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Celebrate the power of design

*Note that the Social Good Design Awards will be back in 2018! Subscribe to RGD's e-newsletter to receive updates.

 

The Association of Registered Graphic Designers (RGD) invites submissions of graphic design projects from around the world done under the theme of communication design for social good; work with the power to incite action and make meaningful change in the way we live our lives.


Today’s designers have an ever greater responsibility to visualize the significant issues facing our society and find new ways to incite change in the way we behave. When we approach these issues creatively, we can make a real difference in the world.

 

Categories

Not-For-Profit Client-Initiated Projects: Any communications-based projects where a not-for-profit and/or charity is the client.

For-Profit Client-Initiated Projects: Any communications-based projects where a for-profit company is the client, either where the client has a social mission built into their business model or where a business-driven client develops or funds an initiative for social good.
Designer-Driven Projects: Work where no client is involved but that where designers identify causes they would like to raise awareness for or where they identify solutions to societal challenges.

Government-Initiated Projects: Any communications-based projects where a government department, governmental agency or crown corporation is the client. The design team/designer may work internally or externally to the client.

 

Judging - Selection Criteria:

  1. The project effectively promotes action in support of social change.
  2. The project demonstrates originality and creativity through advanced, unusual or clever solutions, uniqueness of materials, originality of components and/or creative use of resources.
  3. The project demonstrates good design, through the elegance and sophistication of core design concepts, the layout and use of space, typography, clever synergies of visual elements, artistic integration, etc.
 

 

  • SoGood 2015

     

    View photos from the Awards ceremony here.

     

    2015 Judges:

     

    Justin Ahrens, Principal at Rule29

    Claude Auchu, VP and Creative Director at lg2boutique

    Mooren Bofill, Design Director at john st

    Richard Carmichael, VP Creative, Marketing and Communications at Zerofootprint Inc.

    Flavio Carvalho RGD, Senior Visual Designer at Method

    Ross Chandler Affiliate RGD, Principal at Ross Chandler Creative Projects

    Monique Gamache, Design Director & Partner at WAX

    Lisa Greenberg, SVP, Head of Art, Creative Director at Leo Burnett

    Tina Mackenzie RGD, Creative Services Manager at City of Mississauga

    Lisa Nakamura, Creative Director of Design at Rethink

     

    2015 Winners:

     

    Mohawk Award:Odgis + Company (NY, US): Sustainability From the Ground Up

     

    Non-Profit, Client Initiated Projects:

    Ellipsis Digital (London, Canada): Be Safe app

    FFunction (Montreal, Canada): It's My Life! Stop cancer before it starts

    hjc (Toronto, Canada): End of year Campaign

    Intent (Toronto, Canada): Enabling Access Through Web Renewal Handbook

    lg2boutique (Montreal, Canada): Festin de Babette - Book

    lg2boutique (Montreal, Canada): Tous debout pour nos p'tits loups - Identity

    lg2boutique (Montreal, Canada): Banques alimentaires Quebec 2012-2013 Annual Report

    lg2boutique (Montreal, Canada): La Vittoria 2013 - Souvenir Booklet

    Parcel Design (Toronto, Canada): This Book is Political

    Parcel Design (Toronto, Canada): Canadian Civil Liberties Association 50th anniversary gala

    The Office of Gilbert Li (Toronto, Canada): A Brave Spirit Makes All Things Possible

    The Office of Gilbert Li (Toronto, Canada): Places, Please!

    Rethink (Toronto, Canada): No Tankers DM

    Tamm + Kit (Toronto, Canada): BLBC: Strategic Brand Design

    Zulu Alpha Kilo (Toronto, Canada): Blind Cane

    Zulu Alpha Kilo (Toronto, Canada): People for Good

     

    For Profit, Client Initiated Projects: 

    ALSO Collective (Toronto, Canada): Gallery 44 Visual Identity

    Blok Design (Toronto, Canada): Let It Shine

    Polygraphe (Montreal, Canada): De Gaspé

    Polygraphe (Montreal, Canada): L'Écurie brand identity

    Sid Lee (Toronto, Canada): Blue Goose

    Thought Cafe (Toronto, Canada): Dive Deeper (The Water Brothers)

    Thought Cafe (Toronto, Canada): I Am Me

    Vox Pop Labs (Toronto, Canada): Alberta Issues Map

     

    Government Initiated Projects:

    Bureau (Sudbury, Canada): Downtown Sudbury Branding, Campaign and Website

    Optimus Creative Media (Mexico City, Mexico): Mobile Interactive Museum: “Live Science!”

