Roundtables are your chance to connect with other creatives in a small group setting. Led by senior design professionals, roundtables are hosted on both conferences days from 8:15 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.
We also have Group Mentoring Sessions for Students and Associate RGD Members to discuss career-related topics.
Bring your questions, offer advice and participate in conversations that will leave you feeling engaged and energized.
Sign up for roundtables and group mentoring sessions when you register for the conference. Roundtables are $10 each unless otherwise noted as free. Group Mentoring Sessions are $5 each.
October 1
8:15 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.
- Ageism: Challenging assumptions
- Brand identity beyond the logo
- Cultural appropriation vs. appreciation: How can brands navigate cultural sensitivity and avoid missteps while celebrating diversity?
- Designing your career path: Navigating growth in an in-house environment
- Overcoming creative block
- Setting boundaries and managing scope: Ensuring healthy working relationships and project success
- Free software tools you’ve never heard of
- Me, myself and I: Succeeding as a solo practitioner
- Future-proofing your design career: Skills for the next decade
- The value of research in branding
- Group Mentoring (for Students & Associates) How to start freelancing
- Group Mentoring (for Students & Associates) on Getting a job at an agency or design studio
12:45 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
- Internships: Are they all that?
- How to grow as a designer when you’re a design team of one
- The value of research in branding
- Spaces & places: Designing for architecture, urban planning and placemaking
- The art of the brief
- Design leadership: How to foster trust, creativity and purpose
- Mental health in design: Nurturing creativity and clarity of mind
- Democratization of design: How to redefine your role when everyone’s a designer
- Work smarter, not harder: Strategies for creating great work, efficiently
- How to ask questions like a UX Researcher
- What makes a strong RGD application? Demystifying the process of becoming an RGD (free)
- Group Mentoring (for Students & Associates) on Getting a job at an in-house organization
- Group Mentoring (for Students & Associates) on Generalist vs specialization, Pros and cons
October 2
8:15 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.
- The gentle art of feedback: How to give it and get it
- Designers as System Builders
- Beyond numbers: Proving the value of design(ers)
- The role of typography in branding: How font choices impact brand perception and readability
- Designing for brand integrity
- Rebranding in the modern era: Discussing the challenges and opportunities of rebranding in a dynamic market
- Future-proofing your design career: Skills for the next decade
- The Rise of the “Ugly”: Why ugly design Is winning in 2025
- Why is the world losing colour?
- AMA: Let’s talk RGD Certification (free)
- Group Mentoring (for Students & Associates) on landing your first job (interviews skills/prep and portfolios tips)
- Group Mentoring (for Students & Associates) on what design studios look for in a portfolio
12:45 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
- Pricing and contracts in branding: Establishing fair compensation and clear agreements
- Me, myself and I: Succeeding as a solo practitioner
- Imposter syndrome who? Gaining confidence in your skills and abilities
- The evolution of a brand: How brands adapt and evolve over time while maintaining core values
- How to ask questions like a UX Researcher
- The role of intuition in design: Examining the balance between data-driven design and intuitive decision-making
- Stand up and stand out: Gaining respect working in-house for government
- Passion projects: Making work for fun, because it’s fun to do
- Co-creating with machines: Which tools do you use
- AMA: Let’s talk RGD Certification (free)
- Designers as system builders
- From freelance to founder: Business models for creative success
- Group Mentoring (for Students & Associates) on leveraging networking to get a job
