Book signings will take place in the Mezzanine both days of the conference. Bring your copies from home if you have them, or purchase a book at our on-site bookstore.

November 7

12:15 p.m.

Annie Atkins and Radim Malinic

5:30 p.m.

Nick Asbury and Julian Bleecker

November 8

5:30 p.m.

Robin McLoughlin and Christopher Doyle

Guy Anabella is a fierce creativity professor and drag artist, drawing inspiration from her Guyanese heritage. Ahead of her workshop at DesignThinkers Toronto, we asked her a few questions about drag, its influence on her approach to teaching and what attendees can expect from the conference’s first-ever session hosted by a drag queen.

Can you tell us a bit about how you got into drag?

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been drawn to powerful, feminine energy—Whitney, Mariah and especially the Spice Girls were my icons. But growing up, I was taught that boys weren’t ‘supposed’ to like those things, so I pushed that part of myself aside for years. As I became more comfortable with my identity, I realized that drag was an incredible way to reconnect with those influences and express both masculine and feminine parts of myself. What started as lip-syncing Britney in my room has now become a way to heal my inner child and embrace the full spectrum of who I am. And also be so incredibly creative!

You’re an award-winning creativity professor. How does your work as a professor influence your approach to drag, and vice versa?

At first, I didn’t think academia and drag could influence each other—after all, you don’t often see drag in a classroom setting. There’s also this level of professionalism that you feel like you have to maintain. But I quickly realized they absolutely do intersect. Drag is an incredibly creative art form, from makeup and costumes to performances. It’s about expressing yourself, often in ways that challenge societal norms, and that’s a valuable lesson in creativity and design. In the classroom, I’ve found that students appreciate this unique perspective because drag artists (kings and things included), in their own way, have been teaching society about inclusion and self-expression for decades.

Is there a lesson in creativity and self-expression that you’ve learned from your drag journey that you find yourself teaching your students?

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned from drag is that true creativity comes from feeling psychologically safe. That’s why creating inclusive environments—whether in the classroom, the workplace or any creative space—is so important. When people feel accepted for who they are, they’re able to take risks, explore new ideas and ultimately be their most creative selves. For me, drag has reinforced that we need to build those spaces for everyone.

You’re leading a workshop at DesignThinkers where participants can design their own drag characters! Can you give a brief overview of what people can expect to do in the session?

Eeeee! What an honour! Shoutout to RGD for curating queer content! I’m really excited to lead this workshop at DesignThinkers. This is an opportunity for participants to explore their creativity through the lens of drag, no matter their gender or background. We’ll dive into the art of drag and use creativity exercises to help each person design a character that reflects their unique personality. This session is all about creative exploration and self-expression.

What do you hope participants take away from your workshop?

I hope participants walk away from this workshop with a deeper appreciation for drag as an art form and the creativity it embodies. Drag is about celebrating yourself, your gender expression and elevating all the positive things of who you are. It’s like stepping into a superhero version of yourself. I hope folks were able to see that they can access their drag persona at any time to embrace and amplify their unique strengths, creativity and confidence. I want them to feel inspired to apply these tools in other areas of their lives, whether that’s in design, problem-solving or self-expression. I also hope it sparks thoughts on how inclusivity can enhance their creative processes and overall work.

Secure your spot in Guy Anabella’s workshop, Design Your Own Drag Character! ($20), on November 8 at 11:30 a.m. Register when you purchase your conference ticket or according to the additional programming registration instructions in your pre-conference emails.

With the support of our sponsors, the RGD has awarded 9 cash scholarships to emerging designers to attend DesignThinkers Toronto this November 7-8.

Student RGDs and Associate RGDs were invited to submit a 30-second to 1-minute video expressing their enthusiasm for DesignThinkers Toronto and why they wished to attend the conference.

Each sponsor selected a winner and provided $500 for them to help cover their costs to attend.

Thank you to this year’s DesignThinkers Toronto Scholarship Sponsors: Cinnamon Toast, Davis, Frontier, Fusion, Key Vision Design, Pound & Grain, Razor Creative Solutions, Significant Other and One23West.

