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Download the PDF program here!
The day will be hosted by Dominic Ayre RGD, Creative Director at Hambly & Woolley.
9:30 AM PT / 12:30 PM ET / 1:30 PM AT: Find Your Personal Style
Presented by Meg Lewis
Are you tired of seeing the same design trends? Feeling drenched in imposter syndrome trying to fit into a world of extremely talented creatives? We all have the makings for a design, illustration or fine art style unlike anyone else. After all, you’re unlike anyone else! In this talk, Meg explains how you can embrace the qualities that make you most unique, pinpoint lifelong sources of inspiration and translate your totally “you” personality into a visual style unlike anyone else's. Meg also explains how creating a set of style guidelines can be applied to your personal branding, work, wardrobe and even the way you decorate your home!
About Meg Lewis
Meg Lewis is a designer creating experiences for happy companies and a one-on-one educator creating happier lives for humans of all kinds. Meg is the founder of Ghostly Ferns, a collective of designers & commercial artists and is the co-founder of Fool Proof, a shared workspace for creativity & collaboration in Minneapolis. She specializes in creating emotional connections between businesses and their audiences by adding personality to their brand. Meg is also a sought-after speaker and educator, travelling the world to present at conferences and private events on personal brand, defining a purpose and living an authentic life.
11:00 AM PT / 2:00 PM ET / 3:00 PM AT: Tools & Tactics
Perfecting Your Portfolio Panel Discussion
A portfolio is a designer's career calling card. Panelists offer advice and answer your questions about developing and presenting your portfolio so you can feel confident and competent during interviews.
Moderator:
Nicola Hamilton RGD, Art Director & Graphic Designer in Toronto
Panelists:
- Matthew Clark RGD, Creative Director at Subplot in Vancouver
- Sarah Di Domenico, VP, Partner & Creative Director at WEDGE in Montreal
- Linda Nakanishi, Associate Partner at Nascent Digital, User Experience, in Toronto
- Laura Stein RGD, Chief Creative Officer at Bruce Mau Design in Toronto
12:30 PM PT / 3:30 PM ET / 4:30 PM AT: Transparency
So You Wanna Design A Better World? Panel Discussion
Social good, sustainability, accessibility, inclusion... buzz words or basic & fundamental principles? Join us as our panel of designers discuss the important topics our world is talking about, and the role that design can play in addressing them.
Moderator:
Victor Szeto RGD, Creative Director at Green Living Enterprises in Toronto
Panelists:
- JD Beltran, Founder and Director of the Center for Creative Sustainability
- Andrew Gibbs, Founder & CEO at Dieline in Los Angeles and Partner of A Plastic Planet
- Michelle Hopgood RGD, Information Design Specialist at Hopgood Creative in Toronto
- Jay Wall RGD, Principal & Creative Director at RallyRally – Design for Social Change in Toronto
2:00 PM PT / 5:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM AT: Trajectory
Sponsored by Depositphotos
What Brand Designers Know
How do you build a memorable brand? What are the tips & tricks of the trade? Senior professionals offer tips specific to their roles in packaging, brand consulting and in-house brand management.
Presenters:
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Mooren Bofill RGD, Executive Director, Design at john st. in Toronto
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Topic: Branding in the Expectation Age: How do we build successful brands today?"
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- Wade Convay, Interactive Creative Lead at Google Brand Studio in San Francisco
- Topic: Smart, Alert, Strong, Kind, Brave - What it's like to work in-house for one of the largest brands in the world.
- Robin Honey RGD, Brand Consultant in London (ON)
- Topic: BRANDLINGO - Translating for success
- Wilson Wong, VP of Creative Services, Creative Director at Everbrave Branding Group in Calgary
- Topic: A Sneak Peek into the Brand Refresh of a Branding Agency
The day will be hosted by Jennifer Taback RGD, Partner at Design de Plume in Sudbury.
9:30 AM PT / 12:30 PM ET / 1:30 PM AT: Trailblazing
Make It: 400+ Slides on making it.
