Associate RGDs are invited to apply for a virtual mentor

Apply for the RGD Mentorship Program to be paired up with a Mentor who can prepare you to enter the professional design industry.

Fill out an application by July 6, 2026. On the form, you will be asked to select your top three choices from the list of mentors presented below. This program is only open to Associate RGDs.

Once the pairings of applicants (Mentees) to Mentors have been finalized, Mentees will be put in touch with their Mentor to start the program! The RGD will provide Mentees with a list of discussion topics for each session; however, it is completely up to you and your Mentor what you want to cover in each session. (You are expected to have 5–6 virtual sessions with your Mentor, approx. one hour each between July and December.)

Any Associate RGD not paired with one of our Mentors will be given the opportunity to participate in the Program with a different professional in the industry.

If you have any questions about the program, email zaria@rgd.ca.

Mentors:

Sebastian Abboud RGD, Nanaimo, BC

Illustrator & Designer, Co-Founder at Diver

As your mentor, I will draw from a wide range of experience across in-house roles, teaching undergrads, freelancing and running a small creative studio. I've collaborated with brands that include Adobe, Figma, Google, Shopify, Intercom and MEC and I'm here to offer practical insight, portfolio support and guidance on navigating the industry.

Konor Abrahams, Toronto, ON

Senior Designer at StudioDA

Seven years ago, I jumped into the design industry wondering what my path would be, what truly interested me and what sort of work I'd settle into. Since then, I've spent time in regarded design studios and agencies working across book design, editorial and brand identity—with a particular focus on art direction of photography and illustration for brands and editorial and general typography. I've had a focus on striving for a strong design voice, a craft-based approach to design, thoughtful ideas and considered typography. Let's work together to help carve your path, find and refine your design voice and hone in on the skills you need to start our career. I can provide advice around working at small studios, larger agencies and how to get your foot in the door. Simultaneously, we can look at your work and push the conceptual thinking and craft behind your projects.

Marlo Biasutti RGD, Toronto, ON

Creative Director at M81 Creative

As a former instructor at George Brown College, I enjoy supporting emerging designers as they build confidence, clarify their goals and navigate the realities of the profession. As your mentor, I can be a sounding board—listening, asking questions and offering a practical, honest perspective. My experience spans a range of design environments, including working in studios with large teams, running my own business and working across editorial, branding, packaging and web design. I understand the different paths designers can take and the challenges that come with each. I can hope support you as you shape your career and make thoughtful, informed decisions.

Danielle Coates RGD, Washington, DC, USA

Senior Graphic Designer, Exhibitions at National Geographic Society

A collaborative and community-focused designer, I specialize in exhibition design with a background in print design. As your Mentor, I can offer insight on working at a firm, in-house and as a freelance designer. My other interests include illustration and how it can be used in design.

Philip de Castro, Edmonton, AB

Art Director at Iconium Media

The world of design is exciting, fast-moving and often overwhelming all at once. Designers are constantly navigating multiple concepts, creative blocks, collaboration with different personalities, evolving styles and trends and the pressure of choosing the right path among many possible directions. It can be difficult to know where to focus, what skills truly matter and how to grow with confidence. Through my experience working in agency environments, freelancing, volunteering and as an Art Director, I bring a well-rounded and practical perspective to mentorship. Having worked across UI/UX design, web design, brand identity, marketing campaigns, layout design, photography and videography, I can offer insight into how different disciplines support one another. I want to help you stay focused on your goals, build strong foundational skills and learn how to enjoy the unpredictable, rewarding rollercoaster that comes with a career in design.

Tyler Dias RGD, Toronto, ON

Founder, Design Director at Pixels&

As your mentor, I will bring a real-world, end-to-end view of the design industry—from strategy and creative direction through execution, presentation and client management. As a studio owner, I've helped designers grow their skills while also navigating the realities of working with stakeholders, managing scope and building a sustainable career. My approach is practical and direct: I listen closely, give honest, actionable feedback and help you turn your strengths into a clear next step—whether that's improving a portfolio, showing up more confidently in interviews or levelling up how you communicate your thinking.

Craig Edis, Dartmouth, NS

Founder/Principal at The Wink Collective

I help designers bridge the gap between craft and real-world impact. In our time together, I'll support you in thinking beyond execution and into influence: how your work connects to business outcomes, how to communicate your value and how to navigate the complexity that sits between design, product and leadership.

My approach to mentorship is practical, honest and grounded in real experience. We'll work through your current challenges, not hypotheticals. That might mean unpacking a project you're struggling with, preparing you for a difficult stakeholder conversation or helping you position yourself for your next career move. I'll challenge your thinking, not just validate it.

I'm particularly focused on helping designers develop strategic confidence. Many talented designers plateau not because of skill, but because they haven't been shown how to operate at a higher level. Together, we'll build that capability through clearer thinking, stronger articulation and a deeper understanding of how design creates business value.

