Emerging designers design mock projects with help of RGD Mentors — Part 2
Written by Rupsha Mutsuddi Associate RGD, Rupsha Mutsuddi, Emma Hodgson Associate RGD, Elyse Maxwell RGD, Patch Design, and Roxanne Hammond Associate RGD![](https://craft-cms-s3.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/images/articles/Header%20Images/_openingFeaturedItem/Gray_HorizonPointCamp_2024.jpg)
The RGD Project-Based Mentorship Program connects emerging designers and students with seasoned RGDs to enhance networking and portfolio development.
Here are the results from some of the teams who collaborated for eight weeks on mock projects, guided by the Project-Based Mentorship Committee.
IKEA Website Redesign
By Deepti Banerjee Provisional RGD (Art Director) and Andras Gyenes, Juyeop Oh Student RGD and Cherry Wu Student RGD (Designers)
Mentor: Jennifer Eustace RGD
![](https://craft-cms-s3.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/images/articles/Content%20Images/_inContentCrop/Eustace_IKEA-Canada-UX_2024_2-1.png)
The project involved a redesign of IKEA Canada’s website focusing on redesigning the Home and Product page for BILLY bookcases, using UX research and design methodologies including considerations for information architecture principles, accessibility standards and IKEA's brand standards. The team was asked to observe, analyze and address usability issues in the current website, redesigning process involved both UX and visual design applied in an iterative manner with feedback and guidance provided along the way and giving the team opportunity to consider the core user experience of IKEA Canada, while assessing and improving the components and brand elements of which the design system is composed.
For more details in regard to this project, visit the mentees' project pages:
Mentor:
![](/assets/images/utility/placement-images/scribbles-scribbles-13-squared.png)
“Guiding talented designers through the RGD Project-Based Mentorship Program for the hypothetical redesign of IKEA Canada's website has been an enriching experience. Given the opportunity to lead a team to solve real-world design challenges under realistic constraints showcased the intersection of UX and visual design. Emphasizing restraint in the design process ensured solutions were feasible and enhanced user experience without alienating IKEA’s customer base. It's been a pleasure mentoring a committed team that successfully delivered a high-quality solution within a tight timeframe.”
Jennifer Eustace RGD
Art Director:
![](/assets/images/utility/placement-images/scribbles-scribbles-5-squared.png)
“The RGD Mentorship Program allowed me to lead IKEA's website redesign as Art Director and Project Manager. I faced challenges in team coordination, creative alignment and tight deadlines, which honed my leadership and creative skills. This project underscored the power of teamwork and prepared me for future industry challenges. I’m grateful for the support from Creative Director Jennifer and the dedication of my teammates Cherry, Juyeop and Andras.”
Deepti Banerjee Associate RGD
Designers
![](/assets/images/utility/placement-images/scribbles-scribbles-10-squared.png)
“I joined the RGD Mentorship Program because I wanted to connect with fellow Canadian designers. While I’m a recent graduate, I have more than 25 years of experience in Europe. Trying to fit into a team of young and talented people was a challenge at first, but I hope I could enrich the project with valuable insights during the process.”
Andras Gyenes
![](/assets/images/utility/placement-images/scribbles-scribbles-6-squared.png)
“The RGD Mentorship Program offered an unforgettable experience. Working in a team environment taught me how to collaborate with others and improved my understanding of what a good design should look like. Seeing the design evolve through feedback was enlightening. Collaborating with our mentor, the art director and other designers was incredibly valuable. I highly recommend this program to others.”
Juyeop Oh Student RGD
![](https://rgd.ca/assets/images/users/_profilePhotoThumb/Screenshot-2024-03-22-at-6.19.27-PM.png)
“The RGD Project-Based Mentorship Program has been an invaluable experience, bridging my academic knowledge with real-world application. I have refined my skills, honed my problem-solving abilities and gained valuable insights into collaborative design thinking by working alongside seasoned professionals. This program has helped prepare me for my transition into product design, and I'm grateful for the mentorship and support.”