Presented by Zipeng Zhu
Zipeng is a Chinese-born designer, art director, illustrator and animator in New York City who wants to make every day a razzle-dazzle musical. His clients include Apple, Adidas, Coca-Cola, Microsoft, Twitter, Netflix, Viacom, The New Yorker, Fox, Animal Planet, CNN, Refinery29, Chobani and Samsung. After graduating from the School of Visual Arts, he has worked at Pentagram and Sagmeister & Walsh. He was an ADC Young Guns 13 winner and has been recognized as Print magazine’s New Visual Artist and The One Show Young Ones. His work has been exhibited in New York, Barcelona, Dubai, Mumbai, Shanghai and other major museums and institutions. Now he runs his creative practice Dazzle Studio and gift shop Dazzle Supply to push dazzle to the next level.
11:00 AM PT / 2:00 PM ET / 3:00 PM AT: Tools & Tactics
Perfecting your Job Search Tools (Post COVID-19) Panel Discussion
Close your eyes. Can you picture your dream job? This panel of design professionals will give you helpful insights and advice to help you land it.
Moderator:
Nicola Hamilton RGD, Art Director & Graphic Designer in TorontoPanelists:
- Eleni Alpous, Manager, Design & Insights at Doblin in Toronto
- Chris Govias, Chief of Design at The Canadian Digital Service in Ottawa
- Berkeley Poole, Creative Director at Whitman Emorson in Toronto
- Robyn Cambruzzi, Associate Creative Director of Design Mosaic North America in Toronto
12:30 PM PT / 3:30 PM ET / 4:30 PM AT: Transparency
Real Life 101: The Missing Design Course Panel Discussion
So you went to school and are about to start your career... but what did you miss? Join our panelists as they offer strategies, tips and advice on the important challenges you'll face in the work world that you weren't taught in school. This from-the-hip discussion explains what really matters for success in your career.
Moderator:
Alison Garnett RGD, Creative Director & Founder of Field Trip & Co in Toronto
Panelists:
- Jeff Close, Associate Partner at Pentagram in NY
- Hans Thiessen RGD, Partner, Partner & Creative Director of Design at Rethink in Vancouver
- Paul Twa Prov. RGD, Designer + Illustrator in Edmonton
- Sara Wong Prov. RGD, Designer at The Office of Gilbert Li in Toronto
2:00 PM PT / 5:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM AT: Trajectory
Sponsored by Depositphotos
What Digital Designers Know
Interested in a digitally-driven career? Senior professionals offer tips specific to their roles in user experience design, motion design and game design.
Presenters:
- Jay Grandin, Partner & Creative Director at Giant Ant in Vancouver
- Topic: What the heck is motion design anyway... and who cares?
- William Liani, Head of API - Business Development at Depositphotos in New York
- Topic: Visual Trends 2020
- Lin Oosterhoff Prov. RGD, Senior Designer at Critical Mass in Calgary
- Topic: Down the Rabbit Hole. My unexpected journey into the magical world of digital design
- Ellen Tham, Manager, UX Design, at GALE Partners in Toronto
- Topic: Getting hired: tips for getting and growing in your first UX role
The day will be hosted by Freelance Designer Greg Dubeau RGD from Halifax.
9:30 AM PT / 12:30 PM ET / 1:30 PM AT: Trailblazing
Re-Imagining Better Tomorrows
Presented by Brian Collins
Any future worth creating should seem ridiculous to achieve in present. In this closing keynote, Brian will discuss how he and his team have worked with some of the world’s leading organizations - Spotify, Mailchimp, Twitch, The San Francisco Symphony and the Exploratorium —to make leaps into the future, not by “changing,” but by evolving from their center. At the heart of COLLINS’ philosophy is the belief that problem-seeking is far better than problem-solving, and why the future only belongs to those who test the limits of their imaginations.
About Brian Collins
Brian is Chief Creative Officer of COLLINS, the independent experience design company in San Francisco and New York City. They were named by Forbes as one of the companies reshaping the future of brand building. Over his career, Brian and his team have won every major creative award. Their work has been featured in The New York Times, Businessweek, Creativity, Fortune, NBC News, ABC News and Fast Company, which named Brian an American Master of Design. Their clients include Target, Mailchimp, Nike, Coca-Cola, Spotify, Dropbox and the Exploratorium Museum. Under his leadership, COLLINS was added to Working Not Working’s annual list of Companies Creatives Would Kill To Work For Full-Time. They were also placed on Ad Age’s 2019 A-List and were named the first Design Agency of the Year in 2019. Brian is a Distinguished Alumna of The Massachusetts College of Art & Design.
