From posters to tote bags to trinket dishes, the collection expresses students’ reflections on ECU’s centennial year.
A small limited-edition merchandise collection designed by students at Emily Carr University of Art + Design (ECU) celebrates 100 years of art and design.
From illustration to screen printing to ceramics, each artist’s piece reflects their unique style, practice and interpretation of our centennial theme, 100 Years in the Making.
“All the historic, legacy equipment in the school is a through-line between different generations of students,” says second-year Visual Arts student Nate Jackman, who screenprinted an image of the Print Media Studio’s iconic French Tool etching press onto totes bags.
“I’ve gotten to talk to students who graduated decades ago and learned they used the same equipment we’re using now. It felt incredibly connective, and I think my image embodies that togetherness in the school’s history.”
Graduating Visual Arts student Dayana Marden (BFA 2026) adorned tote bags with a screen-printed image depicting a familiar staple of student life at ECU: critique day.
“Crit days are an integral part of getting feedback from your peers and professors, and of learning and growing together,” she says. “Looking through pictures of ECU students from the past, we saw many of them were from critique days. So, my image is a glimpse of the life of a student, whether from today or a hundred years ago.”
Graduating Visual Arts student Alex Wang-Chung (BFA 2026) handcrafted trinket dishes embossed with an ECU100 logo. He says participating in the project gave him an opportunity to reflect on what it means to be one of ECU’s first graduates of its second century.
“One hundred years means the culmination of work by everyone who came before us,” he says. “It also underlines the importance of creativity not only across industries, but to society as a whole.”
The student collection also includes three gorgeous posters created by Illustration students Kasimir Chupik-Hall, Nipuli Ranatunga and Megan Rowbottom.
Shop the full collection of student-designed merchandise while supplies last at The Show Opening Night, May 13, 2026, from 5pm to 10pm. And don’t forget to shop the rest of ECU’s indelible centennial merch collection featuring clothing, homewares and tote bags. Created to mark a century of bold art and design, the items are available for a limited time through the ECU Merch Shop.
100 Years of Creativity: The Stories that Shaped Us
As part of Emily Carr University’s centennial celebrations and our ‘100 Years of Creativity’ campaign, we are sharing stories that spotlight the creativity, resilience and impact of our community over the past 100 years. These stories feature the people, projects, places and ideas that have shaped ECU, reminding us of our shared legacy while inspiring the future. By revisiting past milestones and sharing new ones, we honour the many voices that built our institution and continue to guide its path forward.
For more information about ECU 100 centennial celebrations, upcoming events and stories, visit our webpage.
More About Print Media at ECU
Engage in immersive studio courses and critical studies that explore print media’s historical and modern facets. Experiment with various printmaking techniques using specialized equipment and facilities, developing a unique artistic practice.
The curriculum emphasizes understanding the global histories of print media and its intersections with fine art, popular culture, mass media, propaganda, marketing and social movements.
Visit our website to learn more.
More About Ceramics at ECU
Blending art and design with form and function, ECU’s Ceramics major intersects with multiple creative disciplines, offering expansive possibilities in a dynamic and evolving field.
The curriculum merges classical methods with innovative technologies and digital applications such as 3D printing, encouraging experimentation across related art forms including sculpture and design.
Visit our website to learn more.
More About Illustration at ECU
Illustration brings ideas to life, turning concepts into compelling visuals that inspire, inform and communicate.
Explore traditional and digital techniques, refine your artistic voice and experiment with new approaches in ECU’s Illustration program. Hands-on projects and critical studies open doors to diverse opportunities, from art exhibitions to media careers.
Visit our website to learn more.
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