Below, we share their winning work. Click on each project to watch the video submission.

Deanna Auger Associate RGD

Sponsor: Significant Other

Malak Elsharkawy Associate RGD

Sponsor: Cinnamon Toast

Pulomāja Gajraj Student RGD

Sponsor: One23West

Rayna Lai Student RGD

Sponsor: Pound & Grain

Emily Norris-Jones Student RGD

Sponsor: Frontier

Brianna Petrut Student RGD 

Sponsor: Davis

Nafisa Sadia Student RGD

Sponsor: Key Vision Design

Briet Savard Gudjonsdottir Student RGD

Sponsor: Razor Creative Solutions

Vienne Seto Student RGD

Sponsor: Fusion Design Group

Christmas has come twice!!! Well, not really, but here is part two of my Top 5 Projects by DesignThinkers Speakers.

Being able to share this series highlights the variety and depth of the presenters this year. I am truly vibrating, knowing that some of the most interesting people working in design today will all be in one location. Get ready for full inspiration saturation.

Christopher Doyle & Co.: Tie: Visual Identities for Natasha Cantwell & Garigarra

Christopher Doyle has always made me smile. During the pandemic, I think we all found solace in Youtube. I saw Christopher speak about the visual identity for his friend photographer Natasha Cantwell. Graphic designers often look for the joy in words, and when something like this presents itself, you can’t help but jump on it. By splitting Natasha’s last name, Cant and Well, Christopher played with everything that Natasha can’t do well. Then, there’s the identity for Garigarra, which means truth in Wiradjuri. This development company works closely with Australia’s Aboriginal community, recognizing them as the custodians of the land. The austerity of the photography coupled with the 70s puzzle-like letterforms really grabbed me.

Mr. Bingo: This will be a fucker to frame + EVERYTHING ELSE

I put this Mr. Bingo piece after Christopher Doyle’s work above because I think it also reflects that same beautiful balance of words and humour. This one is really simple. The title says it all. The hardest part about this project was trying to narrow down what I would pick for Mr Bingo. He reminds me, with everything that he releases, of the work of Pentagram’s founding partnerAlan Fletcher. Again just a joy to see such fun in all of his work.

Johanna Roca: Tie: My Big Moments

As the Creative Venture Partner at Accept & Proceed, Johanna’s work is recognized as one of the most interesting designs being done today. For her, I picked her project, My Big Moments. These books look amazing. Johanna’s work as a creative director is so fun, beautiful and sophisticated. These customized books appeal to both the adults who are snapping them up and the children whose eyes widen when they see their names on the pages of these beautiful publications.

Mindy Seu: Cyberfeminism Index

One talk I will not miss is Mindy’s On Gathering in Five Chapters. She is known for her Cyberfeminism Index,a website first and book second. I came to it in the opposite order. The intensity of the cover of her book was what grabbed me first. (Always how I judge a book!). The book includes 703 entries from the site’s larger archive of over three decades of work by marginalized communities. Once opened, I was immediately drawn into some of the most intense, surprising and challenging work that then propelled me down the rabbit hole of the online version with project topics from sexuality and technology to trauma, identity, grief and relationships.

Mirek Nisenbaum: Studio Museum in Harlem Website

I mean, come on, it’s Base Design. I admit I’m a fanboy. The work that this international studio creates is, in my mind, some of the smartest creative thinking out there. I often return to this project for the Studio Museum in Harlem, led by Mirek. The museum wanted to create a digital experience that would be a place where black art came alive, ensuring this important work was seen by a broader community. This project’s audience needs, user experience and design all work seamlessly.

I do feel like a kid before Christmas as I wait for DesignThinkers. When I was growing up, one of the true joys was flipping through catalogue pages (I miss printed catalogues!) and looking through the toy section at the newest Lego or Action Force figures. I would read the beautifully crafted descriptions and dream that my aunt and uncle were secretly rolling in cash to be able to buy the whole section for my cousins and me.

