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About PDA

The PDA Difference

We blend creativity, community, and career readiness to shape designers who make an impact—locally and globally. Learn what makes us unlike any other design school.

Fashion Design diploma program

WHO WE ARE

Big Dreams.
Small Classes.

Pacific Design Academy (PDA) isn’t just a school—it’s a creative studio, supportive community, and launchpad for design careers. Located in the heart of Victoria, British Columbia, PDA is where aspiring creatives come to explore their potential, develop real-world skills, and grow through hands-on, industry-relevant learning.
Whether you're stepping into post-secondary education or transitioning into a new creative path, PDA offers an environment that values your vision, challenges your thinking, and helps you thrive in today’s design-driven world.

Full Time Diploma Programs

OUR PROGRAMS

Professional Design Certificates

CURRENT COURSES

Part Time
Design Workshops

CURRENT WORKSHOPS

Summer
Design Programs

OPEN PROGRAMS

WHO WE ARE

Established
in 1991

Launch Your Creative Career at Pacific Design Academy (PDA)
At Pacific Design Academy (PDA) in Victoria, BC, we offer industry-driven diploma programs designed to prepare students for careers in Fashion Design, Interior Design, Graphic Media Design, App & Web development, Film Production, and Architectural Building Technology.
Our artistically inspired and technology-focused curriculum is continuously updated to reflect current industry trends. Courses are taught by experienced professionals who bring real-world knowledge and hands-on expertise into every classroom.
With small class sizes, personalized instruction, and a collaborative learning environment, PDA empowers students to develop the creative and technical skills needed to succeed in today’s competitive design and technology fields.

Pacific Design Academy

Creative
Collaboration

Small
Class Sizes

Experienced
Faculty

Industry
Connections

Paddy
the PDA Mascot

Say hello to Paddy, the official mascot of Pacific Design Academy! Representing the spirit of all PDA design disciplines, Paddy is a bold, curious, and wildly creative character who celebrates everything our students stand for: innovation, imagination, and hands-on learning.

Paddy was lovingly designed by PDA student Zoe Jensen as part of a student-led creative challenge. With his playful personality and vibrant style, Paddy proudly champions the PDA community—from first sketches to final showcases. Want to take Paddy home? PDA swag featuring Paddy is available now!

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PDA in YYJ:
an urban campus like no other.

Pacific Design Academy is located in the heart of downtown Victoria—right across the street from the ocean and steps from the Inner Harbour. Our campus is more than a place to study—it’s a place to feel connected, inspired, and grounded. The sea breeze, city energy, and walkable surroundings offer a daily dose of perspective and possibility. Whether you’re grabbing coffee between classes or clearing your head with a seaside walk, the location becomes part of your creative rhythm.

Meet the
PDA Team

The Pacific Design Academy admin and faculty team is made up of passionate educators, creative professionals, and dedicated support staff who are committed to student success. With deep industry experience and a hands-on teaching approach, they foster a supportive, inclusive environment where creativity and career-building thrive.

Administration Team

As a career-focused design college, PDA’s admin team is committed to supporting every student’s journey with care, clarity, and a strong sense of community.

Isabel Yu

ADMINISTRATION

PDA Director

Kevin Zak

ADMINISTRATION

Academic Dean

Georgia Quiring

ADMINISTRATION

Academic Coordinator

Mary-Claire Ukah

ADMINISTRATION

Registrar and Communications

Bradley Wang

ADMINISTRATION

Equipment Manager

Lynne Risk

ADMINISTRATION

Creative Director

René Bravo

ADMINISTRATION

Facilities Coordinator

PDA Faculty

At PDA, our faculty are more than instructors—they’re practicing designers, dedicated to mentoring students through real-world projects and creative discovery.

Patel Vaibhav

DEPT HEAD & INSTRUCTOR

Architectural Building Technology
Interior Design

Daniel Montecon

Assoc. dept head & INSTRUCTOR

Interior Design

Hala Qasqas

instructor

Architectural Building Technology
Interior Design

Donna Downling

INSTRUCTOR

Architectural Building Technology
Interior Design, Fashion Design, Graphic Media Design

