Design for Startups
For Student-Designers
Apply Your Design Practice in the Real World.
Design for Startups (D4S) gives senior Emily Carr student-designers the opportunity to work directly with innovative Canadian startups and SMEs on meaningful design challenges.
Over 12 weeks, you’ll collaborate with founders, engineers, researchers and business leaders to apply human-centred design to real products and services—while receiving mentorship from ECU faculty and earning paid industry experience.
Why Participate?
As a D4S student-designer, you’ll:
- Work directly with a Canadian startup or SME on a real-world design challenge.
- Build a portfolio with professional client work.
- Receive mentorship from Emily Carr faculty and program team throughout the project.
- Strengthen your research, communication, and collaboration skills.
- Gain paid industry experience while completing your studies.
- Expand your professional network and explore future employment opportunities.
What You’ll Work On
Design projects vary across cohorts but often include:
- User experience (UX) and interface (UI) design
- Product and service design
- Design research and usability testing
- Brand identity and visual communication
- Information architecture
- Customer journey mapping
- Design systems and prototyping
- Data visualization
Who Should Apply?
To participate, all applicants must:
- Be enrolled 3rd or 4th year undergraduate design students (INTD or COMD) or graduate design students (MDes)
- Hold a minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Reside in British Columbia for the entire duration of the program and hold valid work authorization
- Be committed to maintaining client confidentiality and using generative AI only in accordance with existing ECU generative AI (GAI) guidelines and with explicit approval in advance by the program faculty and managers.
Ideal applicants are:
- Strong communicators
- Comfortable working independently
- Curious about design research
- Interested in technology, innovation and entrepreneurship
Student-Designer Application Process
“My personal growth as a designer and being able to see the outcome and impact that I made for my industry partner was the most effective aspect of the program for me. D4S has given me the chance to gain industry working experience. It was also a great learning experience, just to see how the industry world is changing. I also loved all the guest speakers; their guidance definitely helped me to elevate my design skills.”
– Terrence Ho (BDes 2026), D4S Spring 2026 Cohort
Student-Designer Success Stories
See how Design for Startups has helped Emily Carr student-designers gain industry experience, build professional portfolios, and launch their careers.
Faizaan Siddiqui Gains Exposure and Experience with Design for Startups
The user-experience designer and ECU Master of Design student is a three-time participant in the program that pairs students with tech companies to learn on the job.
➡ Click to Read the Full Story
Neha Adinamozhi Hones Design Skills with ‘Fantastic’ Placement at Local Startup
The designer and ECU student led the development of a points system for Minivillage, courtesy of a placement via Shumka Centre’s Design for Startups program.
➡ Click to Read the Full Story
ECU Student Violet Zhang Earns Real-World Design Experience with Local Startup
The designer and ECU student helped lead an overhaul of the website for Tickit Health, a company specializing in digital solutions for improving patient care.
➡ Click to Read the Full Story
“The most effective aspects was the ability to speak directly with clients and work within a team setting. I also appreciated the effort that our supervisors put into preparing us for our partnerships such as presentation, communication and more. They really helped develop skills that we would need to use in real workplaces. I learned a lot of applicable skills that I will continue to develop and work on.”
– Emily Qiang (BDes 2026), D4S Fall 2025 Cohort
Student-Designer FAQs
Who can apply?
Design for Startups is open to all eligible Emily Carr undergraduate Interaction and Communication Design as well as Master of Design students. Priority is given to students whose skills and experience align with participating companies’ design challenges.
Is this a paid opportunity?
Yes. Student-designers are employed by the Shumka Centre as Research Assistants (Undergraduate Level 2 or Graduate Level) and are paid 180 hours for their participation. The Research Assistant rates are determined by HR. The most up to date rates can be accessed through the Student Employment intranet page.
How much time should I expect to commit?
Approximately 15 hours per week, including:
- 10–12 hours working directly with your company.
- 3 hours in a weekly design lab.
Can I choose the company I work with?
No. Student-designers are matched by the program team based on portfolios, skills, interests, and project fit.
Is this an internship?
No. An internship typically places a student within a company to gain broad workplace experience while contributing to its ongoing activities. Design for Startups is a structured, project-based collaboration focused on a specific business challenge.
Can I include the work in the portfolio?
Yes. Student-designers are encouraged to showcase their work in their portfolios, subject to any confidentiality terms agreed upon with the company.