Past winners give advice for entering the RGD In-House Design Awards

How did you decide which project(s) to submit?

"We select projects that reflect the full depth of in-house design practice; work that unfolds over time and requires the complete application of design thinking. These are projects where design shapes strategy, not just visuals and where collaboration and impact are clearly visible. Submitting this kind of work allows us to showcase how in-house design can drive clarity, alignment and confidence within a non-creative organization, while delivering outcomes that stand up to international scrutiny." — Diana Castaneda RGD, Brand Designer/Manager at TRIUMF

"I chose to submit this project because it was an environmental design I worked closely on from concept through completion for our new office, and the process was both challenging and meaningful. Navigating multiple constraints and revisions pushed me to grow and think more intentionally as a designer. While I led the work, I was grateful for the team’s input, support and shared values, which helped shape the project along the way. Given the effort involved, and the important role this project played in the grand opening of our new office, it felt like a thoughtful and meaningful submission for the awards." — Tracy Choi, Senior Graphic Designer at Ernst & Young LLP

"We chose to submit the B+H 70 Years of Design campaign because it best represented the scale, strategic thinking and design leadership of our in-house team. The campaign extended far beyond a single deliverable. It was a comprehensive, global brand initiative that balanced legacy with forward-looking innovation. It demonstrated our ability to lead complex, multi-market storytelling while maintaining design integrity, cultural sensitivity and consistency across platforms. As a milestone project tied directly to brand positioning and business development, it felt like the most authentic reflection of the value in-house design brings to the organization." — Ashani Jayasinghe RGD, Creative & Graphic Design Manager at B+H Architects

"I was intentional about selecting projects that best represented the impact of the work and my role within it. I focused on projects that delivered strong, measurable results and required a significant level of time, effort and strategic thinking. The NorQuest brand refresh felt especially important due to its long-term significance to the organization. I also considered how the projects would perform as a portfolio set—choosing work that was diverse in scope, scale and application. I wanted submissions that demonstrated strong visuals, but also thoughtful problem-solving and leadership within an in-house environment." —  Hilary McHale RGD, Senior Creative Lead at NorQuest College

"We narrowed it down to projects that we felt were not only strong pieces of design, but ones that really reflected our brand. We wanted to highlight the depth of our storytelling through a mix of mediums—from print to video to out-of-home. It’s always fun to stretch our visual brand and push our storytelling into new areas. Those are the pieces we’re most excited to share with others." — Josh McInerney RGD, Manager of Creative Services at Bow Valley College

"I draft a list of contenders and consult with my team. We base our decision on: a) the originality of the project, by asking “What is a project we rarely see in our industry of hospital foundations?”, b) Which projects are we most proud of? and c) if we have funding to use from our professional development budget. These deadlines may land at the tail-end of our fiscal year—forcing us to be more conservative with the quantity of submissions. If you can plan ahead, I recommend speaking to your team leads about dedicating budget to be invested into future opportunities as they arise—at the beginning of our fiscal year."  — Cecilia Mok, Senior Graphic Designer at Sinai Health Foundation

"For our submissions, each of our designers chose independently, as well as considering nominations from others. Also, depending on the budget, we made a decision democratically." —  Evelina Petrauskas, Graphic Designer at the Art Gallery of Ontario

What did your submission process look like? Were there any unexpected challenges or learnings along the way?

"Preparing the submission was a highly reflective process. Beyond gathering assets, the main effort was articulating the design rationale, constraints and impact in a clear and compelling way. Translating complex, long-term work into a concise narrative required alignment within the team and thoughtful editing. One key learning was the importance of documenting decisions and outcomes throughout a project—not just at the end—which made the submission process more efficient and more meaningful." — Diana Castaneda RGD, Brand Designer/Manager at TRIUMF

