Graduation Award Descriptions

Download the PDF application and instructions for this award

Application Deadline: April 29

The DESIS Radical Sustainability award honours student projects that best demonstrate how design can “activate, sustain, and orient processes of social change toward sustainability” (Jégou & Manzini 2008). The award was established in 2019 by the Emily Carr DESIS Lab. Student Eligibility:

Applicants must be fourth-year Bachelor of Design student (or students) enrolled in a minimum of 9 credits. The project submitted will be exhibited in The Show/Virtual Exhibition, and the design will:

• encourage shifts in collective/social behaviour to significantly reduce consumption and/or extraction. Social change is the key element in the design: material change does not qualify, and/or
• create new convivial and socially equitable relationships between humans and the natural world, including other than humans. This new relationship is attuned to the service of nature, rather than nature serving humans, and/or
• open up a new dialogue among community/communities about sustainability, and/or
• challenge the North American culture of convenience (and the resulting unintended consequences created by disposability, car culture, air travel, single-family dwellings etc.), and/or
• challenge capitalism and supports post-growth alternatives.

Instructions

Submissions must be PDF documents of no more than 5 pages including the application. Referring to specific work(s) or projects, the successful applicant(s) will also:

• complete the application form PDF, following all instructions.
• include images and a short statement (250-500 words) describing how they define social innovation within the context of the project, and how this project contributes to ecological sustainability with regards to the outlined criteria.

Note: this award is selected by a faculty jury.

Download the PDF application and instructions for this award

Application Deadline: April 29

The Ecological Design Award recognizes the essential role of design in remediating the ecological relationship of people and the planet. The award was established in 2014 by Dr. Rory Wallace, Professor Emeritus.

Applicants must be a fourth-year Bachelor of Design student (or team of students) enrolled in a minimum of 9 credits. The project submitted will be exhibited in The Show/Virtual Exhibition. Referring to specific work(s) or projects, the successful applicant(s) will demonstrate the potential for significant social and ecological impact, and include an implementation plan.

Instructions

Referring to specific work(s) or projects, the applicant(s) will:

• complete the application form PDF of no more than 5 pages including the application form.
• include a short statement (250-500 words) describing how the project relates to the social and political issues involved in environmental issues.
• demonstrate the potential for significant social and ecological impact, and
• include an implementation plan to demonstrate that the project is feasible and applicable.

Note: this award is selected by an internal faculty jury.

Download the PDF application and instructions for this award

Application Deadline: April 29

Awarded to a design student whose work in the Virtual Exhibition explores or responds to anti-Black, anti-Indigenous, or anti-Asian discrimination and racism. In addition to the subject matter, the work will demonstrate proficiency using the elements and principles of design.

Eligibility:

• This award is open to graduating design students who identify as BIPOC, and who are exhibiting in The Show.
• The work(s)/project submitted will be exhibited on the Virtual Exhibition.

Criteria:

• Creative work(s)/project in the Virtual Exhibition that explores or responds to anti-Black, anti-Indigenous, or anti-Asian racism.

Instructions:

• Applicants will include a short statement of approx. 200 words describing how their Graduation project relates to anti-racism and social justice.

About the ECU Graduation Awards for Anti-Racism and Social Justice

Emily Carr University of Art + Design is committed to confronting the systemic racism that the BIPOC community faces as part of their experience at ECU and outside the walls of the university. We are committed to building principles of Equity and Diversity throughout the university to better support meaningful and respectful forms of engagement. This includes implementing actions such as targeted funding and the allocation of resources to better serve historically underrepresented groups.

These awards are part of the university’s commitment to recognize and respond to students' leadership in requesting further acknowledgement of BIPOC students in making art, as an anti-racist and decolonial gesture. They are being created as a first declaration of multi-racial solidarity in an effort to cultivate a community of care, accountability, responsibility, respect, dignity, and radical hope.

As part of this commitment, the university has created three Graduation Awards (Design, Media, Visual Arts) for students participating in The Show Graduation Exhibition whose creative works explore or respond to anti-Black, anti-Indigenous, or anti-Asian racism. These three awards are for artists that self identify as BIPOC.