Equally, I see mentorship as a two-way relationship built on trust, openness and curiosity. The goal isn't just to give you answers, but to help you develop your own perspective and decision-making ability over time. Research consistently shows that strong mentorship relationships are grounded in trust, clear goals and mutual commitment to growth.

If you're motivated to grow, ask questions and stretch beyond your comfort zone, I'll meet you there with candour, structure and support.

Expertise: Branding, Digital Marketing, Digital Product Design, Information Design, UI/UX Design and Web Design

Giovanni Ferretti RGD, Canada

Lead Designer at Onefluent Inc.

As your mentor, I can help you understand how to tackle creative briefs, collaborate within small and mid-size creative teams, strategically and professionally present your work and the professional process for developing design work from idea to execution. I can review your portfolio and workflows, and provide feedback that's thoughtful, practical and directly applicable to your goals. My own path from graduate studies into a professional studio environment has included both challenges and successes, giving me a well-rounded perspective on entering and growing within the industry. As a brand designer, my experiences have supported me in crafting design solutions with the goal of driving change, both socially and culturally.

Jim Hopkins RGD, Ottawa, ON

Principal Creative at Baytek

I have been working in the creative industry for over 20 years—first in London, UK as a junior designer all the way to my current position. In that time, I've been a lead designer, creative director, part business owner and have designed nearly everything you can imagine: branding, web, print, trade shows, wayfinding and more. I've never had formal design training—just a desire to create, which combined with my work ethic has kept my career going. The two areas I focus on most are branding and web design—designing for all manner of clients, from small local businesses to national associations. As your mentor, I share this knowledge and experience and provide practical feedback and career advice.

Cecilia Mok, Milton, ON

Senior Designer, Brand Lead at Sinai Health Foundation

As your mentor, I can offer insights and guidance as a seasoned in-house creative in not-for-profit and healthcare spaces. I will share experiences to navigate the complexities of an in-house environment, and together, we can raise your value as an individual contributor and team player.

Erik Mohr, Toronto, ON

Owner / Creative Director at Made by Emblem

With over 25 years working across illustration, editorial design, branding and creative strategy, as your mentor, I offer a grounded, real-world understanding of how ideas move from sketch to story to fully-realized campaigns. I've worked with large corporate clients and grassroots organizations, giving me a broad perspective on how design adapts to different voices, needs and contexts. As a studio founder, I can share insight on collaboration, navigating client relationships, shaping creative processes and building a meaningful, sustainable career. My goal is to be a steady, approachable partner as you grow your confidence and craft.

Raymundo Pavan Gutierrez, Toronto, ON

Associate / Senior Experiential Designer at MJMA Architecture and Design

Trained in architecture and design strategy and working in a wide range of organizations—including design studios, architectural practices and educational institutions— across both Canada and Mexico, I've developed a broad perspective on how skills and design thinking translate across disciplines and professional contexts. With over a decade of experience in Toronto working on multidisciplinary projects, I can offer insights that span from conceptual and strategic thinking through to project delivery, management and client relationships. While my mentorship style is candid and direct, I'm mindful that I don't have all the answers and remain committed to learning from the people I collaborate with—regardless of where they are in their professional journey.

Jeff Rae RGD, Toronto, ON

SVP — Executive Design Director at OneMethod

I've spent the last 20+ years bringing stories to life through art and design. At OneMethod, I've shaped its creative process, earned international design awards and worked across a wide range of clients—from the global rebrand of Scotiabank to the development of local restaurant identities. I've also partnered with other leading brands including J&J, Nike, KitKat, Scene+ and F1. In my "off hours", I run Homemade Magazine, my passion project for passion projects. As your mentor, my goal is to help you focus your career path and specialty so that your next step is in the right direction for you.

Aidan Searle RGD, Dartmouth, NS

Art Director/Partner at Hood & Searle Design Inc.

I have extensive experience in branding and packaging design, primarily in the food and beverage space. I have also branded music festivals, directed music videos, animated music videos and worked on plenty of album artwork. I am inspired by folk art and self-taught artists, and am curious by nature, mostly preferring to work with my hands using analog materials. As your mentor, I hope to inspire you to develop your "core" creative voice and intuition, and can also provide insights if you are working to develop a successful freelance graphic design business.

Yihuang Zhou RGD, Toronto, ON

Senior Designer at Uncommon Creative Studio

Focused on brand and type design, I currently work as a freelance senior designer while running my own practice and building an independent type foundry. I've worked across agency, in-house and independent contexts, so I have a practical sense of the tradeoffs for each path. As you mentor, I'm most useful to designers who are thinking about craft and career-market-fit—whether that's developing your point of view, figuring out how to position yourself or understand what it actually takes to build something of your own alongside client work.