"Preparing the submission took about a month. During that time, our team was working on several in‑house projects we wanted to submit, so part of the process involved aligning on a consistent tone and approach across all entries. For my submission, which focused on environmental design, I wanted to include photographs of the space as it’s experienced in real life. Capturing the space without people present proved to be a bit challenging, and gathering before‑and‑after visuals and supporting information took time. One of the biggest learnings was finding the balance between being descriptive and staying concise and clear. Overall, the submission process became a meaningful reflection of the challenges, decisions and growth that occurred from concept through completion of the project." — Tracy Choi, Senior Graphic Designer at Ernst & Young LLP

"Preparing the submission took two to three weeks and involved close collaboration across marketing, leadership and regional teams. The process included curating campaign assets, distilling outcomes and articulating the strategic role design played in achieving business objectives. One challenge was narrowing down the breadth of work into a clear, compelling narrative, given the campaign’s global reach and year-long execution. The key learning was how important it is to document design impact in real time; having metrics, testimonials and visuals organized early made the submission process more focused and efficient." — Ashani Jayasinghe RGD, Creative & Graphic Design Manager at B+H Architects

"It took us 8 to 10 hours in total across three projects to prepare our submissions. About half of that time was spent on gathering supporting materials—such as performance stats, stakeholder quotes and written input from other staff members. Writing the case study narratives and clearly articulating the process and outcomes required focused effort. I completed the submissions independently, which meant managing everything from content development to final assembly. One key learning was how time-intensive documentation can be if it isn’t collected along the way, reinforcing the value of keeping process notes throughout a project’s lifecycle." —  Hilary McHale RGD, Senior Creative Lead at NorQuest College

"One thing we learned from past entries is the importance of having creative elements ready to go for awards submissions. Our team puts together “brag decks” that we share with the executive team. They help us quickly highlight projects we’ve launched in market and also act as a resource when we want to submit work for awards. This has saved us a ton of time digging through old files. AI has also helped shorten timelines by taking high-level project overviews and turning them into more detailed submission-ready summaries." — Josh McInerney RGD, Manager of Creative Services at Bow Valley College

"Each submission took approximately 2-3 hours to prepare. I retrieve final art files to create new mock-ups into a presentation deck. At the same time, I draft copy about the project scope, design process and results—and ensure the visual deck supports the written text. My draft copy is reviewed by a writer on my team to improve storytelling, edit grammar and trim to fit max word counts. This step may not always be available to me, but I always ask for a fresh pair of eyes to review the submission before I hit that “submit” button! It’s valuable to have another POV. Even better if the proofreader was not a part of the original project." — Cecilia Mok, Senior Graphic Designer at Sinai Health Foundation

"The preparation process took anywhere from 2 hours to 2 days, depending on what we were submitting. For exhibition/environmental graphics, we usually prefer to find installation photography as opposed to actual files. The AGO photographers are responsible for installation photography and while we prefer to art direct these shoots, often schedules don’t permit. Finding these photos in our images collection can take more time, and sometimes they do not showcase our work exactly as we would like." —  Evelina Petrauskas, Graphic Designer at Art Gallery of Ontario

What did receiving an RGD In-House Award mean to you and your team?

"Receiving an In-House Award was a moment of genuine pride. It validated our approach, our craft and the strategic role design plays within our organization. The recognition strengthened the team’s confidence and reinforced our sense of belonging within the broader design community. Being able to present our team as award-winning also reassured our collaborators that they are working with designers who meet international standards—equal contributors to the world-class work TRIUMF produces." — Diana Castaneda RGD, Brand Designer/Manager at TRIUMF

"Receiving an RGD In‑House Award meant a great deal to me personally, as it affirmed the care, intention and growth that went into this project. It was also meaningful for our team, as it recognized the work of the EY Canada Creative Studio and the value of in‑house design as a whole. This project played an important role in the grand opening of our new office, so seeing it acknowledged externally felt especially rewarding. Positioned in the elevator lobbies, the murals became a welcoming and memorable first impression—capturing attention and emotion as people entered the space. The recognition reinforced for me how design can create connection, spark conversation and support meaningful progress." — Tracy Choi, Senior Graphic Designer at Ernst & Young LLP