Luis Hernandez

INSTRUCTOR

Architectural Building Technology
Interior Design

Paolo Narváez

INSTRUCTOR

Architectural Building Technology
Interior Design

Ryan Morhart

instructor

Architectural Building Technology
Interior Design

Sam Punzalan

INSTRUCTOR

Architectural Building Technology

Alastair Chesson

INSTRUCTOR

Graphic Media Design

Derek Chapman

INSTRUCTOR

Graphic Media Design

Jennifer Longstaff

DEPT HEAD & INSTRUCTOR

App & Web Design (Dept Head)
Graphic Media Design

Lynne Risk

INSTRUCTOR

Graphic Media Design

Michael Ingram

INSTRUCTOR

Graphic Media Design

Nabil Nazri

INSTRUCTOR

App & Web Design
Graphic Media Design

Lindsay Stead

INSTRUCTOR

Graphic Media Design

Lucas Bell

INSTRUCTOR

Graphic Media Design

Jennifer Risk

DEPT HEAD & INSTRUCTOR

Fashion Design

Stephanie Mould

INSTRUCTOR

Fashion Design

Michael Osbourne

INSTRUCTOR

Fashion Design

Grace Reeves

INSTRUCTOR

Fashion Design

Jules Molloy

DEPT HEAD & INSTRUCTOR

Motion Picture Production

Matt Lussenburg

INSTRUCTOR

Motion Picture Production

Ryan Duan

INSTRUCTOR

Photography & Imaging

Ryan Enright

INSTRUCTOR

Photography & Imaging

Designation by PTIB

Pacific Design Academy is a Designated Learning Institution under the Private Training Institutions Branch (PTIB) of the B.C. Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills. This designation means our programs meet or exceed provincial quality standards for education, transparency, and student protection. It also ensures that PDA is authorized to enroll international students and offer student financial aid options to eligible domestic students.

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Let’s talk.

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Designated B.C. Private Training Institutions Regulatory Unit & Shield Design mark is a certification mark owned by the Government of British Columbia and used under licence.

Isabel Yu

DIRECTOR

Isabel holds a Bachelor’s degree in Software Design and Applications from China. She began her career as a marketing manager at GE Healthcare before transitioning to education in 2010. As Regional Director at Education First in Beijing, she spent over a decade leading kids and teens English programs. Her passion for education and its community impact continues to drive her work.

✉️ isabel.yu@pdaeducation.com

Kevin Zak

ACADEMIC DEAN

Kevin Zak (MDes) teaches design studies and typography at the University of Alberta and leads exhibition design workshops for the Alberta Museums Association. A former designer at the Royal Tyrrell Museum, he specializes in book and exhibition design. His Master’s thesis explored the value of hand sketching for early design education. He’s also passionate about pop-up books.

✉️ kzak@pdaeducation.com

Georgia Quiring

academic coordinator

Georgia Quiring is a contemporary artist, community facilitator, and creative project manager with a BFA from UVic. Her work explores character through video, installation, performance, and writing. Her recent solo show, Gallopina’s Golden Rodeo, featured a 23-minute video in which she played nine characters, reflecting her farm-girl roots.

✉️ gquiring@pdaeducation.com

Mary-Claire Ukah

Registrar & Communications

Mary-Claire (Claire) is a communications professional with 6+ years’ experience in social media and marketing. She holds a BA in English and an MA in Intercultural Communications from Royal Roads. Since moving from Lagos to Victoria in 2021, she’s brought adaptability and cultural insight to her work with PDA’s diverse students. She enjoys film, content creation, photography, and fashion.

✉️ mukah@pdaeducation.com

Bradley Wang

Equipment manager

Bradley Wang earned a Bachelor’s in Computers and Applications in 1995. He worked as an intelligent building systems engineer in Beijing before founding Hankean Technology in 2012. After moving to Canada in 2019, he joined Pacific Design Academy in 2021 as equipment and technologies manager. He enjoys travel, food, and taking things apart to see how they work.

✉️ bradley.wang@pdaeducation.com

Lynne Risk

Creative director & instructor: graphic media design

Lynne Risk is a multidisciplinary designer, educator, and strategist with 15+ years of experience across design education, creative agencies, and government in-house teams. They specialize in UX, brand, visual, and service design with a focus on accessibility and ethics. Lynne teaches at Pacific Design Academy and serves as its creative director.

✉️ lrisk@pdaeducation.com

René Bravo

Janitor

René Bravo brings over 20 years of hospitality experience, having managed teams at major hotel chains and luxury retirement homes. He holds business degrees from Chile and Spain, and a Tourism and Hotel Administration diploma from Camosun College. René has been with Pacific Design Academy for 14 years.

Daniel Mantecon

Assoc. Dept. Head & Instructor – Interior Design & BUILDING Tech

Dany is an Industrial Designer from Mexico who began as a painter and muralist. He later studied Interior Design in Montreal and now runs a furniture design workshop while working with several contractors in Victoria. Outside of work, he enjoys sports and spending time with his dog, Lula.

✉️ dmantecon@pdaeducation.com

Hala Qasqas

Instructor - ID & ABT

Hala Qasqas is a doctoral candidate and Graduate Fellow at UVic in Art History and Visual Studies. She holds degrees in Interior Architecture and Islamic Art History, with additional training in 3D Animation. With 15 years of design experience and 10 years of teaching, she focuses on Mamluk and Ottoman art and has published five books and several papers.

✉️ hqasqas@pdaeducation.com

Donna Dowling

INSTRUCTOR ID, GMD, FD

Donna’s background in psychology, education, and instructional design led her to teach Interior Decorating at Algonquin College, sparking her transition to design. After studying art and architecture at Carleton, she launched a residential decorating firm and online consulting service, working with clients across Munich, San Diego, and Ottawa.

✉️ ddowling@pdaeducation.com

Luis Hernandez

INSTRUCTOR ID, ABT

Luis Hernandez is the owner and principal designer at HomeAmor interior design studio. He graduated from Pacific Design Academy and is excited to be back as part of the educational team. Luis looks forward to sharing his lived experiences with the students after graduating from the same school as a professional designer.

✉️ lhernandez@pdaeducation.com

Paolo Narváez

INSTRUCTOR ID, ABT

Paolo Narváez holds a degree in Architecture from Ecuador and a Master’s in Construction Management from Barcelona. He has experience in residential, corporate, and commercial design, and has taught in Ecuador. Skilled in BIM and tools like Revit, AutoCAD, and Adobe Suite, Paolo is passionate about design’s transformative power and attention to detail.

✉️ pnarvaez@pdaeducation.com

Ryan Morhart

instructor: interior design

Ryan Morhart, a SAIT graduate, has over two decades of experience in custom furnishings, construction management, and 17 years of experience in municipal government. He’s a certified safety codes officer in two provinces and currently serves as Chief Building Official for the City of Victoria, leading the Permits & Inspection division.

✉️ rmorhart@pdaeducation.com

Isabel Yu

DIRECTOR

Isabel holds a Bachelor’s degree in Software Design and Applications from China. She began her career as a marketing manager at GE Healthcare before transitioning to education in 2010. As Regional Director at Education First in Beijing, she spent over a decade leading kids and teens English programs. Her passion for education and its community impact continues to drive her work.

✉️ isabel.yu@pdaeducation.com

Alastair Chesson

instructor: graphic media design

Alastair studied at the Alberta College of Art and Design and earned his B.A. in Visual Communications in Berlin. After 20+ years in Europe, he returned to Victoria in 2005. With 25+ years of experience—including work with Sony’s IT division in Brussels—he now consults locally and abroad and shares his passion for design and communication with his students.

✉️ achesson@pdaeducation.com

Derek Chapman

INSTRUCTOR: GRAPHIC MEDIA DESIGN

After studying graphic design in England, Derek began a career that took him from London to Montreal, Toronto, and Victoria. As an art and creative director, his work earned international recognition. He later taught at Sheridan College, focusing on the link between design and business, and now shares that perspective with students at Pacific Design Academy.

✉️ dchapman@pdaeducation.com

Jennifer Longstaff

Dept. Head: App & Web Development Instructor: Graphic design

Jennifer is a software engineer, educator, designer, and program manager with experience in companies of all sizes. She holds degrees in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, and Business, plus a Graphic Design diploma from PDA. A lifelong learner, she now teaches at PDA, freelances, and co-runs a consulting practice focused on app development.

✉️ jlongstaff@pdaeducation.com

Michel Ingram

instructor: graphic media design

After 37 years in the military, Michel Ingram earned a diploma in Professional Photography and Imaging at PDA, graduating with honours. Now a freelance portrait and fashion photographer, he also teaches seniors, volunteers with the Achieve Anything Foundation, and works at PDA. Guided by the belief that “you don’t take a photograph, you make it,” he values giving back through his craft.

✉️ mingram@pdaeducation.com

Nabil Nazri

instructor: app & web development

Nabil Nazri, a recent Computer Science graduate from the University of Victoria, grew up across Malaysia, Qatar, and Indonesia. Drawn to Victoria’s welcoming feel and diverse community, he now calls it home. Passionate about coding, music, and languages, he’s contributed to nonprofits and student leadership—and aims to become a full-stack developer and launch his own SaaS startup.

✉️ nnazri@pdaeducation.com

Lindsay Stead

instructor: graphic media design

Lindsay Stead helps entrepreneurs build sustainable, impactful businesses while staying true to themselves. Her work blends strategy, support, and encouragement. A true INFJ, Lindsay understands the challenges of showing up online and now empowers introverts to grow their businesses without burnout, using approaches that honour their energy and values.

✉️ lstead@pdaeducation.com

Lucas Bell

INSTRUCTOR: GRAPHIC MEDIA DESIGN

Lucas Bell is a graphic designer and Webflow developer based in Victoria, BC, with a background in Visual Arts (UVic) and Graphic Design (Emily Carr). From his cozy living room studio, he blends curiosity, craft, and code. Passionate about accessibility, he’s diving into inclusive design research and teaching at PDA. Off the clock, he skates, makes music, and games.

✉️ lbell@pdaeducation.com

Jennifer Risk

DEPT HEAD: FASHION DESIGN

Jennifer Risk is a multi-faceted creative with experience in costume design, draping, pattern drafting, and garment construction. She worked with Opera Santa Barbara and Portland Opera before shifting to academia, earning an MA and PhD in social science geography. A fibre nerd at heart, she spends her free time knitting, quilting, and reading about fashion history.

✉️ jrisk@pdaeducation.com

Stephanie Mould

INSTRUCTOR: FASHION DESIGN

Stephanie Mould graduated from Pacific Design Academy’s Fashion Design Program and previously took the part-time Garment Construction class. She works at Fjällräven as the Canadian Lead and Victoria Tailor. She also makes custom clothing under her brand, Smouldy. Her focus is on tailoring and sustainability.

✉️ smould@pdaeducation.com

Michael Osbourne

instructor: fashion design

Michael Osbourne is a seasoned fashion stylist with 15+ years of experience in garment fitting, wardrobe styling, and costume research. With a background in film and collaborations with industry icons like Patti Henderson and Ken Shapkin, he now shares his expertise in the classroom, helping to shape the next generation of fashion professionals.

✉️ mosbourne@pdaeducation.com

Grace Reeves

instructor: FASHION DESIGN

Grace Reeves is a fashion design graduate from Nottingham Trent University focused on sustainable, inclusive fashion. Her work uses zero-waste methods to create versatile garments that promote self-expression and eco-consciousness. Inspired by festival waste, she upcycles discarded materials to challenge views on second-hand clothing and support a circular economy.

✉️ g.reeves@pdaeducation.com

Jules Molloy

DEPT HEAD: MOTION PICTURE PRODUCTION

Jules began working in film and TV in 1999, co-creating the award-winning PSA Frog. A filmmaking generalist, he’s taken on roles from writer to colorist. After working at Lionsgate and MediaSphere, he moved to Gabriola Island to raise a family. Jules has produced work for TELUS, CBC, APTN, TED, Amnesty International, and more.

✉️ jmolloy@pdaeducation.com

Ryan Duan

motion picture production

With roots in painting and 15+ years of DSLR experience, I transitioned into filmmaking to pursue visual storytelling. In 2020, I studied Directing and Post-Production at Vancouver Film School. Since then, I’ve worked as a producer and director on films like Cake and Undeveloped, while also contributing as a gaffer on local productions.

✉️ isabel.yu@pdaeducation.com

Ryan Enright

instructor: photography

Ryan is a professional photographer and photo printer with a background in architecture and landscape imagery. He holds a Photography diploma from PDA and a Media Arts certificate from Sheridan College. He shoots real estate, events, portraits, and landscapes, and prints both commercial and fine art. Outside work, he enjoys surfing, camping, and running in Victoria.

✉️ renright@pdaeducation.com

You’re Invited to our Graduation Fashion Showcase

Join us for an inspiring evening featuring the final collections of graduating students from the Fashion Design program at Pacific Design Academy. 

🗓 Date: Thursday, June 26, 2025
🕕 Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
📍 Venue: Victoria Scottish Community Centre
1803 Admirals Rd, Victoria, BC V9A 2Y8

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