Roundtables are your chance to connect with other creatives in a small group setting. Led by senior design professionals, roundtables are being hosted on both conferences days from 8:15 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Bring your questions, offer advice and participate in conversations that will leave you feeling engaged and energized.

Here are the topics on this year’s schedule for Day 1:

November 7th, 8:15 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.

• Overcoming creative burnout
  For designers and other creatives, the line between work and play is often difficult to define. As a result, the threat of burnout is particularly complicated. What happens when the thing that brings you so much joy becomes a source of so much stress and anxiety? Join us for a discussion about tactics and strategies to avoid burnout and to recover when you actually hit that wall.
  *Note: this roundtable has two moderators
  Moderator: Radim Malinic, Creative Director, Designer and Best-selling author
  DesignThinkers speaker based in the UK, Radim runs Brand Nu Studio, an award-winning branding and creative studio, and Brand Nu Books, an independent publishing imprint.
  Moderator: Marin Hudson RGD, Owner/Creative Director of Kitestring
  A community-minded graphic designer based  in Hamilton, Marin finds joy working with people to bring impactful branding and compassionate campaigns to life. As an educator, Marin strives to show students the value of curiosity and connection, prioritizing the human experience through kindness, accessibility and collaboration.
• Good design is for everybody: Sharing accessibility tools, resources and processes
  Join this conversation about the role of accessibility in design and how it can benefit us all. We will share our knowledge and experiences with each other, whether you’re a seasoned accessibility advocate or new to the concept. We’ll focus on the latest tools and technologies available for designers and developers to create accessible products, along with tips and tricks we can use in our everyday practices.
  Moderator: Carla Thibodeau RGD, Designer at the Financial and Consumer Services Commission of New Brunswick
  Carla has worked for a book publisher, a non-profit organization, the Department of National Defence and as a freelancer. She is working towards attaining Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies certification through the International Association of Accessibility Professionals. 
• Futuristic fantasy to practical reality: Leveraging AI tools in the design process
  Have you experimented with AI to enhance your workflow? Have you used AI to gain insights about user behaviour? Have you used AI to boost your creativity? Join us for a discussion of designers’ experiences with AI and what impact we think it will have on the design industry.
  Moderator: Jo Roca, Creative Venture Partner at Accept & Proceed, Creative Director & Partner at My Big Moments
  Originally from Colombia, Jo has worked with organizations big and small on complex challenges ranging from strategy, ideation and concept development to product launch, experience design, branding and place making. Her experience includes being Executive Creative Director at the brand agency For The People and being a Creative Director at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
• Mental health and creative sustainability
  When we’re mentally balanced, we’re more likely to approach problems creatively, be more patient with the design process and be more accepting of feedback. Join us as we talk openly about our mental health challenges, contemplate how being a designer may exacerbate them and consider how employers and colleagues can be more supportive.
  Moderator: Carolyn Harman RGD
  Carolyn is an innovative and creative thought-leader who has worn a multitude of stylish yet professional hats from an exciting 27 year career in graphic design, marketing and communications. She has designed and strategized with brands like Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), Destination Canada and the City of Ottawa, and currently leads the marketing team for a high-tech start-up in Ottawa.
• The business of design: Aligning design practices with business mindsets
  It can often be challenging for designers to balance our creative visions with successful business outcomes. Whether it be for our clients, who would like to understand the ROI behind every project, or for ourselves, focusing on setting up our own businesses to be financially viable, there is a constant struggle between left and right brain. Let’s chat about how we can combine the best of both worlds.
  Moderator: Amanda DeVries RGD, Principal & Creative Director of Eye Candy Design
  Amanda’s firm is a boutique branding and packaging design firm that creates fresh, iconic work for food and beverage companies. She has nearly 20 years experience as a brand consultant, art director and graphic designer.
• Future-proofing your design career: Skills for the next decade
  As technology advances and consumer preferences shift, adaptability emerges as a critical trait for designers. We delve into the importance of mastering not only the latest design software and tools, but also fostering a deep understanding of user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design principles. Our conversation will touch on the rising significance of ethical and sustainable design practices, emphasizing the role designers play in addressing global challenges. Join us to gain insights into how to navigate the dynamic design industry and ensure your career remains future-proof.
  Moderator: Genevieve Ross, Creative Director at Stocksy
  At Stocksy, Genevieve leads creative strategy for the cooperative’s collection of high-quality stock photography and video. Working with a talented team of editors, researchers and artists, she ensures the aesthetic and creative integrity of the collection across various media types, genres and themes.
• Unmute yourself: Strategies for speaking up and being heard
  In this discussion, we will explore communication and presentation techniques designed to captivate your audience’s attention. You’ll discover how to refine your storytelling skills and effectively integrate data, anecdotes and visuals to convey your message with greater impact. We’ll also share valuable insights and best practices to help you become a more persuasive and engaging communicator.
  Moderator: Taralyn Carver RGD, Creative Director & Co-Founder of BOLD LIP
  BOLD LIP is an agency built to empower creatives—especially women—with the mentorship, time and support needed to produce exceptional work. At BOLD LIP, Taralyn leads a dynamic team that partners with clients at key moments, whether launching fresh identities, revitalizing established ones or maintaining beloved presences.
• Inclusive design research
  In today’s data-driven world, understanding all users is paramount to design effectiveness. Gathering valuable insights from target audiences refines products or services, enhance experiences and allows for more informed decisions. Join us as we explore essential considerations for building and managing meaningful design research, discuss the complexities of decolonizing research practices and the importance of inclusive participation in design research.
  Moderator: Josh Skinner, Product Designer & Educator
  With over 12 years of experience in the design industry, Josh has worked in a variety of sectors, from creative agencies to major financial institutions like the Bank of Montreal and organizations in the tech sector such as Lever and Loop. He is passionate about equity and accessibility, and continually educates himself on these topics to advocate for inclusive design. Also, he has taught at the post-secondary level for over 7 years.
• Design for social good: Creating a better world
  Our world is fraught with challenges, and design plays a considerable part in tackling them. Ultimately, design is about communication. So, how do we design experiences that help users understand, learn and derive meaning from the world around them? These are communication, industrial design and educational problems, and how designers tackle these spheres has a massive impact on changing lives. Let’s discuss how we embrace these subjects to become better members of society and ensure that we wield our skills for the betterment of all.
  Moderator: Juliana Camargo RGD, Principal of Power House Design
  With 7 years of experience working with social impact organizations, Juliana uses her problem-solving mind to work with diverse communities and leverage their unique storytelling to develop brand strategies while creating core assets like brand guidelines, reports and information graphics.
  