    Pilot PMR (Toronto, Canada): The 519

     

    Designer Driven Projects:

    AmirrezaChabouk Provisional RGD (Toronto, Canada): Curtain

    Brock Donaldson Provisional RGD (St. Thomas, Canada): The Kitsune Board

    Cambrian College Graphic Design Program (Sudbury, Canada): aboutface

    Daria Shmitko (Isia, Urbino): Tactile Tools for Wayfinding

    Design Studio M-Kvadrat (St. Petersburg, Russia): Propaganda: Aren't Fed Up?

    HivelyDesigns (Brooklyn, USA): IH8War.com

    Institute without Boundaries (Toronto, Canada): The Atlas of One Delta

    Jennifer Zhang Student RGD (Toronto, Canada): Society's Greatest Fear: Loneliness

    Jessica Lambe Provisional RGD (Sudbury, Canada): PRISM

    Lilian Leung Student RGD (British Columbia, Canada): Molecure Personal Mental Health Awareness

    The Litter Letter Project (Franklinton, USA): The Litter Letter Project

    Nicole Mannell Student RGD (Toronto, Canada): Mental Health Awareness Package

    Studio Jaywall (Toronto, Canada) & LOKI (Montreal, Canada): Reading/Writing the Junction

    Sunny Hye Sun Lee Student RGD (Toronto, Canada): DASH personal medical data

    Tracy Baker Student RGD (Toronto, Canada): LifeBox

     

    Partners:

    Design Partner: Blok

    Paper Partner: Mohawk

    Print Partner: Somerset 

     

     

  • SoGood 2014

     

    Download the 2014 SoGood Catalogue here. 

     

    2014 Judges:

    Non-Profit, Client Initiated Category: Manager of Communications at AIDS Committee of Toronto (ACT), Kyle Greenwood; Designer, Mario Mercier DGA; Founder of Studio Myerscough, Morag Myerscough; Art Director and Principal at Riordon Design, Shirley Riordon RGD

     

    For Profit, Client Initiated Category: Design Director at Duffy & Partners, Joseph Duffy; Creative Director at Blok Design, Vanessa Eckstein RGD; Head of Corporate Citizenship at Manulife Financial, Chris Ouellete; Principal and Creative Director at Subplot Design Inc., Roy White

     

    Government Initiated Category: Book Designer, Irma Boom; Creative Director at the City of Calgary, Brent Mykyte; Principal at Domino Creative, Nicole Vallee RGD

     

    Designer Driven Category: Kickstarter Co-Founder Charles Adler; Founder of Draplin Design Co., Aaron Draplin; Creative Director and Partner at Underline Studio, Fidel Pena RGD; Creative Director at St. Bernadine Mission Communications, Andrew Samuel

     

    2014 Winners:

    Non-Profit, Client Initiated Projects: 

    Intent (Toronto, Canada): 'She Deserves It' Campaign

    Blok Design (Toronto, Canada): Coalition for Engaged Education Identity 

    The Public Studio (Toronto, Canada): Elder Abuse Prevention Campaign

    GenesisXD (Toronto, Canada): KLINK Coffee Social Enterprise Branding

    Parcel Design (Toronto, Canada): Camp Quality Identity 

    rtraction (London, Canada): 1,000 Acts of Kindness Campaign

    We Are Michael Jackson (Rotterdam, Netherlands): MAFIFA Poster

    Thought Cafe (Toronto, Canada): Approval Voting Video

    Projektor Brand Image (Toronto, Canada): Not Far From The Tree 2013 Yearbook

    Hambly & Woolley (Toronto, Canada): Teresa Group Identity 

    ALSO Collective (Toronto, Canada): SickKids Pediatric Orthopedic Fellowship Annual Report 

    9 Lives Design (North Bay, Canada): UCycle Campaign

    STUDIO JAYWALL (Toronto, Canada): Jane's Walk Print Campaign 

     

    For Profit, Client Initiated Projects: 

