The Association of Registered Graphic Designers (RGD or simply RGD; formerly ARGD/ON is a non-profit, self-regulatoryprofessional design association with over 3,000 members. It serves graphic design professionals, managers, educators and students. Created in 1996 by an Act of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario (Bill Pr56), the Association is Canada's only accredited body of graphic designers with a legislated title and the second such accredited body of graphic designers in the world. RGD certifies graphic designers and promotes knowledge sharing, continuous learning, research, advocacy and mentorship.

Advocacy

RGD works to establish professional standards and innovative thinking within the graphic design industry. The association assumes an advocacy role for best practices for both graphic designers and the clients they work with. They focus on issues such as spec work and crowdsourcing, accessibility, sustainability, salaries and billing practices, pro bono work and internship guidelines. RGD advocacy initiatives include: * Supporting, defending and maintaining policies * Promoting measures that broadly benefit members and the industry * Increasing public awareness and disseminating information about industry best practices and the value of working with a Registered Graphic Designer (RGD) * Arguing in favour of a new idea * Speaking out on issues of concern * Mediating, coordinating, clarifying and advancing a particular point of view * Intervening with others on behalf of the profession

History

In 1956, Toronto-based designers Frank Davies, John Gibson, Frank Newfeld and Sam Smart formed the Society of Typographic Designers of Canada (TDC). The TDC was later renamed the

Society of Graphic Designers of Canada The Society of Graphic Designers of Canada (GDC) is Canadaʼs national certification body for graphic and communication design and since 1956 has established standards for design professionals, educators, and leaders. GDC licenses and certifies me ...

(GDC) to reflect the wider interests of its members. By 1984 many other design disciplines such as Architecture and Interior Design had been given Acts in Provincial Legislatures so that their respective associations could govern and grant their members exclusive professional designations. RGD's founders recognized the need to align Graphic Design with other design professionals. To ensure Graphic Design could also advance as an acknowledged profession the Association's founders decided to incorporate the Association of Registered Graphic Designers (RGD). On April 25, 1996, Bill Pr56 was passed and Royal Assent was given to an Act Respecting The Association of Registered Graphic Designers by the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Sponsored by Mrs. Margaret Marland, Member of Provincial Parliament and signed by the Honourable

Hal Jackman Henry Newton Rowell Jackman (born June 10, 1932) is a Canadian billionaire businessman who served as the 25th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario from 1991 to 1997. He is the son of former Member of Parliament Harry Jackman and philanthropist Mary ...

C.M., O.Ont., O.ST.J., B.A., L.L.B., L.L.D., Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of Ontario. In 1999 a separate Examination Board was established to administer the Registered Graphic Designers Qualification Examination, now referred to as th
Certification Process for RGD

Founders

Pauline Jarworski The Association of Registered Graphic Designers (RGD or simply RGD; formerly ARGD/ON is a non-profit, self-regulatoryprofessional design association with over 3,000 members. It serves graphic design professionals, managers, educators and students ...

* Michael Large *

Jamie Lees Jamie is a unisex name. It is a diminutive form of James or, more rarely, other names. It is also given as a name in its own right. People Female * Jamie Anne Allman (born 1977), American actress * Jamie Babbit (born 1970), American film and t ...

* Ivy Li RGD Emeritus * Helen Mah FGDC * Rod Nash RGD Emeritus * Albert Kai-Wing Ng O.Ont., RGD, FGDC * Rene Schoepflin RGD Emeritus *

Robert Smith Robert Smith or Bob Smith, or similar, may refer to: Business * Robert MacKay Smith (1802–1888), Scottish businessman, meteorologist and philanthropist who founded Glasgow University's Mackay Smith Prizes * Robert Barr Smith (1824–1915), ...

RGD * Philip Sung RGD Emeritus

Membership

In order to obtain the Registered Graphic Designer (RGD) designation, designers must complete a Certification Process that includes an application to determine eligibility, a multiple-choice online test, and a virtual portfolio interview. The RGD designation signifies knowledge, experience and ethical practice, guaranteeing that a designer is professionally competent in the areas of accessibility, business, design principles, research and ethics. RGD offers various forms of membership for professional practitioners, managers, educators and students in graphic design, and for persons in allied professions.

Conferences

RGD organizes three annual conferences: a two-day design conference calle
DesignThinkers
a one-day career development conference for students and emerging designers calle
Creative Directions
and a one-day Design Educators Conference.

Publications

RGD has published three editions''The Business of Graphic Design: The RGD Professional Handbook'. It has also published ''AccessAbility: A Practical Handbook on Accessible Graphic Design'' and publishes a biennial ''National survey of graphic design salaries & billing practices''.

Related organizations

Société des designers graphiques du Québec The (SDGQ) is the provincial graphic design association in the Canadian province of Quebec. Its stated aim is to advance the profession of graphic design in Quebec and to help its members develop both professionally and financially. Its activiti ...

(SDGQ) *

AIGA The American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) is a professional organization for design. Its members practice all forms of communication design, including graphic design, typography, interaction design, user experience, branding and identity ...

Design Council The Design Council, formerly the Council of Industrial Design, is a United Kingdom charity incorporated by Royal Charter. Its stated mission is "to champion great design that improves lives and makes things better". It was instrumental in the pro ...

Icograda The International Council of Design (ICoD; formerly known as ico-D, International Council of Communication Design or Icograda, which was formerly an initialism for International Council of Graphic Design Associations) is an international organisa ...

References

External links

The Association of Registered Graphic Designers (RGD) Official Web Site DesignThinkers Official Web SiteCreativeEarners: National Survey of Salaries & Billing Practices in the Communication Design IndustryAccessibility
{{Authority control Graphic design Design institutions Communication design Professional associations based in Canada Organizations based in Ontario Arts organizations established in 1996 1996 establishments in Ontario