• Data-driven design: Leveraging analytics for design effectiveness
  While data-driven design helps to create user-centric solutions, designers must balance it with the importance of creativity and intuition in the design process. How do we use data with creating design that lacks originality and innovation? Join us as we discuss ways to use data while still trusting our instincts and expertise.
  Moderator: Hamilton Ofiyai, Mitchell Press
  Hamilton is Co-Founder & Director of Innovation and Technology for Mitchell’s Project28 Web Marketing Division. P28’s focus is to Maximize our partners ROI though intelligent Data to inform marketing and design decision making.

November 7th, 12:15 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

• Comic Sans, You Suck: Sharing your best stories of inappropriate font usage
  Get ready for a deep dive into the world of “bad “fonts! Join us as we explore what makes a font choice cringeworthy, debate whether Comic Sans deserves its infamous reputation, and uncover why people love the fonts we love to hate. Expect spirited discussions and a few design horror stories! (p.s. We ARE hating on the same fonts, right?)
  Moderator: Ronald Tau RGD, Graphic Designer, Creative Director & Founder of Meat Studio
  Ronald’s firm specializes in brand identity design and typography. His work has been recognized by TDC, ADC, ADCC, Tokyo TDC, Communication Arts, Creative Review, RGD Ultrabold, Applied Arts, Vice, 032C and It’s Nice That. He teaches typography and graphic design at York University and George Brown School of Design.
  