Works can address issues of inequity that not only permeate our society but are also reproduced within ECU, locally in B.C and Vancouver, or impact the world at large.

Adjudication

Students exhibiting works in the Virtual Exhibition will be selected to receive awards in an unbiased manner by calling upon diverse juries of professionals and practitioners, such as artists, designers, filmmakers, animators, and curators. The aim is for the Jury to comprise at least 50% BIPOC professionals. A short biography will be made available on the Grad Award website as we confirm them.

Download the PDF application and instructions for this award

For Community Engagement | Open to All Disciplines

Application Deadline: April 29

The ECUAA award recognizes students who place community at the centre of their creative practice, stand for a purpose that is bigger than themselves, and explore that which benefits others. The Emily Carr Alumni Association advocates for and celebrates alumni from all programs, years, and disciplines. We encourage dynamic relationships with past, present, and future members of the Emily Carr University Community.

The award value also varies year to year.

Eligibility:

• Applicants must be fourth-year students participating in the Virtual Exhibition.
• The work(s)/project will be exhibited in the Virtual Exhibition.

Criteria:

The applying student is:

• currently has a creative practice that functions within community building, engagement, or activism.

and/or

• their work explores, discusses, embraces or demonstrates community or the goals of community engagement and social discourse. The successful applicant can demonstrate active participation within the community throughout their studies at Emily Carr.

• Applicants will have volunteer/service experience throughout their undergraduate studies at Emily Carr. This could include volunteering in the greater community, at the university, developing or participating in a club, or serving as a student representative.

Application Requirements:

Please Include -

• a statement of 500 words describing your current practice and work. (You may wish to add where you hope to take your practice in the future.) Consider: your views on engagement, the role of your medium, how your work or practice is involved with social discourse, and/or the building or betterment of community.

• if applicable, include images of your work, project or community practice in action; any support material produced for project/event; and documentation of work/process.

• Include a list of your volunteer and/or service activities, clubs or associations and your role within them.

Format

*Submissions must be in PDF format of no more than 4 pages. Your submission must include the 500 word written statement described in the criteria above.

Download the PDF application and instructions for this award

Application Deadline: April 29

Awarded to a graduating design student who has completed a health-related design project on the Virtual Exhibition.

Criteria:

The winning applicant will be selected based on:

• Innovation
• Originality and viability of a project
• Needs assessment and potential impact
• Overall quality of work and communication

Requirements:

Submissions must be PDF documents as indicated on the application. Referring to specific work(s) or projects, the successful applicant(s) will also:

• complete the application form PDF, following all instructions.
• include images and a short statement (up to 1,000 words and five images describing how their graduation project addresses the award's criteria).

Download the PDF application and instructions for this award

Application Deadline: April 29

Awarded to a graduating design student who has helped develop a service-based project or concept, as a designer to a health project, initiative or organization.

Eligibility:

• MDes and BDes students will have worked with an external user, health organization or professional in order to qualify for the award, in either a volunteer or paid design position.

Criteria:

The winning applicant will be selected based on:

• Student’s work in the area of health design while at ECU (not limited to their graduating year)
• How the project(s) have provided service and advanced the role of health design
• The impact of their involvement and service
• Overall quality of work and communication

Requirements:

Submissions must be PDF documents as indicated on the application. Referring to specific work(s) or projects, the successful applicant(s) will also:

• complete the application form PDF, following all instructions.
• include images and a short statement (up to 1,000 words and five images describing how their graduation project addresses the award's criteria).
  

Awarded to a Communication Design student exhibiting in the Virtual Exhibition whose work exhibits innovative and well-resolved work in the area of commercial printing and/or packaging. (BDes)

Awarded for academic excellence combined with work in the Virtual Exhibition in the area of design. (BDes)

This award does not require an application. Students will be shortlisted based on their GPA, with the recipient selected through the jury process.

