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Mentorship Program helps Certification Candidates through the Process
16/01/23

Are you on the fence about getting RGD Certified? Do you have questions about the Certification Process? Sign up for the RGD's Certification Mentorship Program to be paired with a Mentor who will help you to achieve your RGD Certification. 

 

Next deadline to apply: Friday, June 30, 2023

 

Apply here

 

Provisional RGDs, Affiliate Members and any designers with 7+ years of relevant education and work experience combined are invited to apply. 

 

This program connects potential new Members with Certified RGDs to mentor and support them by addressing questions and concerns, sharing their experiences getting certified and providing guidance throughout the process. As much as possible, we will align Mentors with Mentees who share a similar background or field of focus.  

 

Diana Castaneda RGD, Senior Graphic Designer, TRIUMF, explains her reasons for being a Certification Mentor: "I have been fortunate to have great mentors in the past, and I'm a firm believer in 'what goes around comes around'. For senior designers, being generous and humble with junior designers is a great way to welcome and promote the design you want to see in this world. At the end of every mentorship, I feel that I learned more than I gave." 

 

RGD Certification involves 3 steps: the application process, an 80-minute multiple-choice online test and a 30-minute, portfolio presentation of 6 portfolio pieces to 3 seniors over 30 minutes. Find more information on the process here.   

 

Mentorship sessions take place virtually, with the time and frequency determined by the Mentor and Mentee mutually. 

 

As a Mentee, you can ask questions unique to your situation and related to any stage of the RGD Certification process, including:

  • What’s involved?
  • How difficult is the test?
  • How much time will the entire process take?
  • What is the value of Membership?
  • I’m in a unique workplace, will my work be recognized? Will it be good enough?
  • What if I don’t pass?
  • How much does it cost?
  • Do I need support from my employer? 

Newly-Certified RGD Members share their experience participating in the program: 

“I wanted to start the process for my RGD Certification and was looking for support. My mentor helped me choose my pieces and submit my application, which was accepted. She gave me the push I needed to apply!” — Rachel Simms RGD, certified in November 2022. 

 

"The program prepared me well for Certification in all different aspects. In terms of me looking for insights about exhibition and environmental graphic design, my mentor gave me some new perspectives to think about and things that I myself might need to explore more in the community. It is a great program for people who have concerns about the Certification process." — Yunwen Zhu RGD, certified in September 2022

 

If you have any questions, please email Hilary Ashworth at .