RGD provides a lifeline to the design community when those late-night brainstorming sessions make me a little more introverted than I prefer. DesignThinkers and the Design Socials also offer a way to recharge creatively and reconnect with other designers leading our craft in new and exciting directions. I’m always inspired after a webinar, conference, or just the weekly RGD newsletter.

I was reviewing portfolios of emerging designers at the Creative Directions Conference, something my mentor inspired me to do. The morning session had just wrapped up and, while breaking for lunch, I actually bumped into my mentor for the first time in person. Our monthly sessions had occurred over Skype and had recently finished, so running into someone so influential in my current career direction was a true pleasure.