Awarded to a graduate/undergraduate Industrial Design student working in Wood Design, with a preference given to furniture designers. The award will be based on work presented in the Virtual Exhibition. (BDes + MDes)

Awarded to a graduate design student exhibiting on the Virtual Exhibition selected through the Graduation Jury process. Preference will be given to students who are Canadian citizens. (MDes)

Awarded to an Industrial Design student for the development of new wood products; creation of new designs in wood; development of new applications of existing products; and designs which have the potential to solve significant social, economic and/or environmental concerns through the appropriate application of wood products. The award will be based on work presented in the Virtual Exhibition. (BDes)

Download the PDF application and instructions for this award

Application Deadline: April 29

Awarded to a visual arts student whose work on the Virtual Exhibition explores or responds to anti-Black, anti-Indigenous, or anti-Asian discrimination and racism. In addition to the subject matter, the work will demonstrate proficiency in using the elements and principles of visual arts.

Eligibility:

• This award is open to visual arts students who identify as BIPOC, and who are exhibiting in The Show.
• The work(s)/project submitted will be exhibited in the Virtual Exhibition.

Criteria:

• Creative work(s)/project in the Virtual Exhibition that explores or responds to anti-Black, anti-Indigenous, or anti-Asian racism.

Instructions:

• Applicants will include a short statement of approx. 200 words describing how their Graduation project relates to anti-racism and social justice.

About the ECU Graduation Awards for Anti-Racism and Social Justice

Emily Carr University of Art + Design is committed to confronting the systemic racism that the BIPOC community faces as part of their experience at ECU and outside the walls of the university. We are committed to building principles of Equity and Diversity throughout the university to better support meaningful and respectful forms of engagement. This includes implementing actions such as targeted funding and the allocation of resources to better serve historically underrepresented groups.

These awards are part of the university’s commitment to recognize and respond to students' leadership in requesting further acknowledgement of BIPOC students in making art, as an anti-racist and decolonial gesture. They are being created as a first declaration of multi-racial solidarity in an effort to cultivate a community of care, accountability, responsibility, respect, dignity, and radical hope.

As part of this commitment, the university has created three Graduation Awards (Design, Media, Visual Arts) for students participating in the Online Exhibition whose creative works explore or respond to anti-Black, anti-Indigenous, or anti-Asian racism. These three awards are for artists that self-identify as BIPOC.

Works can address issues of inequity that not only permeate our society but are also reproduced within ECU, locally in B.C and Vancouver, or impact the world at large.

Adjudication

Students participating in Virtual Exhibition will be selected to receive awards in an unbiased manner by calling upon diverse juries of professionals and practitioners, such as artists, designers, filmmakers, animators, and curators. The aim is for the juries to comprise 50% BIPOC professionals. Their biographies will be made available on the Grad Award website as we confirm them.

Awarded for academic excellence combined with work in the Online Exhibition in the area of visual arts. (BFA)

This award does not require an application. Students will be shortlisted based on their GPA, with the recipient selected through the jury process.

Awarded to a student majoring in Visual Arts from the Visual Art & Material Practice program or Graduate Studies Program exhibiting in the Virtual Exhibition working in the discipline of painting. (BFA + MFA)

Awarded to a BFA student exhibiting in the Virtual Exhibition working in the discipline(s) of painting, drawing, ceramics, sculpture, illustration, photography or print media.

Awarded to an MFA student exhibiting in the Virtual Exhibition working in the discipline(s) of painting, drawing, ceramics, sculpture, illustration, photography or print media.

Awarded for excellence in Painting or Printmaking in the Virtual Exhibition.

Awarded to celebrate an Emily Carr undergraduate student and Photography major whose work in the Virtual Exhibition demonstrates excellent conception, production and execution of their final graduation exhibition piece. The “Fund” is intended to nurture and support emerging photographers.

Awarded to an Emily Carr student based on the student’s visual arts work (painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, printmaking) on the Virtual Exhibition. This award will be limited to students majoring in Visual Arts from the Visual Art & Material Practice program or Graduate Studies program. (BFA + MFA)

Award of excellence to an Emily Carr University visual arts student based on their work on the Virtual Exhibition. (BFA + MFA)

Awarded to an undergraduate visual arts student whose work on the Virtual Exhibition is in the medium of watercolour. If the jury is unable to select a painter working in watercolour, a painting student working in a different medium will receive the award. (BFA)

Awarded to a graduating New Media + Sound Art (NMSA) major, with the works of all NMSA majors graduating in a given year being considered for the award. The recipient will be selected by NMSA faculty who will review students’ final graduation project, student experimentation, research, and also consider contributions to the community. This award does not require an application.

