A look inside the RGD Slack community
RGD’s Slack community brings together more than 1,800 Certified, Associate and Affiliate Members across channels covering everything from accessibility to AI to branding. It’s easy to describe a community as “active”—but the real proof is in what happens when someone reaches out for help.
Here’s a look at a few recent conversations that demonstrate the value of RGD Membership and the support available through the RGD community.
Ethical concerns about design tests
A recent conversation in #ethicalissues channel centred on a frustrating experience: after two rounds of interviews and a design test, one Member completed two rounds of interviews and a design test for an agency, presented her design test work, and was rejected by email just two hours later. As part of the test, the agency had asked her to hand over her original working files —and since she hadn’t gotten the job, she wasn’t sure whether to send them over. She turned to the channel with a question: had anyone else faced backlash for refusing to hand over their files after being rejected like this? One Member was rejected by email just two hours after presenting—and the company had asked for her original working files as part of the test. She turned to the channel with a simple question: had anyone else faced backlash for refusing this kind of request?
Eleven Members shared their views on the thread, several calling it a major red flag and pointing out that requests like this go against ethical design standards. One idea that came up again and again: design tests that ask for real, usable work are effectively spec work, and while it’s a hard line to hold—especially early in your career—sticking to it pays off. The thread also surfaced something bigger: this wasn’t described as a one-off, and other Members chimed in with similar experiences, comparing notes on which practices to watch out for.
Researching fonts for early learners with dyslexia
Over in the #accessibility channel, a conversation considered whether there was evidence to support fonts designed for those with a learning disability like dyslexia.
Members pulled together to help track this down. One pointed to a contact at a well-known type foundry who had worked on custom typefaces for major broadcasters, while a Member dug up a study comparing several fonts, including some designed specifically for this purpose, using reading speed as the effectiveness measure—simple, familiar sans-serif fonts came out ahead. However, the study itself wasn’t conducted with dyslexic readers. A third Member added a further resource, and the thread has grown into a useful research trail.
Website scroll feedback and troubleshooting
In the #career-advice channel, a technical question about a website’s scroll feel—something that just felt “off”—resulted in a hands-on troubleshooting session, with six replies from Members comparing notes on the feel and function of interactive scroll behaviour.
The same channel also saw a Member share a portfolio site they’d rebuilt using Framer templates and tutorials, opening it up to feedback from the group.
Discussing freelance rates
In the #ux channel, an open call went out on behalf of an agency: a UX contract, 20 hours a week, fully remote, on a project for a major telecom client starting in two weeks—rate negotiable. What followed was equal parts funny and informative, with Members trading jokes about what a fair rate might look like before landing on a range from $60 to $150 an hour.
The logo matrix ideation technique
In the #branding channel, a Member asked if anyone remembered a logo ideation technique that had circulated in Slack a while back—a grid where the rows are different concepts, and the columns are different styles or executions. Another Member had the examples saved but couldn’t recall who’d shared them originally.
The mystery got solved a few replies in, when the original creator turned up in the thread to confirm the technique’s name—the “logo matrix”. From there, the thread wrapped with thanks all around and template files shared out for anyone who wants to try the technique themselves.
These are just a handful of the conversations happening across the RGD’s Slack Members-only channels on any given week—ideas shared, questions worked through together and a community that shows up when someone needs it. It’s a reminder that behind the channels and threads is a genuinely active network of design professionals looking out for one another.
Tag
Related Articles
Sponsored