Cherry Wu Student RGD
Nova Harbour Transit App
By Mackenzie Martin Provisional RGD, Ria Chopra Provisional RGD (Art Directors), Siyu Wang Student RGD, Lucy Chen Student RGD (Designers)
Mentor: Josh Skinner RGD
![](https://craft-cms-s3.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/images/articles/Content%20Images/_inContentCrop/Nova-Harbour-Transit-App-Team-Eclipse-RGD-Mentorship.png)
For this project, the team set out to develop a design concept for a transit app for a fictional small town. The goal was to make an app that was accessible and solved common pain points that users identified while using alternative services and apps. Focused on improving the user experience, the team conducted research and an ideation workshop and built a design system to create the app.
Mentees
![](/assets/images/utility/placement-images/scribbles-scribbles-4-squared.png)
“I enjoyed this experience and had a great time working with my team, gaining practical experience and design insights. This was my first time creating a transit app, which allowed me to rethink my route planning process and notice many small details that current transit apps use to make this process easier. I also identified several design decision-related problems that I encountered in previous UX projects, and I was able to get valuable inspiration and help from my mentors. Brainstorming ideas and collaborating with my fellow designer was also incredibly rewarding. We shared our diverse perspectives with each other and took and provided valuable feedback for refining our designs. I really wish I could work with everyone on my team again.”
Siyu Wang Student RGD
![](/assets/images/utility/placement-images/scribbles-scribbles-9-squared.png)
“It has been a great pleasure working with Josh, MacKenzie, Ria and Siyu! Josh's guidance definitely made the UX research process less daunting. I had a lot of fun and learned a great deal about the UI/UX pipeline, design systems and decision-making through the weekly critiques and design jam sessions.”
Safe-Transit App
by Olivia Baker-Sullivan Provisional RGD, Eloise Tassy-Bunyan Ngwiri Student RGD (Product Owner), Khaosara Animashaun and Camille Clores Provisional RGD (Product Designers)
Mentor: Magued Hanna RGD
![](https://craft-cms-s3.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/images/articles/Content%20Images/_inContentCrop/Hanna_SafetyTransitApp.png)
Our project, initially focused on redesigning the SafeTTC app, aims to enhance transit safety. Collaborating with colleagues across multiple cities, we developed a white-label application integrating transit safety and cross-functional features into a unified platform. This multifunctional app allows users to report incidents via their mobile devices, with the option of anonymity. It also facilitates user connections, provides access to reports submitted through Transit Watch and delivers real-time updates on submitted incidents.
Check out our process slide deck here!
Our SafeTTC HiFi prototype is here!
Mentor:
![](https://rgd.ca/assets/images/users/_profilePhotoThumb/IMG_0047-2MHanna.png)
“It was an absolute privilege to mentor such a bright and talented team—Olivia, Eloise, Khaosara and Camille. Their proactive approach to feedback propelled the development of the Safe-Transit App, a versatile platform designed to boost transit safety. This white-label application not only enables incident reporting with optional anonymity but also fosters community connectivity by providing real-time updates on reports and Transit Watch activities. Their dedication and innovative spirit were instrumental in evolving the initial SafeTTC app concept into a robust urban transit system.”
Magued Hanna RGD
Designers:
![](/assets/images/utility/placement-images/scribbles-scribbles-17-squared.png)
“Magued was a great mentor who cultivated an environment for us to grow as designers. Our ideas were challenged in order to deliver better user experiences in a seamless manner that improve their interaction on the mobile app. His knowledge of UX was useful to expand our group's initial idea of a safety transit app to a white label app. We appreciated his supportive mentorship, which encouraged us to cultivate new ideas and enrich our knowledge base.”
Khaosara Animashaun Student RGD
![](/assets/images/utility/placement-images/scribbles-scribbles-2-squared.png)
“This program provided me with the opportunity to delve into a design field that I was eager to explore. I developed my skills in user experience design, including user research, interviews, testing and more. Additionally, I applied my visual skills to lead the user interface design phase of the process. Being part of Magued's team has significantly contributed to my growth as a graphic designer.”
Camille Clores Associate RGD
![](https://rgd.ca/assets/images/users/_profilePhotoThumb/Dept-57.jpg)
“Working with Magued and the team has been a delight. Throughout this program, I've had the opportunity to build confidence in my work and skills, as well as develop some serious leadership chops. This has proven invaluable in my development as a designer. My only regret is I wished I had done it sooner!”