"Receiving an RGD In-House Award was a powerful validation of our team’s work, particularly given the complexity and scale of the campaign. It acknowledged not only the quality of the design, but also the strategic leadership, collaboration and trust built across the firm. For the team, it reinforced pride in our role as stewards of the B+H brand and recognized the behind-the-scenes effort that often goes unseen. On a personal level, it was deeply rewarding to see an in-house team’s work celebrated alongside top creative talent." — Ashani Jayasinghe RGD, Creative & Graphic Design Manager at B+H Architects

"Receiving an RGD In-House Award was extremely rewarding, both personally and professionally. It was my very first design award, which made it especially meaningful. Beyond the personal milestone, it felt like validation that the work met a high standard of design excellence, strategy and ethics. For the team, it reinforced that our work goes far beyond “making things look good”—it has real value and impact. The award serves as proof that strong, thoughtful design can thrive within an in-house setting and be recognized at an industry-wide level." —  Hilary McHale RGD, Senior Creative Lead at NorQuest College

"It’s a great motivator to be recognized by your peers who are also doing amazing work. That kind of acknowledgment keeps us energized and pushes us to keep raising the bar creatively for our organization." — Josh McInerney RGD, Manager of Creative Services at Bow Valley College

"It is always an honour to be recognized by a jury of our peers. And when it's a jury of in-house designers, it means even more because they get it. These are people who truly understand our unique positions and challenges. This is such a meaningful award, and big boost for our team morale." — Cecilia Mok, Senior Graphic Designer at Sinai Health Foundation

"As in-house designers, we deal with specific parameters with specific branding. It's great to have an opportunity to show the brand unity, but also a designer’s individual development of it. Celebrating the individuals as well as the team is the best of both worlds. Everyone gets a chance for recognition. Not only individually, but institutionally as well." —  Evelina Petrauskas, Graphic Designer at Art Gallery of Ontario

How has this recognition impacted your organization since winning the Award? 

"Design gained more visibility and credibility. We’ve been brought into conversations earlier, and there’s greater trust in design-led thinking. It has helped position our team as strategic partners, not just service providers." — Diana Castaneda RGD, Brand Designer/Manager at TRIUMF

"The recognition had a positive and heartfelt impact on our organization. It was incredibly rewarding to celebrate the award together as the EY Canada Creative Studio because it recognized the shared effort behind our day‑to‑day work and what it represents for our team. Sharing this recognition felt like a genuine acknowledgment of the care, creativity and collaboration that go into our work every day. It also helped shine a light on the value of our in-house studio and reinforced our role as a strategic and meaningful contributor to the firm." — Tracy Choi, Senior Graphic Designer at Ernst & Young LLP

"Yes, the recognition has had a positive ripple effect across the organization. Internally, it strengthened confidence in the value of design as a strategic partner, leading to earlier and more integrated involvement in major initiatives. It also boosted team morale and visibility, helping position the in-house studio as a centre of excellence." — Ashani Jayasinghe RGD, Creative & Graphic Design Manager at B+H Architects

"The recognition has had a positive impact across the organization. The award was shared and celebrated internally with over 1,200 staff, helping elevate the visibility of the creative team and the work we do. It created a moment of pride not just for the designers, but for collaborators across departments. Importantly, it helped shift perception—reinforcing that the design team are experts in our field who contribute strategically, not just aesthetically. The Award also strengthened internal trust in our team’s design process and affirmed the value of investing time and care into thoughtful, high-quality design solutions." —  Hilary McHale RGD, Senior Creative Lead at NorQuest College

"We have our RGD awards—and others—hanging in the studio. When partners and clients come by, it’s a real point of pride for the team to show off some hardware and be recognized by the industry. It goes a long way." — Josh McInerney RGD, Manager of Creative Services at Bow Valley College

"Internally within our organization, designers have gained more recognition amongst our leadership team and other staff — they are proud that we have become an award-winning in-house team. We experienced increased respect and morale in our everyday interactions. Another benefit: Leadership saw the positive results of investing in staff’s professional development, and as a result, they have increased the budget towards professional development for designers and other team members in the future." — Cecilia Mok, Senior Graphic Designer at Sinai Health Foundation