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 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Bring your questions, offer advice and participate in conversations that will leave you feeling engaged and energized.

Sign up for roundtables when you register for the conference. Roundtables are $10 each unless otherwise noted as free or $5 (students only).

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: Jon Sanson RGD

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 pretty boring. How do we as creatives 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: Natasha Rutledge RGD

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: Diana Varma RGD

The need for speed: Addressing time constraints within the design process
In competitive markets, the need for speed in all areas of business has been increasing all the time. In response to the ever-increasing need for speed, how can designers develop creative solutions and contribute to business success, while staying true to effective design processes and maintaining a healthy work-life balance? What role can AI play in a designer’s efficiency? What processes and strategies contribute to cross-disciplinary collaboration and integration? Join us as we discuss the need for efficiency without sacrificing the quality of your designs or your mental health.
Moderator: Sarah Prouse RGD

The value of Certification [Free]
Certification has both internal and external value, in any profession. For designers, it’s about the accomplishment and the internal feeling of pride. But it’s also about the external credibility it provides for clients and employers. Join the RGD’s Executive Director as she outlines the RGD’s Certification process and answers your questions about the process, the value of the experience and the benefits of RGD Membership throughout your career. We promise it’s not as scary as you think.
Moderator: Hilary Ashworth

Beyond the logo: Aligning emotional brand identity with visual design
Branding often conjures images of logos and colour palettes, yet its essence delves much deeper. For designers, the challenge lies in transcending visual elements to encapsulate a brand’s core promise and emotional resonance. In this engaging roundtable, we’ll explore the multifaceted nature of branding, discussing strategies to harmonize a company’s emotional brand identity with its visual representation. Join us for a conversation that aims to shift perspectives and bridge the gap between a brand’s internal ethos and its external design.
Moderator: Jason Dauphinee RGD

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: Eva Cremers

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: Diana Castaneda RGD

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: Janet Kestin