• Passion projects: Making work for fun, because it’s fun to do
  What really piques your curiosity? Come join our conversation as we explore the significance of passion projects, discuss the habit of chasing curiosity and find ways to carve out time for creative fun, without getting stuck in a perpetual cycle of productivity.
  Moderator: Talia Cotton, Founder & Creative Director of Cotton
  DesignThinkers speaker, Talia is a designer, coder, creative entrepreneur and leading specialist in the intersection of branding and technology. Fast Company recently described her as “one of the leading graphic designers of the moment to embrace the possibilities of code.”
• Future-proofing your design career: Skills for the next decade
  As technology advances and consumer preferences shift, adaptability emerges as a critical trait for designers. We delve into the importance of mastering not only the latest design software and tools, but also fostering a deep understanding of user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design principles. Our conversation will touch on the rising significance of ethical and sustainable design practices, emphasizing the role designers play in addressing global challenges. Join us to gain insights into how to navigate the dynamic design industry and ensure your career remains future-proof.
  Moderator: Radim Malinic, Creative Director, Designer and Best-selling author
  DesignThinkers speaker based in the UK, Radim runs Brand Nu Studio, an award-winning branding and creative studio, and Brand Nu Books, an independent publishing imprint.
• Building stronger design processes
  Process is the key to profit, but a good process often takes years to nurture and is often tailored to an individual, especially in the design world! We will discuss topics like defining chinks in the armour, identifying problem areas, the importance of trying new things and using technology to help build more robust systems and easily replicable processes.
  Moderator: Dave Dick RGD, Creative Director, Strategist & Founding Partner of Humanfolk
  Dave’s career spans agency, in-house, business owner and education. He has delivered solutions for such brands as Prime Video, General Mills, Food Network, Cineplex, University of Toronto, Corus Entertainment and CBC.
• Tell a stronger story: Strategies for effective communication and presentations
  In this discussion, we will explore communication and presentation techniques designed to captivate your audience’s attention. You’ll discover how to refine your storytelling skills and effectively integrate data, anecdotes and visuals to convey your message with greater impact. We’ll also share valuable insights and best practices to help you become a more persuasive and engaging communicator.
  *Note: This roundtable has two moderators.
  Moderator: John Furneaux RGD, Managing Director, Toronto at PS&Co Brand Studio
  At PS&Co, John oversees strategic and creative development. Previously, he held executive positions at leading brand consultancies including Identica Branding, karacters design group, Ove Design and Publicis Brand|Design. John also teaches at George Brown College in their Design Management.
  Moderator: Fe Wyma RGD, Senior Consultant of Communications & Creative Services at NVision Insight Group and Founder of Kapwa Communications.
  For more than 20 years, Fe has provided visual communications, branding and corporate training services to both the public and private sectorst. Fe is also a graphic design educator who shares her love of layout and typography with emerging designers.
• User-centred design: Where humans reign supreme
  The application of user-centred design is constantly changing. Do you spend much of your time thinking about how the user can be better served by the designs you create? How do we ensure that users are the main focus of our designs, and that those users find our designs easy to navigate? Join us to discuss how design can be employed to make things easier, rather than just help address the bottom line.
  Moderator: Elyse Maxwell RGD, Senior Graphic Designer & Project Manager at Patch Design
  From developing comprehensive branding systems to designing packaging and print materials, Elyse enjoys working directly with clients to find solutions to their challenges.
• The power of strategic design and the evolution of the “thinking” designer
  Through a traditional lens, design is about crafting visual outputs and tangible artifacts. Yet there is a world of opportunity that opens up for businesses and organizations who view their customer experience through the lens of interconnected systems that can be optimized by thoughtfully applying design to everything we see, touch and experience. How do designers shift from light-touch Jack-of-all-trades practitioners to strategic thinkers who thoughtfully apply their design skills throughout the human experience?
  Moderator: Adriana Ivory RGD, Design Director at The Garden Collective
  Adriana is a multi-disciplinary designer, creative leader and part-time educator that strives to create the best and most purposeful work. Her passion for design stems from her desire to problem solve: to think about things differently, and derive creative solutions that both function well and look great. 
• From concept to completion: Managing design projects in-house
  Dive into the different aspects of project intake systems and project management processes within in-house design environments. Share strategies, best practices and key challenges for navigating design projects efficiently and effectively. Benefit from group insights to optimize your workflow and elevate project outcomes.
  Moderator: Pina Nicoli, Group Account Director at Cella
  Pina is a proven People Leader with considerable experience in building and leading large teams, driving results, developing and optimizing workflow processes, business to business sales and service delivery.
• Colouring inside the lines: Fostering creativity within the confines of a brand
  The same branding, same colours, same style day in and out. It can get boring. How do we foster that creative itch and stay motivated while adhering to our often strict brand guidelines? Join us to discuss techniques for pushing the brand envelope, trying out new, potentially radical ideas, all while still staying brand faithful.
  Moderator: Jessica deVaal RGD
  Jessica draws upon more than 25 years of design experience in the education, medical and financial sectors. She has a three-year diploma in Technical Illustration from Sheridan, was a proofreader for eight years at the University of Toronto, and currently is a designer with Deloitte Canada. Her passion is problem solving and she loves a good design challenge or even a good puzzle.
• Me, myself and I: Succeeding as a solo practitioner
  There is no blueprint to working for yourself. Let’s discuss the successes we’ve accomplished and failures we’ve endured, so we can all learn from eachother and grow our businesses.
  Moderator: Faron Dawe RGD, Freelance Designer & Principal at FARON.DESIGN
  Based in Moncton, NB, Faron focuses on brand visual identity design, web user interface design and consulting in-house teams on larger design-based projects. He is also working on a passion project called Creative Union, a club for creatives to connect and empower one another to elevate the profession.
• Students only: Embrace your design identity and build your creative confidence
  Confidence is key to becoming a successful designer, but how do you garner confidence in a world of criticism and imposter syndrome? Join us in this roundtable to discuss simple tips and tricks to build creative confidence that will help you navigate your early career as a student and designer.
  Moderator: Elana Rudick RGD, Founder & Creative Director of Design Is Yummy
  Design Is Yummy is an award-winning, Montreal-based design studio known for its bold, purposeful approach. With a firm belief that the “why” is more important than the “what”, Elana leads her team in collaborating with brands in the arts and culture, education, healthcare, government and not-for-profit sectors. 

