Afternoon Roundtables

Options include:

Stand up and stand out: Gaining respect working in-house for government
Moderated by Tara Kerner RGD, CDP, Graphic Communications Director at BC Government
It’s easy to feel like we’re overlooked when we’re providing in-house design and communications services for government agencies. How can we get our organizations to keep projects in-house and respect our departments? Exchange ideas and experiences with other government in-house designers to come up with solutions.

Me, myself and I: Succeeding as a solo practitioner
Moderated by Mairin Deery RGD, Creative Director & Brand Leader
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 each other and grow our businesses.

From Artificial to Authentic: Developing your creative intuition
Moderated by Elana Rudick RGD, DT Speaker & Founder & Creative Director of Design is Yummy
Let’s reconnect with our creative intuition — that gut feeling that guides great design decisions. We’ll explore how to recognize and trust it, when to lean on it instead of the algorithm, and how to keep your unique voice strong in an AI-heavy world. We’ll chat about ways to sharpen your instincts and build habits that help you stay inspired, original, and confidently creative.

The gentle art of feedback: How to give it and get it
Moderated by Jennifer Griffiths RGD, DT Speaker & Senior Book Designer at Penguin Random House Canada
Giving feedback can be difficult, especially when it’s not always glowing but receiving it can be equally so. It works both ways and to do it well requires shared respect and recognition of a common goal. We’ll share stories of giving and getting feedback, both good and bad, and its effect on our work and ourselves.

The Evolution of Design Systems: Balancing consistency and creativity
Moderated by Erica Brisson RGD, Senior Brand Designer at Docebo
Design systems can unify a brand, but how do you keep them flexible enough to foster innovation? This session explores the evolving role of design systems, sharing strategies for maintaining visual consistency while empowering creativity across teams.

Contact [email protected] if you would like to moderate a roundtable or have suggestions for topics.