DDM Student Micro-Grants

Your Voice at Emily Carr was an event organized by Industrial Design student Sandro Di Bari. The community gathering empowered students to work together and invoke positive changes at Emily Carr University by asking them to consider how the spaces in the school represent them and their values. Students discussed and collaborated with each other, and were given the opportunity to explore their own visions through various mediums. These were then presented and debated on to find solutions that could benefit everyone.

The Commuter Connections Workshop Series, formerly known as the Commuter Comfort Lab, was a hands-on, collaborative exploration of sensory overload in commuting environments organized by Industrial Design student Ophir Barzilay. Through a series of interactive workshops, participants engaged in discussions and design activities aimed at identifying stressors in transit spaces and co-developing tools to enhance commuting comfort.

Rooted in user-centered and collaborative design, this project invited participants to share their personal experiences of transit-related sensory overload and explore creative interventions. Activities included material exploration, making exercises, and group discussions, all designed to spark dialogue and generate actionable solutions. The workshops resulted in the creation of tactile tools and methods that aimed to mitigate sensory stressors, making commuting more comfortable and accessible.

A key outcome of the workshop series was the strong sense of community that emerged. Participants actively contributed their insights, leading to meaningful conversations about transit experiences and accessibil ity. The hands-on, co-creative approach encouraged engagement, and the tools developed reflected the diverse needs and perspectives of the group.

The Commuter Connections workshop series not only provided a platform for dialogue on an important issue but also empowered participants to take an active role in shaping more inclusive and comfortable commuting experiences. The project reinforced the value of participatory design in addressing real-world challenges and demonstrated the power of community-driven innovation.

The 13th Annual Pop-Up Type Museum, themed What's Your Type?, took a playful approach to making typography accessible and engaging for both designers and non-designers alike. Teaser posters placed around campus built anticipation, inviting students to interact with the theme before the event.At the exhibition, an interactive activity book guided visitors through the exhibits with quizzes, word games, and a type-themed word search. The Categories Wall encouraged participation, allowing guests to pin up exhibits they resonated with and share their own 'type.' To commemorate the experience, Communication Design student organizers Leila Mukherjee, Layla Hasanovic, and Mhairi Prins offered screen-printed tote bags and buttons, a fun keepsake for typography lovers to take home.

Industrial Design student Parnian Anaa hosted two evenings open to all in the Emily Carr community to meet and write gratitude letters together. Intended for collective writing, reflection, and community gathering, the workshops were met with positivity and a genuine and engaging audience.

Pitch Night, organized by Interaction Design student Angelina Rudakova, brought energy and excitement to the Emily Carr campus as students in the INTD-318 Creating a Design Startup class presented their innovative business ideas to an audience of peers, industry professionals, and faculty. Hosted by professor Haig Armen, the evening was not only a chance to celebrate the creativity of our students but also a hands-on learning experience, preparing them for the realities of pitching in the professional world.

Each pitch was short, dynamic, and visually engaging. Some students used props to add a tangible element to their presentations, while others relied on bold visuals and concise storytelling to captivate the audience. The atmosphere was equal parts professional and supportive, giving students the freedom to step out of their comfort zones and embrace the challenge of presenting their work.

These pitches were a culmination of months of hard work; students got the chance to examine the revenue potential of their ideas, conducted market analyses, and refined their concepts into something we could confidently present to potential investors. For many students, the experience of speaking in front of a live audience was an invaluable opportunity to practice real-world skills in a safe and encouraging environment. “Pitch Night gave me the confidence to present my ideas and get immediate feedback from my peers,” said one student after the event. “It was nerve-wracking but so rewarding.”

Organized by 2D + Experimental Animation student Robin Fernando, two members from Vancouver's local Animation Guild visited Emily Carr to host an education presentation on all things union and animation workers' rights.

Rennie Hall was filled up with students and faculty, eager to learn about unions and the role they play within the animation and VFX industries. The representatives from Local 938 gave an informative presentation and answered many questions during the Q and A session that followed. Students gained valuable insights into the collective power of community and how it benefits everyone, their role in collective bargaining and their rights as future animators, ways they can protect themselves, and what to expect as they enter the industry.

Design With Food was a collaborative food and lettering workshop organized by Airi Nishioka and Clara Ngie, two fourth-year communication design students.

The workshop took place on March 2nd and March 7th 2023, in which 7 bilingual ECU students and instructor Reyhan Yazdani participated in generating conversations around food-making, sharing cultural experiences, and languages used in the context of food habits. In the workshop, participants learned about the locally sourced ingredients provided in the event space through engaging with informative prints and lettering exercises guided by observations of the forms and textures of each produce.

Participants were then encouraged to select ingredients to take home and cook. Everyone was asked to document their cooking process through photos and writing down their recipes, which later translated into co-designing elements for a multilingual menu design.

On a sunny spring evening, the 2^nd and 3^rd Year Film + Screen Arts Screening took place in the Reliance Theatre at ECU. The event was spearheaded by Film students Alex Silva and Lula-Belle Jedynak. There was tremendous support from Christine Stewart, Carlo Ghioni, Lindsay McIntyre, Jonathan Tammuz, and many others from FMSA faculty with regards to organization, gear & event logistics, planning, materials provided, and support to all the students. The audience was filled with students from all years and programs, guests, and FMSA faculty.

Alex and Lula-Belle supported the event as emcees, general organization, setup and teardown, along with additional media creation (programs, background images, promo.) The setup began at 2 pm, and the event began at 5 pm with a full house! Food was provided by Fujiya, and sweet treats were served before the screenings. Student shorts began at 5:45 pm, and continued until 10:40 pm with a large group of people staying until the end. The event brought together a strong sense of community and support, and new connections were made among the audience. The mix of different styles of short films was a true testament to the diversity of the students at Emily Carr, and a reflection of an environment that encourages artistic growth in countless directions.

An ode to the style of the Dadaist movement and early 20th century graphic design, fourth year Communication Design students Madeleine Salomons and Sid Watson worked to create a cohesive brand narrative for the 11th annual Typography Museum: Deconstructing Type. On display in December of 2022, this collection of solo typographically-focused exhibits, put on by Peter Cocking’s fall Advanced Typography class, served both as a presentation of knowledge as well as an educational starting point discussing a variety of typographic histories. The final exhibition identity boldly supported its content, holding the title Deconstructing Type due to the many exhibits discussing the deconstruction or reinvention of traditional type practices. This work ultimately included an in-depth exploration of risograph printing, expressive typography, and visual language to support participation and engagement from the community.

For their thesis project, Fyonna Laddaran and Kin Godwin Chua explored Filipino history and culture through cuisine; more specifically, celebrating and creating conversation around the ways Filipino people have been resilient in the face of colonialism. Through exploration of cuisine and historical contexts they hoped to tell the rich stories of how different Filipino dishes became popular and evolved over time. Their event consisted of hosting a traditional Filipino communal meal, inviting their peers to participate and learn about Filipino cuisine in a sensorial way. They also designed printed graphic materials to supplement the experience and give away to participants as a thank you (a la takeaway “baon” tradition in the Philippines).