exhibit, which she made with AI to show how the technology can be embraced in the industry without taking away human creativity. 

As a tribute to the war in Ukraine, Polska designed packaging for candles for a cause, in which the proceeds would go towards a relief fund. Polska moved from Ukraine to Canada 10 years ago and said the war is something Ukrainians around the world are heartbroken about. 

“It is obviously a very personal project,” she said. “I took it as an opportunity to bring awareness to the war.” 

Polksa designed the candle packaging with Slavic art to highlight the heritage Ukrainians carry in their hearts. The brand she created for the packing is “Svitlo,” which translates to light in Ukrainian. 

“[This symbolizes] the light of a candle, but also the light that I wish there was more of in the world and that I wish everyone had inside of them. Never let it burn out.” 

As her time as a graphic design for marketing student comes to an end, Polska said her experience in the program allowed her to gain lots of hands-on experience and learn many different aspects of graphic design, from website branding to business operations. Looking towards the future, Polska hopes to continue doing branding projects. 

To learn more about KPU’s Wilson School of Design, visit www.kpu.ca/design.