Eloïse Tassy-Bunyan Ngwiri
![](https://rgd.ca/assets/images/users/_profilePhotoThumb/olivias-headshot.png)
“I loved getting to connect with professionals outside my workspace who all wished to develop their careers and skill sets together. The skills, insights and professional development I’ve gained from this program have been invaluable; the real-world tutelage of an experienced and expert professional like Magued was truly a privilege.”
Olivia Baker-Sullivan Associate RGD
STEM Explorers Brand Identity
By Rayhaneh Haghgoo Provisional RGD, Preet Soni Provisional RGD (Art Directors) Yomna Ismail Student RGD and Jenna Shemmans Student RGD
Mentor: Meg Lynch RGD
![](https://craft-cms-s3.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/images/articles/Content%20Images/_inContentCrop/Lynch_STEM-Explorers_2024.jpg)
STEM Explorers is a summer camp designed to ignite curiosity and cultivate a passion for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in children aged 5 to 13. Our team created a cohesive brand identity that captures the camp’s interactive experience, with sub-brand identities and branded character illustrations to emphasize the specific focus areas within STEM. This brand identity was thoroughly explored and applied across a comprehensive set of brand guidelines and various marketing materials.
For more about the project, check out the link!
Mentor:
![](/assets/images/utility/placement-images/scribbles-scribbles-12-squared.png)
“Through brainstorming and feedback sessions, we created a collaborative environment to push creativity and learn from one another. Each designer brought unique strengths and capabilities to the project. As a mentor, this experience was not only about guiding the project to success, but also about nurturing the professional growth and creative confidence of each team member.”
Meg Lynch RGD
Art Director:
![](https://rgd.ca/assets/images/users/_profilePhotoThumb/photo_2024-08-08-10.43.18.jpeg)
“Participating in the RGD Project-Based Mentorship Program as an art director was invaluable. This project offered a safe space to enhance my technical and soft skills. Our efforts produced a well-integrated and engaging brand identity, showcasing our creative energy. We went beyond the assignment requirements, as much as time allowed us, to further develop our skills and leveraged Meg's excellent guidance. Our work is the result of professional collaboration, adaptability and continuous learning, showcasing our commitment to delivering effective design solutions.”
Rayhaneh Haghgoo Associate RGD
![](https://rgd.ca/assets/images/users/_profilePhotoThumb/Preet-Soni.jpg)
“In the RGD Mentorship Program, my role as Art Director involved collaborating closely. Together, we navigated the creative process while ensuring our vision was aligned. Throughout the project, I enhanced my leadership and mentoring skills by balancing creative direction with practical design considerations, learning to integrate feedback thoughtfully and adaptively. The result is a cohesive and vibrant brand identity that truly reflects our team's expertise and innovative spirit.”
Preet Soni Associate RGD
![](/assets/images/utility/placement-images/scribbles-scribbles-10-squared.png)
“This program allowed me to improve my character development skills and use my artistic abilities to add a whimsical, illustrative element to the project. It helped me grasp a better understanding of the style I’d like to adopt as a designer and illustrator. Personally, the best part of this project was working with other Members who I had never met, but who all dedicated themselves to the project. Many long nights were spent by each member of the team, and it all came together better than any of us could have hoped.”
Yomna Ismail Student RGD
![](/assets/images/utility/placement-images/scribbles-scribbles-16-squared.png)
“In the RGD Mentorship program, I enhanced my technical skills and received guidance on creating thoughtful design solutions. I assisted in the ideation phase, along with providing typography and creating a website that represents the brand. As a team, we were able to create a cohesive style guide that is dynamic and professional. Participating in this program was an invaluable experience; working with the team of was an enjoyable and engaging experience that helped me grow my skills and knowledge.”
Jenna Shemmans Associate RGD
Stay Lit, Stay Creative Campaign
By Olivier Schlid Provisional RGD (Art Director), Evan Li and Alex Ng (Designers)
Mentor: Michael Barker RGD
![](https://craft-cms-s3.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/images/articles/Content%20Images/_inContentCrop/Barker_Stay-Lit-Stay-Creative_2024.png)
This project challenges the stereotype that Gen Z graphic designers’ emphasis on work-life balance signifies a lack of work ethics. It questions the traditional notion that overwork and unpaid overtime are necessary for producing high-quality design work, and that junior designers must endure these conditions to succeed. By asking, "Why is Gen Z committed to work-life balance?" we aim to highlight the benefits of a healthy work-life balance for fostering creativity and reducing burnout. It seeks to start a conversation with hiring managers in the design industry about the value of professional boundaries and the importance of recognizing Gen Z's commitment to their work and well-being. We invite hiring managers to consider the value of professional boundaries and recognize Gen Z’s dedication to both their work and well-being.
