The IDEA program first caught my eye back when I was living in Ontario when I was thinking about going back to art school. I had already attended Queens University and was working at the time. I loved university and did very well; however it really didn’t prepare me for the real working world. I had all this education, but no idea what to do next. To be honest, after four years of exercising my brain in amazing new ways, the prospect of becoming a cog in some company’s wheel, doing something totally unrelated to my education really depressed me. So I started looking at College-type programs. I wanted something that would challenge me creatively, while being really career focused.
No other school seemed as focused in what it wanted to offer its students and no other college-type program offered design and illustration together.
Three things sold me on the IDEA program from the start: firstly, the work was amazing both intelligent and well-crafted; secondly the program was successfully career-oriented and thirdly it offered a combination of both design and illustration. No other school seemed as focused in what it wanted to offer its students and no other college-type program offered design and illustration together. As I did even more research I learned that the class size was small (restricted to only 30 students per year), the instructors were active professionals in their fields and most of the students were older (I think the average age was 24) with diverse backgrounds.
The Application Process
The application process is rigorous. Firstly, you need to submit a portfolio of your work, then the applicants are cut down to about 60 and you are asked to come in for an interview day. The whole process took about four hours and involved a 45-minute interview, a life-drawing session and a written essay exam. Part of what they really want to know was this:
a) Are you a hard-working person who will commit to the program?
b) Can you work well with others in a studio-type environment?
c) Can you draw and are you creative?
d) Can you articulate your thoughts?
It is a long process to be accepted – but it’s worth it. If they only accept 30 students a year, then you know if you’re accepted then they think you have what it takes to succeed. I found one of the main benefits of IDEA is that you are surrounded by a faculty who really do want you to succeed.
The program is three years long. The first year is strictly traditional media (no computers allowed!) and is more illustration focused, the second year you start on the computer, learn all the programs you need and is more design oriented, the third year is both design and illustration and focuses on career development.
What’s A Typical Day Like In IDEA?
I usually get to school around 8 o’clock in the morning. IDEA is set up like a real studio environment- everyone has their own computer and cubicle work area. I’ll turn on my computer, check my school email and sometimes be frantically assembling those final pieces on a project due that morning. I’ll joke around with my friends and have a coffee until class begins at 9am. We’ll usually gather at the front and have a short (or sometimes long!) lecture. We also might be given a creative brief for a new project. After that, I’ll go to back to my desk. This will involve me sitting in front of the computer and hurling a lot of offensive language in frustration at said computer. I’ll be called up along with a few others for an interim critique where I will nervously present my work and receive constructive criticism. Then I’ll go back to my desk, realize that I’m not happy enough with my work, heave a mighty sigh and start sketching out new concepts to try. After lunch we might go to the life drawing room for a three hour life drawing class. Later on, back at my desk I’ll have a look at all the work I have to do and have a minor freak-out about how I’m going to possibly get it all done. After some encouragement from my classmates, I’ll eventually get back to work and come home around 8 or 9pm, collapse in my bed and start it all over again the next day.
There is nothing more inspiring than being surrounded by 30 other students (plus faculty) who all love what they do.
The Verdict!
Yes, IDEA is a lot of hard work. Although some times are busier than others, expect to put in long hours and a ton of commitment into what you’re doing. If you can manage your time well, then you’re better off. However, the answer is – yes it’s all worth it. There is nothing more inspiring than being surrounded by 30 other students (plus faculty) who all love what they do and push you to be your best. I look at the comparison between my work before I entered the program and now that I’ve graduated, and I am astounded at how much I’ve learned and improved.
If I were to offer any criticism, it would be that some of the newer instructors (although talented), weren’t prepared for teaching. Their classes weren’t structured as well as I’d hoped and they weren’t used to giving constructive feedback to students. Some of the communications classes I didn’t find very challenging either. I’d also would have liked to have more talk about environmental sustainability in our field (as we’re dealing with projects involving a lot of paper, inks and packaging).
Overall however, I was very happy with the program. The coordinators and staff work incredibly hard and do all they can to give you the tools to succeed. We go on studio tours, have speakers from the industry in, go to conferences, trips to printers, portfolio reviews, etc! With the size of the program, you’ll get to know your instructors well, and have a better chance of getting what you want out of the program. I’ve also made some great friends – I don’t think I’ve ever laughed as hard as I’ve had over the last three years.
I now have the knowledge of how to make a living as an artist and the confidence to go do it – and for me, that’s worth everything.
Did I mention that when you graduate you’ll have your own Mac computer, Nikon camera and all the software you’ll need to work on your own? It’s all built into your tuition!
If you’d like to check out some of my work, my website is: www.kirstencall.com.
And our class website is www.idea09.ca.
Plus we get to fundraise for a trip to New York City in the third year!
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