November 8th, 12:15 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

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 2 Lunch Roundtables:

Making Side Projects Central
How to pursue self-initiated projects, why they matter, how to make them happen, how to stop thinking of them as ‘side’ projects and see them as central to what you do as a creator.
Moderator: Nick Asbury, Writer, Critic, Poet, Songsmith, Humorist, Essayist & Speaker
Based in the UK, Nick is a one of the most awarded writers in the D&AD Writing for Design category. His most recent book is a critique of the purpose movement called The Road to Hell. He is featured in The Copy Book: How Some of the World’s Best Advertising Writers Write Their Advertising and co-authored the latest edition of A Smile in the Mind: Witty Thinking in Graphic Design.

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.
Moderators (2 Tables): Kathleen Scott RGD, Creative Strategy Team Lead at Bruce Power / Jesse Gibb RGD
For over a decade, Kathleen led the Team at Bruce Power  where they deliver all things design, including a complete rebrand for the company in 2019. 

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?
Moderators (2 Tables): Marin Hudson RGD, Owner + Creative Director at Kitestring / Carolyn Harman RGD
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. / 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. 

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: 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 sectors. Fe is also a graphic design educator who shares her love of layout and typography.

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.
Moderators (2 Tables): Geneviève Metropolis RGD / Brent Roth RGD
Geneviève is a strategic design leader with over 20 years of experience in communication, UX and service design. She has held leadership roles at Shopify, Canada Post and SickKids Hospital, where she led teams in creating human-centred digital experiences. Currently driving the e-comm UX strategy for Canadian Tire & SportChek, Geneviève is passionate about fostering collaboration, systems thinking and innovation in digital spaces.

The need for speed: Addressing time constraints within the design process
In competitive markets, the need for efficiency in all areas of business has been steadily increasing. How do designers develop creative solutions and contribute to business success while remaining true to effective design processes and maintaining a healthy work-life balance? What role can AI play? What processes and strategies contribute to more effective cross-disciplinary collaboration and integration? Join us as we discuss the need for speed without sacrificing the quality of the work or our mental health.
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.

Speaking the same language: Building 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: Adriana Ivory RGD, Executive Design Director at The Garden
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. 

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: Nicola Ryan, VP of Product Design at Conde Nast
Nicola is a design leader working at the intersection of brand, storytelling and technology. At Condé Nast, she leads the design and UX of digital experiences across their portfolio of brands, including The New Yorker and Wired.

Understanding the midlife transition: Navigating career change and personal growth
The mid-career slump is a real and terrifying prospect. Figuring out a path through means reflecting on what you actually want next — not from your career, but in your life. Let’s discuss how to discover what you really want from your next career move, and how to leverage experiences and competencies to craft the fulfilling career you only thought possible in your dreams.
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.

Spaces & Places: Designing for the Built Environment
How do designers contribute to city-building projects that shape our urban spaces? From architecture and urban planning to wayfinding, placemaking, and community engagement, creatives in the built environment collaborate across disciplines to address the evolving needs of our cities. Whether you’re active in this field or just curious, join us to exchange stories, share career insights, and explore how we can make a positive impact in our communities.
Moderator: Jay Wall RGD
Jay is a creative director dedicated to social change, with a focus on brand design and communications for community engagement. Based in Guelph, he was previously the founder of RallyRally and principal creative director at Briteweb. Named one of Canada’s top public space champions by Spacing Magazine, Jay is also a design professor at George Brown College.

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