11:00 AM PT / 2:00 PM ET / 3:00 PM AT: Tools & Tactics
What Employers Will Be Looking For (Post COVID-19) Panel Discussion
How do you stand out in a crowded job market? What are the essential skills to make you a sought after commodity? Join us as our panel discusses the qualities and skills of the designer of the future, and learn how to make sure you are exactly what employers are looking for.
Moderator:
Nicola Hamilton RGD, Art Director & Graphic Designer in Toronto
Panelists:
- Julie Barge RGD, Manager of Visual Design at Canada Life in London (ON)
- Vanessa Eckstein RGD, Founder & Creative Director of Blok Design in Toronto
- Geoff Lee, Director, Design and Brand at Bell Media Agency in Toronto
- Nick Richards, Founder & Executive Creative Director of Will in Vancouver
12:30 PM PT / 3:30 PM ET / 4:30 PM AT: Transparency
Show Me the Money
We’re throwing out the who, what, when, where & why. Let’s talk about the how. Like, how much? How much should you charge? How much should you ask for up front? How much can I expect to make as a junior designer? How much do you want to know these things?
Moderator: Julian Brown RGD, Owner, Creative Director of ON THE CHASE! Motion Design in Toronto
Panelists:
- Charmaine Cheng Prov. RGD, Art Director & Designer at Rethink in Vancouver
- Tanya Duffy, Creative Director / Owner at The Details Design and Branding in Fredericton
- Jordan Jackson Prov. RGD, Designer at Puncture Design in Toronto
- Dzung Tran RGD, Designer + Branding Consultant in Toronto
2:00 PM PT / 5:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM AT: Trajectory
Sponsored by Depositphotos
What Solo Designers Know
Interested in working by yourself? Experienced solo designers offer tips specific to their roles as both freelancers, working for creative agencies, and as solopreneurs, working directly for clients.
Presenters:
- David Nuff RGD, Freelance Designer in Toronto
- Topic: The Opposite of the Royal We
- Marta Ryczko, Freelance Designer in Toronto
- Topic: Sidepiece: How, When and Why you should start a Side Project
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Cai Sepulis RGD, Freelance Illustrator/designer/art director at Ballyhoo Media in Guelph
- Topic: Solo Designers: The Jack (and Jill) of all Trades
- Carson Ting, Creative & Partner at Chairman Ting Industries in Vancouver
- Topic: Creating Your Own Opportunities.
- Portfolio reviews offer the opportunity to get professional feedback on your work and advice on how to improve your portfolio and presentation skills.One-day of programming includes one 1/2 hour virtual portfolio review. Sign up for an all-access pass with 3 three days of sessions to receive three 1/2 hour reviews. Or sign up for just reviews!Reviewers will be selected based on the areas of design that you are most interested, your location, your availability and other factors indicated on our review preferences form.