Seeing the list of the DT speakers triggers the same endorphin rush as my past catalogue journeys. Over the course of 25 years, some of the biggest names in design and design culture have graced the stages in Vancouver and Toronto. The conference has shifted, as the industry has, from large portfolio presentations to talks rooted in important, current topics that are affecting us as designers, and also us as citizens.

Like with Christmas when I never got everything in the catalogue, I can’t see every speaker at DesignThinkers. Here, I have picked my favourite projects from the five speakers I am jumping around my room in anticipation of seeing in November.

Studio Moross: Defected Records, Live Visuals Kit 2024

I am a house music fan. I have been for a long time And, if you enjoy house music, you probably know the record label, Defected. I am also a Studio Moross fan. Aries Moross and their team were asked to create a series of bold typographic background videos for Defected’s live events. I love the fact that Studio Moross created a day-and-night version of the visual toolkit and took advantage of the sheer scale of the massive video canvases—pure bliss with sound and design.

Shantell Martin: Dance Everyday + ALL OF HER WORK

Anyone who has come in contact with Shantell Martin and her work will have been inspired to draw. I was introduced to her beautiful line drawings when she collaborated with Kendrick Lamar in Miami, and I have followed her since. Though clean and simple on the surface, Shantell’s large installations often tackle broad issues. Here, I chose her mural from Buffalo, New York (2017) simply because I have seen it in real life, but her entire portfolio is inspiring. Look for the stitching collaboration with her grandmother, Dot Martin.

Elizabeth Goodspeed: Anyway Magazine

I first read Elizabeth Goodspeed’s byline as part of the team behind Eye on Design. EoD, published by the AIGA, still stands as one of the most important design platforms during its both print and digital run. I love that when I see Elizabeth’s work, I feel as though I am being allowed into a personal design celebration. Anyway is a magazine created for tweens and teens. Its articles treat kids with dignity and respect and cover topics that they confront the everyday, from family, friends, gender and identity. Elizabeth and the designers who assist here have designed a printed place of comfort and inclusion that happens to also be super bright and joyous with moments of whimsy. RUNNER UP: Also, check out Elizabeth’s involvement with Pentagram in the fictional Minx magazine created for the HBO Max/Starz series.

Talia Cotton: Counter-Archiving the Avant Garde

When you watch movies that use a lot of visual effects, you can tell the difference in quality. Designers can sometimes make technology stick out like a sore thumb, while other designers integrate it seamlessly. Talia Cotton certainly is the latter. In Talia’s practice, she uses technology like a paintbrush. The great thing about her projects is that, even though they are rooted in complex digital frameworks, they feel intuitive, vibrant and alive. I was particularly moved by her project, COUNTER-ARCHIVING THE AVANT-GARDE. This site challenges the idea of a static, closed archive, hence Counter-Archive, by encouraging written discourse to grow and thrive in the platform around the subject of the Global South’s influence on American avant-garde music.

Department of Letters: Mullion Heavy Typeface

Department of Letters is a Toronto-based type foundry that was launched this year by Carl Shura. All cards on the table: I am a faculty member with Carl at the School of Design at Toronto’s George Brown College. He is one of the nicest people you’ll meet. In 2022, Carl won a CA Award of Excellence for his typeface Circulation, and I was super-excited to see the launch of Mullion (Heavy), a chunky grotesque that has some fun eccentricities. Carl is hosting a Type Design Crash Course at DesignThinkers, which will be a lot of fun.

Student RGDs and Associate RGDs are invited to apply to win free attendance at DesignThinkers Toronto. Nine scholarship packages are available, each including a free ticket and $500 cash to help cover the costs of attendance.

Update (September 12): A new scholarship has been added, bringing the total up to nine.

How to apply

To apply, submit a 30-second to 1-minute video expressing your enthusiasm for DesignThinkers and why you wish to attend.

Criteria 

Applicants will be judged on their creativity and passion. Priority will be given to applicants who reside more than 100km away from the conference venue.

Deadline

11:59 pm PT on Sunday, September 22, 2024

These scholarships are generously provided by Cinnamon Toast, Davis, Frontier, Fusion, Key Vision Design, Pound & Grain, Razor Creative Solutions, Significant Other and 123w.