Join the conversation and share your views on work-life balance by participating in our online poll. Take the poll here.
![](https://rgd.ca/assets/images/users/_profilePhotoThumb/Michael-at-Pulteney-Point.jpg)
“The project I proposed to the RGD had several key components—it had to be a real-world initiative from conception to public deployment, not just a mock-up; the team needed to select a relevant topic, identify the audience and develop engagement strategies; it had to be developed collaboratively, minimizing hierarchy; Finally, the project was to incorporate a novel use of the poster format as a design object in the public commons, aiming to animate and engage the target audience. I believe real-world projects often present unforeseen challenges and obstacles that mock-up exercises tend to sanitize. Public-facing projects, especially those aimed at industry audiences, are high-stakes. Working effectively in such settings demands discussion, consensus, compromise and cooperation—key skills for any designer. In my experience, building strong relationships with team members, client and vendors is crucial for the success of design projects, regardless of their scale. When relationships are not well-maintained, the quality of the design often suffers. I hope this project has shown participants that their design skills can be a powerful way to communicate in the public sphere. Engaging with both their community and industry, both online and offline, can be a meaningful and impactful way to use their craft.”
Michael Barker RGD
Art Director
![](https://rgd.ca/assets/images/users/_profilePhotoThumb/415755012_713622957215811_5308575240262461004_n.jpg)
“The RGD Mentorship Program provided a unique opportunity to collaborate with emerging designers on a real-world project. I learned about the challenges of creating a campaign from scratch, the intricacies of managing a team and the importance of adapting to real-world expectations. Working as an art director, I appreciated and was intrigued by my team's diverse perspectives and creativity. Together, we navigated the complexities of real-world projects, discovering that many unexpected issues can arise. With team members spread across three cities, we struggled with time zone differences and coordinating schedules. We used a Trello board for organization, FigJam for design and communicated via WhatsApp and email to manage these issues. This experience proved invaluable experiences, enhancing our skills and challenging industry stereotypes.”
Olivier Schild Associate RGD
Designer
![](/assets/images/utility/placement-images/scribbles-scribbles-16-squared.png)
“The RGD Mentorship Program offered a unique platform that allowed our team to experience the workflow of a real-world design project while also allowing room for trial and error. Throughout the project, our team faced numerous challenges: from ideation—such as consolidating our concepts to align with Gen Z work ethic and addressing generational bias—to execution—like implementing the poster across various cities and maintaining visual consistency in different adaptations. Not every design project turns out exactly as designers envision, and this one was no different for our team, but the valuable experience we gained will help us progress and aim for better outcomes as our design careers move forward.”
Evan Li
![](/assets/images/utility/placement-images/scribbles-scribbles-10-squared.png)
“The RGD Mentorship Program was a valuable opportunity to work with an experienced RGD and develop problem-solving skills. A major challenge we faced was LinkedIn removing our project account due to a non-personal profile picture. This disruption affected our posting schedule and materials. We adapted by setting up a LinkedIn Company account and creating a new QR code linked to a Linktree page, providing a more flexible central hub. This experience was a significant learning opportunity, and I’m grateful to have worked with such a supportive team. I hope future Student RGDs have similar chances to learn and contribute.”
Quynh (Alex) Nguyen Student RGD
Horizon Point Camp Branding
by Mercury Gray Provisional RGD (Art Director), Faith Innes Student RGD and Trudy Wong Student RGD (Designers)
Mentor: Raymond Cheah RGD
![](https://craft-cms-s3.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/images/articles/Content%20Images/_inContentCrop/Gray_HorizonPointCamp_2024_2.jpg)
Horizon Point Camp (HPC) is a non-profit dedicated to providing inclusive summer camps for children aged 6-14 with disabilities, focusing on fun, friendship and life skills. The project's aim is to design a website that showcases HPC's mission with engaging visuals and concise messaging by ensuring an accessible, user-friendly platform for parents and guardians to find relevant information. Interactive elements like videos, photo galleries and a registration portal enhance the user experience, targeting campers, parents, caregivers, staff and volunteers.