2020 Reviewers
Claudio Afonso
Eleni Alpous, Human-centred Design, Manager Insights & Design at Doblin – A Deloitte Business
Advertising, Branding, Corporate Communications, Design Research, Digital Marketing, Digital Product Design, Human-centred Design, Information Design, Packaging, Print, Signage and Wayfinding, UI/UX Design, Web DesignChris Armstrong RGD, Director of Strategic Design at Operative Brand Consulting
Marina Beniaminov RGD, Creative Lead
Rahul Bhogal RGD, Owner/Designer at Nothing Design Studio
Web | Instagram | LinkedIn | Work
Branding, Corporate Communications, Editorial Design, Print, Signage and Wayfinding, Web Design
Mooren Bofill RGD, Executive Director, Design at john st
Advertising, Branding, Corporate Communications, Digital Marketing, Editorial Design, Illustration, Packaging, PrintJoe Borges RGD, Creative Director at 16x9 AgencyAdvertising, Branding, Corporate Communications, Digital Marketing, Information Design, Print, Web DesignCaroline Bruckner RGD, Director, Design Strategy at Ove Brand | Design
Branding, Corporate Communications, Information Design, Signage and Wayfinding, Web DesignStefan Canuel RGD, Creative Senior Designer at National Gallery of Canada
Diego Casco RGD, Creative Director at CASCO Agency
Yasemin Cenberoglu, Design Lead, UX & Service Design, Digitalist Group
LinkedIn | WorkDigital Product Design, Editorial Design, Information Design, Print, UI/UX Design, Web DesignJames Chambers Prov RGD, Multimedia Content Creator at Smith School of Business, Queen's UniversityBranding, Digital Product Design, Illustration, Motion Design, Packaging, Print, UI/UX Design, Web DesignRoss Chandler, Owner / Creative Director at Becoming Design Office Ltd
Amit Choudhury RGD, Design Director at Grand Orbit Inc.
Advertising, Branding, Corporate Communications, Digital Marketing, Editorial Design, Packaging, Print, Signage and Wayfinding, UI/UX Design
Yen Chu RGD, Creative Director of Design at Rogers Sports & Media
Advertising, Branding, Corporate Communications, PrintJustin Close, Design Director, Digital at john st.
Kirk Clyne, Chief Creative Officer at Art & Science Digital Experience Design
Branding, Digital Marketing, Information Design, Instructional Design, Motion Design, Presenting/speaking, UI/UX Design, Web Design
Jennifer Cook, Creative Director at Science World
Natalie Coombs RGD, Senior Graphic Designer at Ernst & Young
Amanda DeVries RGD
Paul Dolenc RGD, Director, Project Management & Design at Harbinger Communications
Greg Dubeau RGD, Freelance Graphic Designer
Advertising, Branding, Corporate Communications, Digital Marketing, Editorial Design, Illustration, PrintAli DuHart RGD, Senior Graphic Designer at Benefit Cosmetics
Vanessa Eckstein RGD, Founder / Creative Director at Blok Design
Branding, Editorial Design, Packaging, Print, Product Design, Signage and Wayfinding, UI/UX Design, Web DesignAnthony Furia RGD, Creative / Design Director at Furia
Raj Grainger RGD, Creative Director at r/grainger studio
Wendy Gray RGD, President & Creative Director at Gravity Inc
Yurko Gutsulyak RGD, Designer, Art Director at Gutsulyak.Studio
Branding, Corporate Communications, Packaging, Print, Signage and Wayfinding, Typography
Jaimie Hallarn RGD, Interactive Designer at Sephora Canada
Advertising, Branding, Corporate Communications, Digital Marketing, Editorial Design, Hand Lettering, Print, TypographyMagued Hanna RGD, UX Design Consultant
Digital Product Design, UI/UX Design, Web DesignCarolyn Harman RGD, Graphic Designer at the City of Ottawa
Advertising, Branding, Corporate Communications, Digital Marketing, PrintJowenne Herrera RGD, Senior Consultant at Government of Ontario
Branding, Corporate Communications, Digital Marketing, Editorial Design, Illustration, Print, Public Service, Signage and Wayfinding, Web DesignDave Hurds RGD, Design Manager at Context CreativeSandy Kedey RGD, President at SLK Communications
Advertising, Branding, Digital Marketing, Strategy
Irina Khvalova RGD, Principal at Colourphill
Branding, Corporate Communications, Packaging, PrintDenny Kurien RGD, Creative Director & Co-Founder of Rayvn Design
Advertising, Branding, Corporate Communications, Digital Marketing, Motion Design, Web DesignGigi Lau RGD, Art Director at Harlequin