DesignThinkers attendees will be able to pre-register for discussions. Keep an eye on your email for the sign-up form.

Playful Printing
Hosted by Diana Varma RGD
Date/time: November 7, 11:30 AM – 12:15 PM

What do you get when you cross an iconic kids toy with a 500 year-old communication technology? Playful printing! In this workshop, you’ll experience printing infused with play; conceptualizing, assembling and printing your very own letterpress art. As you create, you’ll also learn about the history of letterpress printing and the ways in which it’s making a resurgence today. Join us for this hands-on workshop that will make your inner child (and Gutenberg!) proud.

Type Design Crash Course: Crafting Unique Letterforms
Hosted by Carl Shura
Date/time: November 7, 1:45 PM – 2:30 PM

Discover your Creative Archetype. Unlock your Creative Potential.
Hosted by Dominic Prevost
Date/time: November 7, 2:45 PM – 3:30 PM

Creatives know how to come up with solid ideas, but the creative process is often messy and inconsistent. Sure, we can blame it on the timeline, the brief, the team or the lack of sleep… But have you ever taken the time to think about how you think? The creative process is not one size fits all, and there are many different ways to harness our creativity. Which is yours? Let’s find that out together. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll be answering a series of prompts — backed by some real-world anecdotes from Dominic’s experience working in design studios and ad agencies, big and small, to figure out your “Creative Archetype,” and how to tap into your traits to make the best of your inspiration. We’ll discuss procrastination, late nights, stress management, organization, ideation, creative rituals and triggers (both good or bad). The list goes on… Think Myers-Briggs, but for the creative process. At the end of this workshop, you’ll have a completed questionnaire that will outline your “Creative Archetype:” your strengths, challenges, a road map of goals/improvements and a deeper understanding of what gets your creativity flowing.