Check out additional details and visuals of the project.
Mentor:
![](/assets/images/utility/placement-images/scribbles-scribbles-11-squared.png)
“As mentor, I guided my team in shaping the scope and creative direction to ensure the website effectively represented Horizon Point Camp's mission. The project focused on accessibility, and over eight weeks, I supported the team with industry insights and feedback to create an accessible, user-friendly website and a dynamic social media campaign. The designers went the extra mile by interviewing a camp director from a summer camp for children with neurodivergence, which was invaluable in refining their design solutions. Collaborating with Mercury, Faith and Trudy has been highly rewarding due to their professionalism and dedication, contributing significantly to the success of this portfolio project.”
Raymond Cheah RGD
Art Director:
![](/assets/images/utility/placement-images/scribbles-scribbles-17-squared.png)
“This program was a greatly valuable experience for me, as a newly graduated designer. Acting as art director and project manager, I was able to share my knowledge, deepen my understanding and gain experience working in a team. While most of my prior design work was done individually for clients or professors, this program allowed me to see the process from a collaborative perspective, engaging with the team and appreciating the unique contributions of each member. It was a rewarding and insightful experience.”
Mercury Gray Associate RGD
Designer:
![](/assets/images/utility/placement-images/scribbles-scribbles-19-squared.png)
“I’m grateful for the RGD Mentorship Program, which allowed me to collaborate with designers and receive guidance from a seasoned professional. With my development background and growing interest in design, I valued working through the design process with my team, refining concepts and creating illustrations. Everyone has different strengths, and I was grateful to have articulate teammates to help with situations like a user interview session. This experience reinforced my appreciation for teamwork, enriched my understanding of web design and allowed me to build a portfolio piece.”
Trudy Wong Student RGD
![](/assets/images/utility/placement-images/scribbles-scribbles-14-squared.png)
“As a first-year design student, working with experienced designers through this program was invaluable. The program provided insights into working in a design team and offered me a deeper understanding of the design process, including research, user testing and pitching our design to an industry professional. Through our extensive research, I learned to consider accessibility concerns in my design process, a lesson I will carry forward in my career. This experience not only boosted my confidence and connections but also enriched my portfolio significantly.”
Faith Innes Student RGD
![](https://rgd.ca/assets/images/users/_profilePhotoThumb/MutsuddiR_RGD.png)
Rupsha Mutsuddi Associate RGD
Rupsha Mutsuddi
Rupsha is a Designer specializing in Human-Centered Design, an Emerging Design Educator, and an Emerging Design Researcher. Rupsha is pursuing her Master of Design at York. Her work involves looking at the intersection of design, accessibility, and everyday health management. Her research focuses on designing interventions in augmented reality to assist with everyday activities for people living with early-stage dementia aiming to enhance their quality of life through the integration of rituals and habits. Supported by the Government of Canada Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council grant, she is working with people with dementia, their care partners, and community organizations across Ontario to design better ways to support people living with dementia in everyday life.
![](https://rgd.ca/assets/images/users/_profilePhotoThumb/Emma_Headshot2897-copy-2.jpg)
Emma Hodgson Associate RGD
![](https://rgd.ca/assets/images/users/_profilePhotoThumb/Elyse_Patch20_Sq_Neutral.jpg)
Elyse Maxwell RGD
Patch Design
Elyse is a Senior Graphic Designer and Project Manager at Patch Design. From developing comprehensive branding systems to designing packaging and print materials, she enjoys working directly with clients to find solutions to their challenges. Elyse considers herself a life-long student with a bachelors degree from the Ontario College of Art and Design and a diploma in Marketing from McMaster University.
She relaxes by designing silly t-shirts, exploring the Niagara region, and adding to her towering book collection.
Tags
Related Articles
![](https://craft-cms-s3.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/images/articles/Header%20Images/_smallCardThumb/projectbasedment_2024-07-30-220646_dzri.png)
![](https://craft-cms-s3.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/images/articles/Header%20Images/_mobileSquarePreviewCard/projectbasedment_2024-07-30-220646_dzri.png)
Rupsha Mutsuddi Associate RGD, Emma Hodgson Associate RGD, Roxanne Hammond Associate RGD, Elyse Maxwell RGD