Denis Leclerc RGD, Principal and Creative Director at Costa Leclerc Design Inc
Accessibility, Art, Branding, Corporate Communications, Digital Marketing, Editorial Design, Illustration, Motion Design, Print, UI/UX Design, Web Design
Emerald Lee RGD, Art Director at Gravity Inc
Branding, Corporate Communications, Illustration, Print, Web DesignEdmund Li RGD, Associate/Creative Director at Entro
Exhibit Design, Information Design, Signage and Wayfinding
Book Design, Branding, Editorial Design, Print, TypographyDiego Lopez RGD, Creative Director at Compass Creative
Advertising, Branding, Corporate Communications, Digital Marketing, Editorial Design, Illustration, Packaging, Print, Signage and Wayfinding, UI/UX Design, Web DesignNorm Lourenco RGD, Creative Director at Truth + Dare
Branding, Corporate Communications, Digital Marketing, Editorial Design, PrintMeg Lynch RGD, Design Director at Forge Media + Design
Branding, Corporate Communications, Editorial Design, Print, Web DesignKerri MacLeod Prov RGD, Graphic Designer at RC DesignAdvertising, Branding, Corporate Communications, Digital Marketing, Information Architecture, Information Design, Packaging, Print, Signage and Wayfinding, UI/UX Design, Web DesignHayley Malcho RGD, Design Director at No Fixed Address
Angelo Morano RGD, Graphic Designer at McCormick Canada
Branding, Packaging, PrintAmelia Nash Prov RGD, Graphic Designer at Alberta Blue CrossDavid Nuff RGD, Designer/Principal at Nuff
Branding, Digital Product Design, Motion Design, Print, Signage and Wayfinding, UI/UX DesignLin Oosterhoff Prov RGD, Senior Designer at Critical Mass
Advertising, Branding, Digital Marketing, Editorial Design, Print, UI/UX Design, Web DesignAndrew Perro RGD, Design Director at Craib Design & Communications
Carl Poirier RGD, Founder, President & Creative Director at Cayenne Creative
Advertising, Bilingual Communication & Advertising, Branding, Corporate Communications, Digital Marketing, Digital, Product Design, Editorial Design, Information Design, Packaging, Print, Signage and Wayfinding, UI Design, Web DesignLinden Polos RGD, Art Director at AN Design Communications
Any kind of layout and typography, Branding, Corporate Communications, Editorial Design, Information Design, PrintSarah Prouse RGD, VP, Creative Possibilities at Fusion Design Group
Branding, Corporate Communications, Illustration, Information Design, PrintBarry Quinn RGD, Founder, Chief Creative at Quake
Andrea Rodriguez RGD, City of Toronto
Branding, Corporate Communications, Editorial Design, Illustration, Motion Design, Print, TypographyAngelo Roldan Prov RGD, Art Director at Leo BurnettBranding, Corporate Communications, Editorial Design, Illustration, Print, Signage and Wayfinding, UI/UX DesignKyle Schruder RGD, Director of Design at Coactuate
Branding, Corporate Communications, Editorial Design, Information Design, Print, UI DesignMike Scott RGD, Designer
Victor Szeto RGD, Creative Director at Green Living Enterprises
David Taylor RGD, Creative Director at Awake Studio
Andrew Terwissen RGD, Creative Director at Epigram
Wade Thompson RGD, Multimedia Designer at Toronto Catholic District School Board
Pascal Tremblay, Creative Director at Good Kind
Stüssy Tschudin RGD, Principal / Creative Director at Forge Media + Design
Colin Turner RGD, Designer
Advertising, Branding, Corporate Communications, Information Design, Motion Design, Packaging, Print, UI/UX Design, Web DesignCarmen Wagner, The National Ballet of Canada
Advertising, Branding, Corporate Communications, Digital Marketing, Editorial Design, Illustration, Print, Signage and Wayfinding, Web DesignJennifer Weaymouth RGD, Owner, Creative Director at Weaymouth Creative
Lauren Wickware RGD, Designer
Branding, Editorial Design, PrintAmanda Wood Prov RGD, Creative Director at AudienceViewAdvertising, Branding, Corporate Communications, Digital MarketingFe Wyma RGD, Founder and Senior Creative at Kapwa Communications
Branding, Corporate Communications, Intercultural Communications/Design, Print, Signage and WayfindingMichael J. Young RGD, Creative Director at Government of Ontario
Branding, Corporate Communications, Digital Marketing, Digital Product Design, Information Design, Motion Design, Print, Web Design