Interested in supporting emerging designers? If you are interested in sponsoring a scholarship, email [email protected].

Leland Maschmeyer is co-founder and CEO at COLLINS. Ahead of his talk at DesignThinkers in Toronto, we asked him a few questions about his time at Chobani, what trend he thinks will impact the design industry and more.

Under your leadership, the two companies you’ve worked with have received numerous accolades for pushing boundaries and setting the bar for outstanding work. What is your leadership style like? How do you inspire your teams towards greatness?

There are many styles of leadership. I have come to know that my dominant style is known as “transformational” leadership. You can read online about the basics of it, so I’ll focus on my personal tenant: empower small teams with significant responsibility, shared context, decision rights and clear success criteria will always make dreams come true.

You were responsible for Chobani’s much lauded brand and company growth, with it being recognized for its innovative approach to design, creativity and marketing. While you were there, the brand’s value expanded from $1B to $10B. What’s one of the biggest lessons you learned from your time at Chobani?

In the early 2010s, I had an itch I couldn’t scratch: I felt that brand systems were no longer fit for purpose. It’s not that a classic kit (logo, typeface, colours and secondary graphics) wasn’t useful. It’s that the many uses, value and approach to creating them has become completely misaligned with what contemporary brand building demands.

The 1980s gave birth to the brand identity system kit. But as the branding challenges of business changed so dramatically over the following 30 years, you would have imagined that the marketing and brand profession would have responded and evolved.

It did not. I mean, not at all. It was stuck, lost some back somewhere in 1983. I mean, it had not changed much since I was a toddler.

In 2016, I joined Chobani to test my thesis of what a real, next-generation brand solution could be. After our remarkable five-year run there, I left the company with, I think, my thesis proven. I believe the “brand world system” building is the next era. This is a culture-centric, community-conscious approach to designing a brand. It weaves together the diverse scope of expression with which contemporary brands struggle. It’s still a kit of workable assets and rules. But its starting point is different, it defines a much broader scope of brand activity, and the management of it – over time – is much different.

Since I returned to COLLINS, we’ve been building brand world systems with many of our clients, helping them enjoy the benefits of what we learned with Chobani.

We love to show our highlight reels in this industry, but we’ve all worked through disappointment and perceived failure—we lose a pitch, a campaign doesn’t land how we’d hoped. How do you manage through these dips?

While failures leave bruises, I never let them define me. I always try to build with or from them. My advice, find one good lesson in a failure and it will not be a failure. The failure is to brood and beat yourself up. Learn and move. Failures are the bricks building the cathedral of success.

Besides AI, are there any emerging trends or technologies you foresee impacting the future of design?

Distributed/remote work will, over the long term, have a dampening effect on revenue for the vast majority of design firms. It will increase the pool of competition among design firms, drive down the fees that design firms can command, and will push revenue distribution towards a power law curve. (A what?)

This will force design firms to find ways to meaningfully differentiate their offering to command a desired – even necessary – price point. So, the way I see it, it will be difficult, but soon enough it will be better for our profession. It’ll bring focus.

This year’s conference theme is “Into the Rabbit Hole.” Is there any topic or idea that you’ve been diving into lately?

I have been diving deep into how professional sports teams build their draft-day strategies and how they evaluate the most extraordinary prospects. I am obsessed with finding great, talented people and building great, talented teams.

DesignThinkers is turning 25 this fall. To celebrate this milestone and say thank you for your support, we’re giving away 25 free tickets to past attendees.

To enter, share your favourite photo(s) from the conference on Instagram or LinkedIn. Whether it’s of a memorable talk, you with a speaker, a group photo with your friends or colleagues or something else entirely, we want to see it.

Instructions: 

1. Make a post featuring a favourite photo (or photos) from the DesignThinkers conference
2. In the caption, give a bit of context and share why the moment matters to you
3. On Instagram*, tag @rgdcanada on the photo itself and use #rgdDT. On LinkedIn, tag the RGD’s page in the caption and use #rgdDT

*Ensure your Instagram profile is public. Instagram posts must be on the feed, not stories. Stories will not count towards the giveaway.