    The Works Design Communications (Toronto, Canada): RESPECT Report

    Thought Cafe (Toronto, Canada): Crash Course Education Series

    Trapeze Media (Toronto, Canada): KRAFT Celebration Tour Website 

    Helena Ng Design (Markham, Canada): Animal Protection Stamp Collection

    Pivot Design Group (Toronto, Canada): 1in3.ca Website 

     

    Government Initiated Projects:

    ON THE CHASE! Motion Design (Toronto, Canada): #BeOurAlly Campaign Video

    Bureau (Sudbury, Canada): OBWC Brand and Website

    Ontario Science Centre (Toronto, Canada): Banting Best Lab Exhibit

    Blok Design (Toronto, Canada): Lab Ciudad Identity

    Una Lee Design (Toronto, Canada): Feathers of Hope Campaign

    City of Mississauga (Mississauga, Canada): Mississauga Earth Days 2014 Campaign

    Flipside Creative Inc. (Vancouver, Canada): Golden Spruce Trail Experience

    Gravity Inc. (Toronto, Canada): Ontario Clean Water Agency Annual Report

     

    Designer Driven Projects:

    Katie Maasik Student RGD (North Vancouver, Canada): You Are Not Al(one) Campaign

    Heather Luscher Student RGD (Toronto, Canada): 'Meat of the Matter' Print Piece

    Ottawa Bicycle Lanes (Ottawa, Canada): Ottawa Bicycle Lanes Campaign

    Lauren Coutts Student RGD (North Vancouver, Canada): Colour Blind Awareness Campaign

    Marissa Korda Student RGD (Toronto, Canada): Reel Women Film Festival Identity 

    Chloe Blanchard Student RGD, Joyce Dang Student RGD & Alaa Abuamra Student RGD (Toronto, Canada): Beyond 40 App 

    Adademia di Belle Arti di Firenze (Italy): 'Bring Salvation to All Living Things' Poster

    Nathakorn Kittananthawongs Student RGD (Toronto, Canada): 'Against Animal Testing' Infographic 

    Sylvie Leveiller Student RGD (Sudbury, Canada): The Basket Challenge Campaign

    Damon Pfaff, ACCESS (Toronto, Canada): Youth Making A Difference (YMAD) Campaign, Fall 2013

    Camille Pomponi Student RGD (Toronto, Canada): Camoni Tea and Coffee Packaging 

    Chloe Silver Student RGD (Toronto, Canada): 'What's Your Beef?' Brochure 

     

     

    Partners:

    Design Partner: Forge Media + Design

    Paper Partner: Rolland Enterprises Inc.

    Print Partner: Somerset 

    Exhibit Partner: Resource Integrated

     

  • SoGood 2013


     

    Download the 2013 app here.

    Download the 2013 Catalogue here.

     

    Judges David Berman RGD, author of Do Good Design: How Design Can Change our World; Frances Edmonds, Director of Environmental Programs at HP Canada; Ben Hagon RGD, Founder and President of Hagon Design; and Dmitri Siegel, VP of E-commerce & Executive Creative Director at Patagonia selected 42 winning projects from 190 entries submitted from 7 countries.

     

    The projects listed below effectively promote action in support of social change with originality, creativity and the use of sophisticated design concepts. 2013 winners are featured in a printed catalog and free iPad app and were recognized at the 2013 DesignThinkers Conference. 

     

    Winners 2013:

     

    Not-For-Profit Client-Initiated Projects:

    • Cossette (Canada): Habitat for Humanity 2011 Annual Report
    • On The Chase! (Canada): 'What is Social Innovation?'
    • Aveda (Canada): 'iWalkForWater'
    • Lyubava Fartushenko, Student, University of Alberta (Canada): 'Community-Based Design Education'
    • Anita Feng, Student, UQAM (Canada): 'Fukushima'
    • Faren Agency (Canada): 'Heading Home? Must be nice. Campaign for Tokens4Change for Youth Without Shelter'
    • Hambly & Woolley (Canada): 'Participaction's Bring Back Play Mobile App'
    • smashLAB (Canada): 'The Vancouver Aquarium Website'
    • Dalida Karić-Hadžiahmetović: 'Woman Is Not An Object'
    • Orangetango (Canada): 'Dr. Julien Foundation 2012 Fundraising'
    • Tamm + Kit (Canada): 'Global Development Volunteer Campaign'
    • K10 art+design (Canada): 'The Defi Canderel Event 2012/13 Fundraising Campaign'
    • Helena Ng Design (Canada): 'Alzheimer Society of Ontario - Finding Your Way Program Campaign Design Series'
    • Juniper Park (Canada): 'Story Planet: Intergalactic Travel Authority'
    • AIDS Committee of Toronto (Canada): 'My Sex Life: Info for Young Pox People'
    • Riordon Design (Canada): 'Street Level Website'
    • SQUAB Creative Studio (Canada):'The Professional's Guide To Becoming a Champion'

