Jorge Rebollo Sandoval transitioned from business school to Langara's Design Formation program, where he has thrived creatively and recently won an award for his innovative packaging design project, Utopia. His journey illustrates the transformative power of pursuing one's passions and the importance of connecting personal identity to creative work.
When Jorge Rebollo Sandoval first arrived at Langara College, he didn’t picture himself designing sleek packaging and winning awards. He had enrolled in business, taking classes that felt draining and unrelated to his aspirations. Then one day he found the Design Formation studio, and everything clicked.
“I’ve always been creative – I write, I draw, I make little things – and I just decided to make the switch into the Design Formation program,” recalls Jorge. “Honestly, it’s the best decision I ever made.”
Now in his third term of Langara’s Design Formation diploma program, Jorge recently earned recognition at the 2025 Applied Arts Student Awards for his packaging design project, Utopia, which “merges the vibrant pulse of the city with geometric design.”
Utopia is a candy that uses organic, plant-based ingredients and mocktail-inspired flavours. Its striking and soulfully captivating packaging evokes the quiet beauty of Vancouver which Jorge credited to many late nights spent exploring and photographing the city.
The inspiration for Utopia did not come immediately. “I knew exactly what I wanted to do, but I didn’t know how to make it real,” Jorge explains. “Many late nights were spent working in coffee shops, sketching until it started to resemble what I wanted.”
The late nights were worth it once Jorge received the email announcing that his design had won the award for Packaging Illustration – Series. “I was so proud of myself,” he shares. “It felt amazing to be recognized for my hard work.”
Jorge credits his instructor and sister for helping him talk through the concept until it involved into the winning design. From Mexico City to Vancouver, Jorge has brought a sense of his identity into his work. In his view, the creative process needs to involve a certain level the artist.
You must connect with everything you make. Everything tells a story.
A spacious multi-room studio filled with drafting tables, modular exhibit spaces, digital labs, and a woodshop, the Design Formation space at Langara reflects the experiential, cross-discipline nature of the program. The sandbox environment includes up-to-date technology such as laser cutters, 3D printers, full-size Mac Labs, a media lab, and even virtual and augmented reality equipment.
"Students develop a foundational set of skills in their first year to then focus a little bit more in specific streams,” says Katherine Davis, department chair of Design Formation and Digital Media and Design, a new program launching in January.
Design Formation is a great program for students who know they're interested in a creative field or design but aren’t sure which is right for them.
The program has transfer agreements with other colleges and universities for students who want to continue their training, but the program has been built with the goal of students having a portfolio and the hands-on experience required to transition directly into a career. The class sizes are limited at 18 students to ensure each student has the space required to create.
“The space is large while the classes are small because our students require a lot of hands-on learning. Everything is project-based.”
Jorge’s message to aspiring creatives is succinct: “Try it. You’ll never know until you do. You’ll lose sleep until you try.”
Davis echoes the sentiment while building on the message: “Design Formation allows you to explore while being grounded in real world skills. Learning the basics and understanding how space works is beneficial no matter what you do.”
Jorge may not have started his journey at Langara with the plan to design, but he’s proof that taking a creative leap can lead to extraordinary results. “Switching into design was the best decision I ever made,” he says. “The creative vibe is weird and I love.”
Unlock your creative potential with Langara College's Design Formation program. Dive into a hands-on learning experience that combines innovation with real-world skills. Whether you're an aspiring designer or just exploring your creative interests, join us to turn your ideas into impactful designs. Apply now and start your journey today.