Photos can be your own or from the RGD’s Flickr albums. If using Flickr photos, please credit the photographer if they’re listed (at the top of the album when you are viewing it).

Deadline:

The contest is open until Friday, September 6. 25 winners will be selected at random, and then notified and announced by Tuesday, September 10. Only one post per entrant.

Roundtables are your chance to connect with other creatives in a small group setting. 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:

November 8th, 8:15 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.

• Mission possible: Finding purpose and passion in your work
  Do you yearn for a job where you can unleash your creativity and make a tangible impact every day? This roundtable explores the myriad of possibilities and personal satisfactions that come with working in an environment that aligns with your values.
  Moderator: Scott Ferguson RGD
  Scott has over 20 years of experience in motion graphics, 3D design, video production, illustration and more. He has worked with networks like Much, MTV and HBO. Throughout his career, Scott has experienced both the highs of following his passion and the challenges of losing it along the way. Now, he’s focused on helping fellow designers navigate their own creative paths and rediscover purpose in their work.
• 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: Alan Joson RGD, Graphic Designer for The Michener Institute of Education at UHN
  Alan balances his role as an in-house graphic designer with an active freelance design career, where he works with clients from varied backgrounds, ensuring their unique voices and identities are reflected in every project. Alan remains committed to exceeding client expectations while promoting the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion in all his work.
• 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: Michelle Hopgood RGD, Founder, Creative Designer & Information Specialist at Hopgood Creative
  With over 15 years of experience in design, information, knowledge and information management, Michelle helps researchers, academics, and thinkers use the power of design to explain complex ideas. 
• 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: John Furneaux RGD, Managing Director, Toronto, at PS&Co Brand Studio
  At PS&Co, John oversees strategic and creative development. Previously, he held executive positions at leading brand consultancies including Identica Branding, karacters design group, Ove Design and Publicis Brand|Design. John teaches at George Brown College in their Design Management. 
• 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.
  Moderators (2 groups): Carla Thibodeau RGD / Carolyn Harman RGD
  With 15 years’ experience, Carla currently works as the in-house designer at the Financial and Consumer Services Commission of New Brunswick, the province’s financial regulator. She 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. / 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: Dee Olher RGD
  Specializing in visual and motion design with expertise spanning UX/UI design, art direction and 3D technique, Dee is deeply committed to crafting designs that strike a balance between simplicity and impact, focusing on delivering messages that not only communicate clearly but also leave a lasting impression on the audience. 
• The comparison trap: How to revel in competition and celebrate other people’s success
  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.
  Moderator: Radim Malinic, Creative director, Designer & Best-selling Author
  DesignThinkers speaker, Radim runs Brand Nu Studio, an award-winning branding and creative studio, and Brand Nu Books, an independent publishing imprint.
• 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: Catherine Ryan, Associate Creative Director at Context Creative
  With over 11 years of experience in branding, campaigns, web design and UX, Catherine has worked both in-house and at design and communications agencies, applying a broad range of expertise to her projects. 
• User-centred design: Where humans reign supreme
  The application of user-centred design is constantly changing. Do you spend much of your time thinking about how the user can be better served by the designs you create? How do we ensure that users are the main focus of our designs, and that those users find our designs easy to navigate? Join us to discuss how design can be employed to make things easier, rather than just help address the bottom line.
  Moderator: Amelia Nash RGD
  Amelia is a Canadian expat based in New York City, where she merges her roles as a designer, brand strategist, and creative director to build bold, sustainable brands. With over 12 years of experience, she’s driven by a deep curiosity and passion for exploring open and equitable design practices.

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.
  Moderator: Kathleen Scott RGD, Creative Strategy Team Lead at Bruce Power
  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?
  Moderator: Marin Hudson RGD, Owner + Creative Director at 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.
• 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.
  Moderator: Geneviève Metropolis 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. 
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Roundtables are your chance to connect with other creatives in a small group setting. 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:

November 7th, 8:15 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.

