Roundtables are your chance to connect with other creatives in a small group setting. Bring your questions, offer advice and participate in conversations that will leave you feeling engaged and energized. You’re welcome to bring your breakfast/lunch and eat during the conversation.
Sign up for roundtables when you register for the conference or in the Attendee Portal. Email [email protected] if you need help accessing the Attendee Portal.
Pricing: $10 CAD
November 2, 8:15 to 9:15 a.m.
1/2. Passion projects: Making work for fun, because it’s fun to do
What really piques your curiosity? Come join our roundtable conversation where we’ll 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.
Moderators: Rachael Seatvet RGD / Rebecca Hirsekorn
3/4. Challenges of working in a non-creative environment
Possible discussion topics include: how to balance maintaining your creative integrity as a graphic designer and meeting the rigid, non-creative demands of a corporate work environment; how to communicate the value of design thinking and creative solutions to colleagues or leadership who may not have a background in design; and how to inject fresh ideas into your work while staying within the constraints of strict brand guidelines and established design conventions.
Moderator: Deanna Tosto RGD/Barbara Dunn RGD
5/6. Speaking the same language: Building brilliant working partnerships in cross-disciplinary teams
Designers today work in increasingly diverse teams. Come discuss how to work effectively with other creative and creative-adjacent roles such as writers, subject-matter experts, media specialists and production. Share insights and strategies for articulating design decisions and resolving conflict.
Moderator: Michael Young RGD / Krys Blackwood
7/8. Champagne taste on a beer budget: Doing more with less
Let’s brainstorm alternative ways to provide creativity to our clients as well as educate them about our experience and the value of the work we provide.
Moderator: Teressa Kelly RGD / Andrew Terwissen RGD
9/10. 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: Brent Roth RGD / Denis Leclerc RGD
11/12. 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: Stüssy Tschudin RGD RCA / Juan Exposito
13. Students-only: From blocks to breakthroughs: Navigating creative challenges and burnout in your student journey
In this ever-changing design world, where creative blocks and burnout can be all too familiar, how do you constantly create, learn and excel as a student? Join us to explore and discuss strategies to understand and overcome creative hurdles, establish effective design routines and navigate burnout gracefully. ($5)
AMA Guest: Phil Mondor RGD
November 2, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
1/2. Who isn’t at the table? Designing for diversity, equity & inclusion
Together, we will explore the vital themes of diversity, equity, and inclusion as it relates to design and creativity. Let’s discuss the ongoing work, practical steps, and visionary goals that bridge the gap to a more inclusive and representative future for design and creativity.
Moderator: Gavin Barrett / Neela Imani
3/4. 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 of tactics and strategies to avoid burnout and to recover when you actually hit that wall.
Moderator: Mo Bofill RGD / Mike Scott RGD
5/6. The business of design: Aligning design practices with business mindsets
Do clients need to understand design? Do they even have to care? What if all they care about is their business succeeding, and they know they hate blue? The intention of this roundtable is to discuss the age-old “designer vs. client” topic and the intersection of creativity and business. Let’s share how we approach the challenge of creating valuable design that makes a difference for the organizations we serve.
Moderator: Dave Dick RGD / Elana Rudick RGD
7/8. 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: James Martin / Jay Demetillo
9/10. 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.
Moderator: Sarah Prouse RGD / Denis Leclerc RGD
11/12. 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 UX and UI principles. We’ll 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: Ian Chalmers RGD / Rahul Bhogal RGD
13. Students-only: Embracing your design identity + how to 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.
Guest: Raj Grainger RGD
November 3, 8:15 to 9:15 a.m.
1/2. Work smarter, not harder: Strategies for creating great work, efficiently
Designers do what they do best: design. By reducing administrative and mundane tasks, designers can focus on the project at hand. But how best to do this? Join this session to discuss techniques and processes to help.
Moderator: Natalie Coombs RGD / Emmi Salonen
3/4. 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: Victor Szeto RGD / Denis Leclerc RGD
5. Who isn’t at the table? Designing for diversity, equity & inclusion
Together, we will explore the vital themes of diversity, equity, and inclusion as it relates to design and creativity. Let’s discuss the ongoing work, practical steps, and visionary goals that bridge the gap to a more inclusive and representative future for design and creativity.
Moderator: Chris Ambedkar
6/7. 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 each other and grow our businesses.