Awarded to the undergraduate student with the highest GPA graduating from the Bachelor of Media Arts program. This award does not require an application.

Awarded for academic excellence combined with work in The Show/Virtual Exhibition in the area of media arts (undergraduate).

This award does not require an application. Students will be shortlisted based on their GPA, with the recipient selected through the Media Jury Process.

Awarded to a media student whose work presented in the virtual exhibition/screening or The Show explores or responds to anti-Black, anti-Indigenous, or anti-Asian discrimination and racism. In addition to the subject matter, the work will demonstrate proficiency using the elements and principles of film and animation.

Eligibility:

• This award is open to graduating Film + Screen Arts, New Media & Sound Art, 2D + Experimental Animation and 3D Computer Animation students who identify as BIPOC, and who are participating in the virtual exhibition/screening or The Show.
• The work(s)/project submitted will be presented in the virtual exhibition/screening or The Show.

Criteria:

• Creative work(s)/project in The Show/Virtual Exhibition explore or respond to anti-Black, anti-Indigenous, or anti-Asian racism.
  
• Faculty will nominate one student from their area for the short-list; the short-listed students will complete an application form.
  
• The jury will select the recipient from the shortlist.
• Shortlisted students will be asked to submit an application for this award confirming their eligibility.
  

The President’s Media Awards for Excellence celebrate a graduating student who has studied Film + Screen Arts, New Media + Sound Art, 2D + Experimental Animation or 3D Computer Animation as a major, and whose work demonstrates excellent conception, production and execution of their final graduation exhibition film/media production.

Eligibility:

• Applicants must be a 4th year undergraduate student enrolled in Film + Screen Arts.
• Their final production was submitted in the degree exhibition/screening or The Show.
• No application is required.

The President’s Media Awards for Excellence celebrate a graduating student who has studied Film + Screen Arts, New Media + Sound Art, 2D + Experimental Animation or 3D Computer Animation as a major, and whose work demonstrates excellent conception, production and execution of their final graduation exhibition film/media production.

Eligibility:

• Applicants must be a 4th year undergraduate student enrolled in 2D + Experimental Animation.
• Their final production was submitted in the degree exhibition/screening or The Show.
• No application is required.

The President’s Media Awards for Excellence celebrate a graduating student who has studied Film + Screen Arts, New Media + Sound Art, 2D + Experimental Animation and 3D Computer Animation as a major, and whose work demonstrates excellent conception, production and execution of their final graduation exhibition film/media production.

Eligibility:

• Applicants must be a 4th year undergraduate student enrolled in 3D Computer Animation.
• Their final production was submitted in the degree exhibition/screening or The Show.
• No application is required.

The President’s Media Awards for Excellence celebrate a graduating student who has studied Film + Screen Arts, New Media + Sound Art, 2D + Experimental Animation or 3D Computer Animation as a major, and whose work demonstrates excellent conception, production and execution of their final graduation exhibition film/media production.

The range of media installation practices may include projection, interaction, performative, responsive, web-based, sculptural, etc.

Eligibility:

• Applicants must be a 4th year undergraduate student enrolled in a BMA degree.
• Their final production was submitted in the degree exhibition/screening or The Show Graduation Exhibition website.
• No application is required.

The President’s Media Awards for Excellence celebrate a graduating student who has studied Film + Screen Arts, New Media + Sound Art, 2D + Experimental Animation or 3D Computer Animation as a major, and whose final graduation production demonstrates excellent conception, production and execution, where sound is either the primary material of the work or integral to the expression of the work.

Eligibility:

• Applicants must be a 4th year NMSA undergraduate student enrolled in a BMA degree.
• Their final production was submitted in the degree exhibition/screening or The Show.
• No application is required.

Awarded to a mature female student or students in Photography, Animation, Film/Video and Integrated Media or Interactive Social Media. The student(s) will be recognized as a political or social activist, a feminist, and who pushes boundaries in her work.

This award does not require an application. The recipient will be selected by the Saralee James Committee and notified.