• 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
  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 decision making.

November 7th, 12:15 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

• Comic Sans, You Suck: Sharing your best stories of inappropriate font usage
  Get ready for a deep dive into the world of “bad “fonts! Join us as we explore what makes a font choice cringeworthy, debate whether Comic Sans deserves its infamous reputation, and uncover why people love the fonts we love to hate. Expect spirited discussions and a few design horror stories! (p.s. We ARE hating on the same fonts, right?)
  Moderator: Ronald Tau RGD, Graphic Designer, Creative Director & Founder of Meat Studio
  Ronald’s firm specializes in brand identity design and typography. His work has been recognized by TDC, ADC, ADCC, Tokyo TDC, Communication Arts, Creative Review, RGD Ultrabold, Applied Arts, Vice, 032C and It’s Nice That. He teaches typography and graphic design at York University and George Brown School of Design.
  
• Passion projects: Making work for fun, because it’s fun to do
  What really piques your curiosity? Come join our conversation as we 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.
  Moderator: Talia Cotton, Founder & Creative Director of Cotton
  DesignThinkers speaker, Talia is a designer, coder, creative entrepreneur and leading specialist in the intersection of branding and technology. Fast Company recently described her as “one of the leading graphic designers of the moment to embrace the possibilities of code.”
• 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: 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.
• 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: Dave Dick RGD, Creative Director, Strategist & Founding Partner of Humanfolk
  Dave’s career spans agency, in-house, business owner and education. He has delivered solutions for such brands as Prime Video, General Mills, Food Network, Cineplex, University of Toronto, Corus Entertainment and CBC.
• 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.
  *Note: This roundtable has two moderators.
  Moderator: John Furneaux RGD, Managing Director, Toronto at PS&Co Brand Studio
  At PS&Co, John oversees strategic and creative development. Previously, he held executive positions at leading brand consultancies including Identica Branding, karacters design group, Ove Design and Publicis Brand|Design. John also teaches at George Brown College in their Design Management.
  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 sectorst. Fe is also a graphic design educator who shares her love of layout and typography with emerging designers.
• User-centred design: Where humans reign supreme
  The application of user-centred design is constantly changing. Do you spend much of your time thinking about how the user can be better served by the designs you create? How do we ensure that users are the main focus of our designs, and that those users find our designs easy to navigate? Join us to discuss how design can be employed to make things easier, rather than just help address the bottom line.
  Moderator: Elyse Maxwell RGD, Senior Graphic Designer & Project Manager at Patch Design
  From developing comprehensive branding systems to designing packaging and print materials, Elyse enjoys working directly with clients to find solutions to their challenges.
• 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: Adriana Ivory RGD, Design Director at The Garden Collective
  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. 
• From concept to completion: Managing design projects in-house
  Dive into the different aspects of project intake systems and project management processes within in-house design environments. Share strategies, best practices and key challenges for navigating design projects efficiently and effectively. Benefit from group insights to optimize your workflow and elevate project outcomes.
  Moderator: Pina Nicoli, Group Account Director at Cella
  Pina is a proven People Leader with considerable experience in building and leading large teams, driving results, developing and optimizing workflow processes, business to business sales and service delivery.
• 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: Jessica deVaal RGD
  Jessica draws upon more than 25 years of design experience in the education, medical and financial sectors. She has a three-year diploma in Technical Illustration from Sheridan, was a proofreader for eight years at the University of Toronto, and currently is a designer with Deloitte Canada. Her passion is problem solving and she loves a good design challenge or even a good puzzle.
• 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 eachother and grow our businesses.
  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.
• Students only: Embrace your design identity and 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.
  Moderator: Elana Rudick RGD, Founder & Creative Director of Design Is Yummy
  Design Is Yummy is an award-winning, Montreal-based design studio known for its bold, purposeful approach. With a firm belief that the “why” is more important than the “what”, Elana leads her team in collaborating with brands in the arts and culture, education, healthcare, government and not-for-profit sectors. 

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