Conestoga’s emerging artists and designers hosted the annual Skillz Manifesto year-end show at the Waterloo Region Museum on April 6. The event included a gallery of self-portraits, prints and illustrations completed by students in the Design Foundations one-year certificate program.
Students in Conestoga's Design Foundations program hosted Skillz Manifesto on April 6. The event featured a gallery of student work, a canvas raffle and a print sale.
“I wasn’t sure what direction to take, but a friend told me about the program -- it was the only one I applied to,” said student Andrea Chau. “I surprised myself. It’s been really good to have a creative outlet; at first I wasn’t sure if I could do it.”
Design Foundations is an intensive one-year certificate program intended for students interested in exploring a career in applied design and communications. It provides an opportunity to create an individual design portfolio demonstrating skills in 2D and 3D design, drawing, life drawing, colour theory, idea development, digital production, design history and written communication.
Like many Design Foundations students, Chau will continue to advance her skills at Conestoga and has enrolled in the Bachelor of Design program.
Becca Grove and international student Rachel Kwan have had similar experiences. Grove agreed that Design Foundations provides a good starting point and said it helps students learn where their design interests lie. She hopes to return to Conestoga to complete the Animation diploma program. Kwan said she is interested in pursuing graphic design or animation.
Guests at the show viewed the gallery and bid on canvases completed by the students. A selection of student prints were also available for sale. Chau sold prints inspired by the last northern white rhino and will donate half her proceeds to the International Rhino Foundation.
As part of the evening, Design Foundation students were recognized with a number of program awards:
- DF Spirit & Leadership award: Luke Notman and Andrea Chau
- Above And Beyond Award: Ciel Crosbie and Chantal Lieu
- Personal Achievement Award: Recipient: Mona Clements and Jessica Fowler
- Creative Genius award: Tatjana Dudas
- On-point award: Kaitlynn Altmayer
- Perseverance award: Michael Coles and Raven Sutherland
- Clicking Along award: Patrick Taylor
- Seeing Eye award: Trieu Vy Ly
- DF Gold Heart award: Curtis Perkins
For more information about Design Foundations, visit the program page.