Design News

Pride Month 2020 will be remembered as a month of action. Without the big parade or shoulder-to-shoulder crowds on Church Street, we were forced to set aside the free swag, the "gay tourism" and the corporate sponsorships to reflect on why we celebrate Pride in the first place. We were reminded that it is a time to protest, to care for ourselves, care for those who live in the margins, and to make some noise. And looking back at this past year, it is clear that AMPD made a lot of noise.

Another school year has come to an end, which means it is time to celebrate and send-off our graduating class as they prepare themselves for the next stage of their careers.

These are truly extraordinary circumstances. In any other year, we would gather in the large Centre of Excellence at the Aviva Centre, surrounded by family and friends. There would be hugs, high fives, and photo opportunities. But even though the love cannot be shared in-person, we want the Class of 2020 to know that we hold them deeply in our hearts.

Last week, President Rhonda Lenton wrote to the York community about the University’s planning for the fall academic term. That message emphasized adherence to public health and safety and access to courses so that students can progress in their programs. The message also noted the potential for select experiential activities on campus. As explained in that communication, courses will clearly state whether on-campus activities may be required.

For students in York University's Design program, the annual showcase organized by the graduating class has been a valuable, experiential opportunity for profiling their work and putting the culmination of four years of hard work on display for friends, family, community members and industry professionals.

Albert Ng, a prominent local graphic designer and instructor in York University’s School of the Arts, Media, Performance and Design (AMPD), has designed a special edition Year of the Rat stamp for this year’s issue of Canada Post’s Lunar New Year series. Ng collaborated with Seung-Sai Paek, an AMPD design graduate, on the illustration titled “Rat’s Wedding.”

It's the end of 2019, a momentous year for AMPD. As we amp up for a new decade ahead, we want to celebrate the moments that you appreciated most on our social media feeds this past year.

Do you want some money you don’t have to pay back? In 2018-19 AMPD students received over 2.2 million dollars in scholarships, awards and bursaries, set up by York’s incredible community of generous supporters! The vast majority of eligible students who apply receive an award.

The history and foundation of the AMPD community is what propels us forward, emboldening us to pose new questions, devise new methods, and test new limits. This spirit of experimentation and improvisation found throughout our faculty is the difference between keeping up with today and leading the way into tomorrow.