Building Creative Confidence Toolkit
Hosted by Radim Malinic
Date/time: November 7, 3:45 PM – 4:30 PM

This workshop cultivates creative resilience and enhances collaborative skills through practical exercises, with participants working in pairs throughout. Using interactive techniques, attendees learn to centre themselves, improve communication and embrace bold ideas without the fear of being wrong. These habits boost creative confidence, spark innovative thinking and nurture a supportive collaborative environment. The idea is to recognize simple tools to overcome creative blocks, generate fresh perspectives and turn collective brainstorming into impactful outcomes

Key features: 

• Enhance listening skills: Learn active listening techniques to deepen understanding, build trust and strengthen relationships.
• Develop effective communication: Cultivate clarity, empathy and confidence in speaking to convey ideas with impact and influence.
• Heighten awareness: Practice mindfulness breathing techniques and self-reflection to increase focus and foster greater self-awareness.
• Embrace failure and uncertainty: Shift perspectives on failure and uncertainty as opportunities for learning, innovation and personal growth.

While Paula Scher, at 75, declared that she is not done yet, Chris Do provided practical tools to master your next sales pitch — on November 2–3 the creative industry came together for our DesignThinkers Conference to celebrate everything design.

Hugs were exchanged, ideas shared and connections made — in what was our highest attendance ever; the energy was electrifying.

With an option to choose from three streams of talks, attendees also had opportunities to join studio tours and hand-on workshops, engage in conversations with peers on pertinent topics at the roundtable discussions, participate in speed networking and much more.

The conference also had the option for live streaming for those who preferred to attend from their home or office. All attendees have access to presentation recordings until the end of January, after which time they will be made available to RGD Members. You can still register to get access to the recordings on Pheedloop.

Pre-conference programming featured Accessibility Workshops by Meggan Van Harten RGD and Davide Dorigo Provisional RGD from Design de Plume, guided tours to leading creative studios in Toronto and a ceremony celebrating of the winners of the 2023 Branding Awards.

Day 1 of the Conference began with keynotes by Chris Do and Forest Young and featured talks by speakers who included Emmi Salonen, Farai Madzima, Noel Cottrell, Rejane Dal Bello, Renato Fernandez, Dalit Shalom, Paul Trani, concluding with delegates’ favourite talk by Paula Scher. Day 1 closed with a Party at Bier Markt, where delegates and speakers connected over delicious hors d’oeuvres, drinks and conversations.

Day 2 was packed with as much inspiration as the first with keynotes by Tina Roth Eisenberg and Eleni Beveratou and talks by Lauren Scully & Brian Studak, Min Lew, Catalina Estrada, Zipeng Zhu, Jay Demetillo, Dorothéa Bozicolona-Volpe, Krys Blackwood, Hajj Flemings, ending the day with a Keynote by Stefan Sagmeister. The day also featured a panel discussion on collaborative design workflows and a Never Have I Ever session with Stefan Sagmeister, Min Lew, Forest Young, Eleni Beveratou and Tina Roth Eisenberg hosted by Julian Brown RGD.

Delegates and speakers were invited to share thoughts on social media using the hashtag #rgdDT.

Registration for DesignThinkers 2024 Vancouver taking place on May 28-29 will open in December. Stay tuned!

Thank you for our volunteer photographers Nadia Otake Provisional RGD & Eric Forest RGD for day 1 and day 2 of the conference

Thank you also to Industry Partners: Adobe, Acumen (signage), Flash, Mohawk, Forge Media + Design (website) Porter (travel) and Sid Lee (branding); to Gold Sponsors Cella, CtrlPrint, Deloitte, Domtar, Monotype, Moveable, Rightsleeve, The Futur, York University School of Continuing Studies and Silver & Bronze Sponsors AZURE, Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Dalton Maag, Issues Magazine Shop, Mitchell Sandham, StickerYou, Swipe Design and WeirFoulds LLP.