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 Morning Roundtables:

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 & Marin Hudson RGD, Owner/Creative Director of Kitestring
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 decisionmaking.

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