Adele Bisaillon RGD designs the 2027 Certification Sticker

With a new year comes new beginnings and a new Certification Sticker for Certified RGDs. Adele Bisaillon RGD shares the inspiration and creative journey behind Shared Languages, her design for the RGD’s 2027 Sticker.

When I was invited to design the 2027 Certification Sticker, I saw an opportunity to connect two communities that have shaped me as a designer: the North, where I live, work and continue to learn, and the RGD, whose values, ethics and creative community inspire my practice. I wanted to create something Members would feel proud to display—something that celebrates our individual perspectives and shared commitments, while bringing the North into the conversation.

Adele Bisaillon Portrait

I’ve called the Northwest Territories home for more than two decades. As a settler, working alongside Indigenous governments, artists, language specialists and storytellers has profoundly influenced how I understand communication. Here, 11 official languages, nine of them Indigenous, remind me that there are many ways to express who we are. Stories, knowledge, identity and belonging can also be communicated through colour, pattern, symbols and the things we create. That understanding became the foundation for Shared Languages.

Northern beadwork inspired my exploration of craftsmanship, storytelling, repetition and floral forms. The five-petal flower, with its presence in Dene and Métis beadwork, became a visual starting point. Through my own design practice, I translated those qualities into a contemporary graphic expression I called “Bead to Pixel.” Individual elements, thoughtfully arranged, come together to communicate something larger.

Sheena Yakeleya Portrait

That idea also reflects our RGD community. Our backgrounds, disciplines and creative voices differ, but we share a commitment to creativity, professionalism, ethics, accessibility, learning and community. Each of us brings a distinct perspective that enriches our design community. Design is our shared language.

Alongside graphic design, I’m collaborating with Sheena Yakeleya, a Dene artist from Fort Good Hope and Tulita in the Sahtu region. Sheena’s work draws on teachings from the women in her family, her own creative explorations and inspiration from the land. Together, we’re creating a beaded piece that brings together my design and her artistry, perspective and interpretation. This collaborative piece will be gifted to one lucky RGD Member.