Moderator: Greg Dubeau RGD / Austin Mateka RGD
8. Imposter syndrome who? Gaining confidence in your skills and abilities
Let’s talk about some of the situations we’ve faced and share strategies you can pull from your back pocket when those negative feelings bubble up in the future.
Moderator: Teressa Kelly RGD
9/10. “Don’t you just make things pretty?”: Turning clients into design advocates
Design has never been more in demand. But many organizations still see design as a nice to have. In this roundtable, we’ll discuss the following:
– What are the greatest hurdles when trying to turn clients into design advocates?
– What processes have you implemented to help educate clients on the value of design?
– Any best practices that you apply to daily interactions?
Moderator: Juliana Camargo RGD / Carolyn Harman RGD
11. The gentle art of feedback: How to give it and get it
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. I’m looking forward to hearing everyone’s stories of giving and getting feedback, both good and bad.
Moderator: Natalia Reis RGD
12. The comparison trap and how to manage the overwhelm
Who hasn’t fallen into the trap of comparing ourselves, and our work, to others and feeling pretty awful about it? Let’s discuss constructive ways to navigate this habit and build our confidence. We will learn tools and techniques for returning to what matters – our own unique creative path and career success.
Moderator: Alana Ruoso RGD
13. Students-only roundtable: Harnessing productive failure in design: Navigating criticism, rejection + failure as a student
Criticism, rejection and failure are part of every designer’s journey, but as students, how do you navigate these murky waters without losing your passion for design? Join us to learn how to interpret critique constructively, leverage rejection as a motivator, and transform failure into productivity and innovation.
Guest: Jennica Robinson Provisional RGD
November 3, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
1/2. The gentle art of feedback: How to give it and get it
There is no one size fits all methodology for giving or receiving feedback. It can improve ideas and strengthen relationships. It can also stir up emotions and halt progress. Even when delivered with positive intent, feedback requires trust between participants. What’s your perspective?
Moderator: Howard Poon RGD / Andrew McTavish RGD
3. Beautiful, creative + accessible: Strategies for accessible design
Join a discussion that will address questions that include:
– When, and how, do you consider accessibility when you’re launching a project?
– What is a piece of advice or information you learned that changed the way you think about accessibility?
– What is your favourite tool for streamlining accessibility in your projects or organization?
Moderator: Eleni Beveratou
4/5/6. Overcoming creative burnout
Is creative burnout real? Yes! Can it easily be prevented? Yes! In this discussion, we will talk about both the reactive and proactive measures we can put in place to navigate creative block. How good habits, routines and business processes can change the game for you and what to do if you find yourself creatively inactive.
Moderator: James Martin / Paul Wilcken RGD / Lawrence Ly
7/8. Improving your leadership skills
We will discuss how to inspire creativity, foster collaboration, and effectively communicate to maximize your team’s potential. You’ll gain insights into strategies and tools for enhancing your leadership skills, as well as learn how to serve as the foundation and support of your team, fostering unity and facilitating growth.
Moderator: Sarah Prouse RGD / Chris Ambedkar
9. All hands on deck: The designer’s role in combatting climate change
“Saving our planet is now a communications challenge.” Starting from David Attenborough’s famous quote, we’ll explore the role of graphic and communication design in shaping a more sustainable future. How are we uniquely positioned to address climate change? Who is doing inspiring work? Let’s discuss.
Moderator: Laura Stein RGD
10/11/12. 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: Brent Roth RGD / John deWolf RGD / Denis Leclerc RGD
13. Challenges of being an in-house designer for government
Designing for government and government agencies bring its own unique challenges. In-house designers for governments of all levels (municipalities, provincial, state or federal) are invited to join us to discuss and exchange strategies and solutions to address these challenges.
Moderator: Ruth Farrugia RGD
14. Designers & Advertising
Join the Group Creative Director, Head of Design, at Cossette to discuss the role of designers within the advertising industry and the role of design in advertising generally. Bring your experiences, questions, challenges, strategies and theories to share and discuss.
Moderator: Jenna Anderson
15. Students-only roundtable: Group projects: Stepping stones to a successful design career
Group projects are here to stay—your journey toward a successful design career begins with how you navigate and collaborate in group projects today, as the teams only get larger at your workplace. Join us to discuss embracing group projects as valuable assets for your professional journey, understanding collaborative design work, and how to contribute and communicate effectively.
Guest: Amelia Nash Provisional RGD