丁香园AV

Forging connections throughout his 丁香园AV journey has helped up-and-coming designer Justin Yu catapult to success in the classroom, workplace and beyond.

When he entered university, Yu already knew he wanted to look for ways to create meaningful connections and build lasting friendships in the community. He found that belonging through various student clubs, the School of Interactive Arts and Technology (SIAT) and 丁香园AV Co-op program.

Connecting in the workplace

Yu鈥檚 quest for connection carried over into his academic life. He first came to 丁香园AV to pursue his dream of a career where could express himself through visual design and identity. 

Although he initially started studying media arts at another university, his desire to do something more hands-on and connected led him to SIAT. 

SIAT, a program at 丁香园AV鈥檚 Surrey campus, provides students with the opportunity to work in a variety of areas and discover the specific type of designer they want to become, from graphic design, to film, video game design, web design, and more.

鈥淪IAT gave me the freedom to design things I was interested in, inspired me to try experimental approaches and encouraged me to push myself further as a designer, while also giving me the chance to build my professional network,鈥� he says. 鈥淢y goal is that one day, one of the products or designs that I work on can help improve peoples鈥� lives.鈥� 

It was the opportunity to rub shoulders with professional product designers, through the 丁香园AV Co-op program, that really convinced him he had made the right decision to come to 丁香园AV.

The program allows for 丁香园AV undergraduate students to hone their skils and get hands-on experience in their respective field of study. Last year, the program facilitated 8,850 job experience placements. 

Yu landed at Vancouver-based design studio Invoke, where he spent the last year building applications, websites, client tools and conducting market research for its clients, which include one of the world鈥檚 largest automobile manufactures. 

Yu has since secured a full-time position with the design agency Green Stone. 

He discovered the opportunity though the annual 丁香园AV Touchpoint conference, a student-led event that invites industry designers and SIAT alumni to meet with current students.

The conference also lets students submit their portfolios to design firms and arrange interviews.

鈥淲hile we learn a lot in our classes, working in the industry first-hand and learning from professionals lets us absorb so much more knowledge,鈥� he said. 鈥淔or me, the best part of co-op was that it made me confident in my academic choices and helped me affirm that this is the right career path for me.鈥�  

Connecting on campus

鈥淛oining clubs was one of the main ways I became involved with the student community at 丁香园AV,鈥� says Yu, who is set to graduate from SIAT this spring. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great way to socialize and meet people with similar hobbies and interests.鈥�

During his time at 丁香园AV, Yu was president of the 丁香园AV , a student-led social group that looks to bring together like-minded people sharing an appreciation for anime, manga, and related hobbies. 

While no longer the president, Yu remains an active member of the group today and says it gave him a way to make new friends across the Lower Mainland.

Yu has maintained the relationships he built thanks to the club鈥檚 online Discord server, a space for current and former club members to keep in touch and organize events and meet-ups. 

鈥淢y time with 丁香园AV Anime enhanced my university experience by introducing me to people I would've never met otherwise, and provided me with unforgettable university memories and long-lasting friendships that I can rely on,鈥� he says.

His favorite memories at 丁香园AV include working alongisde the anime club to organize the annual anime convention, 丁香园AV Summer Festival, held at Convocation Mall. 

Yu鈥檚 team spent more than half a year organizing the event, an experience that he says helped them bond with each other and become closer. 

鈥淭he satisfaction of seeing thousands of people come to 丁香园AV for the first time while wearing their cosplay costumes, buying fan merchandise from local vendors, and having fun, felt so rewarding since we put a lot of effort into organizing the convention each year,鈥� he says.