Program Overview

Wilson School of Design

Continuing Studies Courses

Our Continuing Studies Courses are open to community members for general interest and those who might be looking to build their skills, and those looking to gain new skills. If you are considering pursuing post-secondary design programs these courses will help you develop your skills and build your portfolio while also getting to know our labs, and programs that we offer a bit better. Are you a teacher working on your UBC Diploma in Education in Home Economics Education? These continuing professional studies courses may be used toward your credential, see above UBC link for more details!

Summer 2025 Courses

• Cricut Design Space
  • Course Number: FSDP 9043
  • Course Price: $100 + GST
  • Upcoming Dates: May 16 OR May 26, In-Person (course is one day only, offered on two dates)
  • Online Option Available
  • Course Hours: 9am to 2:50pm (includes one hour lunch)
  • Location: Richmond Campus, Wilson Building
  This course is ideal for educators as well as anyone with a Cricut at home or those interested in learning how to use Cricut Design Space to create heat transfer applications and sticker sheets. It is especially beneficial for teachers looking to create classroom resources or engage with school club activities.
• Hand Embroidery
  • Course Number: FSDP 9042
  • Course Price: $225 + GST
  • Upcoming Dates: May 24, May 31, Jun 7, In-Person & Online Option - 3 Saturdays
  • Course Hours: 9am to 2:50pm (includes one hour lunch)
  • Location: Richmond Campus, Wilson Building
  This is an introductory course on hand embroidery for ages 12+. Students will be introduced to various hand embroidery techniques including but not limited to: woven wheel, satin stitch, leaf stitch, back stitch, running stitch, blanket stitch, and French knot. Students will learn how to design and transfer embroidery patterns, plan for their design, and how to select threads and uses for various types of stitches for different functions. Students will use these stitches to create an embroidery design.
• How to Naturally Dye Fabric
  • Course Number: FSDP 9017
  • Course Price: $350 + GST
  • Upcoming Dates: July 21 - July 25, In-Person
  • Course Hours: 9am to 5:20pm (includes one hour lunch)
  • Location: Richmond Campus, Wilson Building
  Learn the art of working with plants and food to naturally dye fabric. This course will provide participants with a unique and enjoyable exploration of various textile treatments and techniques especially focusing on the use of natural dyes. These techniques will be taught with instructions that make the processes a learning experience not only for the craft itself but also for the history and cultural understanding of these processes and their relevance to the textile work and innovations of today.
• Sewing Woven Shirts
  • Course Number: FSDP 9037
  • Course Price: $350 + GST
  • Upcoming Dates: July 26 - August 30 (6 x Saturdays), In-Person
  • Course Hours: 9am to 3:20pm (includes half hour lunch)
  • Location: Richmond Campus, Wilson Building
  This course covers foundational sewing knowledge including how to purchase fabrics and how to work with PDF sewing patterns. Throughout this course students will be constructing a unisex long-sleeve button-up utility shirt. Course content explores working with woven fabrics, sewing collars, collar stands, button plackets, pockets, setting in sleeves and sleeve cuffs. All the video demonstration tutorials include clear directions and trouble-shooting tips.
• Sewing Dresses
  • Course Number: FSDP 9041
  • Course Price: $350 + GST
  • Upcoming Dates: July 28 - Aug 1, In-Person
  • Course Hours: 9am to 5:20pm (includes one hour lunch)
  • Location: Richmond Campus, Wilson Building
  Learn how to sew details and techniques commonly seen in dresses. An overview of basic sewing knowledge relating to grainlines, finishing, and working with woven fabrics will be covered in this course. Depending on student’s sewing experience and areas of interest the following will be explored: facings, necklines, hemming, zippers, and seam types. All in-class sewing will be done on industrial machines, no previous sewing experience is needed.
• Using Industrial Sewing Machines
  • Course Number: FSDP 9040
  • Course Price: $300 + GST
  • Upcoming Dates: Aug 5 - Aug 8, In-Person
  • Course Hours: 9am to 2:50pm (includes one hour lunch)
  • Location: Richmond Campus, Wilson Building
  In this dynamic and hands-on course, you’ll gain practical experience using a range of industrial sewing machines, including straight stitch, sergers, and various specialty machines available on campus. You’ll develop a strong foundation in machine operation, with a focus on threading techniques, understanding fabric thickness, managing tension, and troubleshooting common issues.
• Summer Design Foundation Academy
  • Course Number: FSDP 9001
  • Course Price: $300 + GST
  • Upcoming Dates: Aug 5 - Aug 8, In-Person
  • Course Hours: 9am to 2:50pm (includes one hour lunch)
  • Location: Richmond Campus, Wilson Building
  Interested in learning more about what designers do? Learn from a range of design educators from the Wilson School of Design and create inspiration materials and illustrations, transform shapes into soft objects, and practice photo manipulation through computer programs like Adobe Photoshop. Each day includes a different design area and projects done at home while working with your instructor. Each student will build a personalized design portfolio and projects that will be valuable for a future in design. No previous experience needed ages 12+.
• Working with Knits
  • Course Number: FSDP 9004
  • Course Price: $350 + GST
  • Upcoming Dates: Aug 11 - Aug 15, In-Person
  • Course Hours: 9am to 5:20pm (includes one hour lunch)
  • Location: Richmond Campus, Wilson Building
  Participants will learn pattern drafting and construction techniques for knits. They will construct and prototype knit tops and bottoms from commercial patterns, learning creative finishes for seams, hems, and necklines, while sampling a variety of industrial sewing machines on campus. During group conversations we will explore amounts of stretch, negative ease, and other considerations when working with knit fabrics.
• Adventure Pack Bag Making
  • Course Number: FSDP 9038
  • Course Price: $350 + GST
  • Upcoming Dates: Aug 11 - Aug 15, In-Person
  • Course Hours: 9am to 5:20pm (includes one hour lunch)
  • Location: Richmond Campus, Wilson Building
  Learn the fundamentals of pattern drafting and sewing by working your way through making a tote bag and zippered pouch. Together we will draft patterns for these two bags, discussing pattern drafting basics, and pattern design, and pattern alterations. Once we have patterns to work with, we will move on to sewing both bags covering skills such as selecting and cutting out fabric, working with zippers, linings, seam types and finishes, and much more. Course content will also touch on troubleshooting techniques for pattern drafting and sewing, and tips for building on skills and knowledge covered in the course.
• Making Commercial Patterns Fit
  • Course Number: FSDP 9039
  • Course Price: $350 + GST
  • Upcoming Dates: Aug 18 - Aug 22, In-Person
  • Course Hours: 9am to 5:20pm (includes one hour lunch)
  • Location: Richmond Campus, Wilson Building
  Students will learn pattern and design techniques as they manipulate commercial and pre-existing patterns. In this course we will explore pattern drafting basics, sew prototypes, and experiment with fit for different body types. Suitability of fabrics for design decisions will also be discussed.
• Developing Your Fashion Portfolio
  • Course Number: FSDP 9007
  • Course Price: $350 + GST
  • Upcoming Dates: Aug 18 - Aug 22, In-Person
  • Course Hours: 9am to 5:20pm (includes one hour lunch)
  • Location: Richmond Campus, Wilson Building
  Hands-on exploration of the fashion design process is at the core of this course. You’ll develop themes and storyboards, learn to sketch fashion figures, experiment with fabric draping for garment ideas, and hone your digital drawing skills using industry-standard software like Adobe Illustrator. Content will be explored from a perspective of how knowledge and skills covered in the course may also apply and relate to careers in the fashion industry. No prior drawing experience is necessary, making this course accessible to all.