     

    For Profit Client-Initiated Projects:

     

    Designer Initiated Projects:

     

    Government Initiated Projects:

     

    2013 Partners

  • SoGood 2012

    RGD was gratified by the community's response (over 200 submissions from 11 countries), the quality of work and the passion of the designers.

     

    The winning projects were on public display at The Gladstone Hotel in November, with a reception held on November 10. See pictures from the exhibit here. A catalogue featuring the winning work is also available. Click here to view a digital version.

     

    2012 Winners:

     

    Not-For-Profit (Client Initiated Projects):

    • Youth-led Community Organizing Reports. Design by Una Lee for Laidlaw Foundation
    • Side by Side Conference Branding. Design by Hagon Design for St. Joseph's International Outreach Program
    • 2007 Hungry City - Make Your Own Campaign. Design by Pivot Design Group for the Daily Bread Food Bank.
    • Women Lovin': A Sexual Health Guide for Queer Women. Designed and Illustrated by Jayme Spinks for ACT (AIDS Committee of Toronto) & CATIE (Canada's source for HIV and hepatitis C information).
    • Not Myself Today Campaign. Designed by Blok Design for Partners for Mental Health.
    • SHE Branding. Designed by Blok Design for SHE (Sustainable Health Enterprises)
    • Girl Guides of Canada 100th Anniversary Logo. Designed by AmoebaCorp for Girl Guides of Canada.
    • Observance and Memorial Exhibit. Designed by Emilio Genovese for Royal Ontario Museum.
    • Voice of Industry Website. Designed by Gil Martinez for Voice of Industry.
    • ArtHouse Branding. Designed by Branding for Good for ArtHouse.
    • Mozilla Webmakers Video Series. Designed by Smart Bubble Society Inc. for Mozilla Foundation.
    • Fare Share Food Bank Branding. Designed by Limelight Advertising & Design for Fare Share Food Bank.
    • Our Dreams Matter Too Report. Designed by Una Lee for Children and Youth.
    • Do The Happy Campaign. Designed by Oxygen for SickKids Foundation.
    • Mosquitoes Suck Tour. Designed by Naomi Francois for SoChange.
    • Equality Ping / Equality Deng Posters. Designed by Sha Feng.
    • Branksome Becomes Campaign. Designed by Clear Space for Branksome Hall.

     

    For-Profit (Client Initiated Projects):

    • Ensemble Branding. Designed by TAXI for Brand Aid Project.
    • Niagara Region Wind Corporation Branding. Designed by Clear Space for Niagara Region Wind Corporation.
    • Food Drive Poster. Designed by Jose Garcia and Tomas Hinojosa for PosterOne.
    • Una Lee Business Card. Designed by Una Lee for Una Lee.
    • Level Ground Branding & Packaging. Designed by Subplot for Level Ground Trading.
    • Gebran2005 Headline Typeface. Designed by Nadine Chahine.

     

    Designer Initiated Projects:

    • Dolphin's Smile Campaign. Designed by Antonia Goga.
    • Mexico Ciudad Futura Book. Designed by Blok Design.
    • Difference Engine Initiative: Ripple Effect Poster. Designed by Una Lee.
    • "To Be" Exhibition. Designed by Atanas Bozdarov.
    • Congo  Awareness Poster. Designed by Audrey Chia.
    • Rape is Not Love Poster. Designed by Samantha Dirksen.
    • Vegan Please Mobile App. Designed by Kate El-Bizri.
    • Toronto High School Rebranding. Designed by Yana Stepchenko.
    • Riceland Branding and Packaging. Designed by Qiannan Zhao.
    • Concepts for all Online Image Bank. Designed by Nelu Wolfensohn.
    • Secrets of the Magic School Book. Designed by Monika Krupa.

     

    2012 Partners: