A look inside the RGD's 2SLGBTQIA+ Virtual Community
The RGD's 2SLGBTQIA+ Virtual Community is a space for queer and trans Members from across Canada to share their work, ask questions and talk about what it's like to work as a queer designer. The group meets online every two months and keeps the conversation going in its own Slack channel.
Here's a look at what the community has been talking about recently, including its September meetup, and some of the advice Members shared. No comments are attributed to individual Members.
AI, spec work and queer creators
The September meetup centred on a conversation that started in the community's RGD Slack channel. A well-known queer performer had promoted a small-town tour with an AI-generated poster. When she was criticized for not supporting queer Canadian designers, she responded by inviting designers to submit poster designs for her to choose from. Many designers in the community flagged that as spec work, and the RGD weighed in as well. She then changed it to a portfolio submission, so she could choose one designer to work with. Members were glad she listened to the design community's feedback and responded.
The discussion widened from there. Members talked about when they would design at a discount or for free, such as for a queer non-profit and when they would not, such as for a small business that makes a profit. They also asked whether this should lead to a personal boycott of businesses that use generative AI in their materials, and how that kind of material affects people's perception of the quality of a business's products and events. Members also talked about acceptable uses of AI in their own workflows, and how helpful it can be when a designer is still heavily involved in the creative process.
For more on the RGD's position, read our stance on spec work.
Making time for the portfolio
Whether Members work for themselves, work in-house or run an agency, finding time to update a portfolio keeps coming up. Members suggested hosting a working session for a small group of colleagues, with everyone working in parallel and snacks and drinks to keep the energy up. Others set aside time every three to six months to add new projects when they're complete, which keeps the portfolio fresh.
The group also advised against waiting until a job ends to update a portfolio, since that moment can already feel overwhelming. The shared view was that a portfolio is always a work in progress, so it can change whenever the need arises. Members also use the community to share their work and websites with like-minded designers and get critique in a safe space.
Talking about a tough job market
Members were open about how hard the job market is right now. Several ideas came out of the discussion. Some suggested that new designers offer their services at a discount or pro bono, or trade design for goods, to get a foot in the door. Others talked about reinforcing the value of design by looking for opportunities that focus on what designers bring to a role, and steering clear of employers that talk down to designers while promoting AI-generated work.
Showing up to RGD events and other design events was another suggestion. Meeting people in person puts a face to a name, and building support within the design community is a good investment for both professional and personal reassurance.
Calls for queer creatives and meetup planning
The Slack channel is also where Members share calls for queer artists and designers to contribute to events, initiatives and festivals. It is where plans for meetups, including meetups around DesignThinkers Toronto, come together.
Next meetup
The community now meets every two months. The next virtual meetup is in November, and Members will receive a poll in late October or early November to choose a time.
These are just a few of the conversations from recent meetups and the Slack channel. Members bring real questions from their work, and other Members answer from their own experience.
