Past winners give advice for entering the RGD In-House Design Awards

The 2026 In-House Design Awards are now open for entries, spotlighting exceptional work by in-house creative teams in Canada and globally. Presented by the RGD, the awards celebrate the strategic, creative and collaborative impact of designers working within organizations where design is not the primary service offering.

To support this year’s entrants, past winners share how they selected projects, crafted strong submissions and leveraged the recognition to elevate their teams, along with practical advice for preparing competitive entries.

How did you decide which project(s) to submit to the RGD In-House Awards?

"We select projects that reflect the full depth of in-house design practice; work that unfolds over time and requires the complete application of design thinking. These are projects where design shapes strategy, not just visuals and where collaboration and impact are clearly visible. Submitting this kind of work allows us to showcase how in-house design can drive clarity, alignment and confidence within a non-creative organization, while delivering outcomes that stand up to international scrutiny." — Diana Castaneda RGD, Brand Designer/Manager at TRIUMF

"I was intentional about selecting projects that best represented the impact of the work and my role within it. I focused on projects that delivered strong, measurable results and required a significant level of time, effort and strategic thinking. The NorQuest brand refresh felt especially important due to its long-term significance to the organization. I also considered how the projects would perform as a portfolio set—choosing work that was diverse in scope, scale and application. I wanted submissions that demonstrated strong visuals, but also thoughtful problem-solving and leadership within an in-house environment." —  Hilary McHale RGD, Senior Creative Lead at NorQuest College

"For the In-house design submissions, we decided to enter what each designer chose independently, as well as nominations from others. Also, depending on the budget, we made a decision democratically." —  Evelina Petrauskas, Graphic designer at Art Gallery of Ontario

How long did it take to prepare your submission, and what did that process look like? Were there any unexpected challenges or learnings along the way?

"Preparing the submission took several weeks and was a highly reflective process. Beyond gathering assets, the main effort was articulating the design rationale, constraints and impact in a clear and compelling way. Translating complex, long-term work into a concise narrative required alignment within the team and thoughtful editing. One key learning was the importance of documenting decisions and outcomes throughout a project—not just at the end—which made the submission process more efficient and more meaningful." — Diana Castaneda RGD, Brand Designer/Manager at TRIUMF

"It took us approximately 8–10 hours in total across three projects. About half the time was spent on gathering supporting materials—such as performance stats, stakeholder quotes and written input from other staff members. Writing the case study narratives and clearly articulating the process and outcomes required focused effort. I completed the submissions independently, which meant managing everything from content development to final assembly. One key learning was how time-intensive documentation can be if it isn’t collected along the way, reinforcing the value of keeping process notes throughout a project’s lifecycle." —  Hilary McHale RGD, Senior Creative Lead at NorQuest College

"The preparation process took anywhere from 2 hours to 2 days, depending on what we were submitting. For exhibition/environment graphics, we usually prefer to find installation photography as opposed to actual files. The AGO photographers are responsible for installation photography, and while we prefer to art direct these shoots, often schedules don’t permit. Finding these photos in our images collection can take more time, and sometimes they are not exactly showcasing our work as we would like." —  Evelina Petrauskas, Graphic designer at Art Gallery of Ontario

What motivated you to choose the RGD In-House Awards as the platform to showcase your work?

"The RGD’s In-House Awards uniquely recognize the realities and value of in-house design teams. As strong advocates for industry experience and design thinking, we see participation in RGD initiatives as an extension of our professional development. The awards provide a credible, respected platform to demonstrate how design creates impact within organizations outside the creative industry. External validation from international experts also helps us clearly articulate the value of design to internal stakeholders and leadership." — Diana Castaneda RGD, Brand Designer/Manager at TRIUMF

"The RGD felt like the most credible and respected awards platform within the Canadian design industry. It carries a sense of authority and professionalism that aligns with how I view design excellence and ethics. I already had a great deal of respect for the association through its annual conferences, programming and advocacy for the design community. Submitting to the In-House Design Awards felt meaningful because it wasn’t just about recognition—it was about being evaluated by peers who deeply understand the realities and challenges of in-house design. I also saw it as a potential opportunity to increase visibility and networking within the RGD community." —  Hilary McHale RGD, Senior Creative Lead at NorQuest College

"The RGD In-House Awards are special, as they focus on the specific work of our peers. It’s not only a national and international platform, but they also offer an actual physical place for the community to get together to celebrate and share great work presented—face to face, in real time. This is unique and much appreciated." —  Evelina Petrauskas, Graphic designer at Art Gallery of Ontario

What did receiving an RGD In-House Award mean to you and your team?

"Receiving an In-House Award was a moment of genuine pride. It validated our approach, our craft and the strategic role design plays within our organization. The recognition strengthened the team’s confidence and reinforced our sense of belonging within the broader design community. Being able to present our team as award-winning also reassured our collaborators that they are working with designers who meet international standards—equal contributors to the world-class work TRIUMF produces." — Diana Castaneda RGD, Brand Designer/Manager at TRIUMF

"Receiving the RGD In-House Award was extremely rewarding, both personally and professionally. It was my very first design award, which made it especially meaningful. Beyond the personal milestone, it felt like validation that the work met a high standard of design excellence, strategy and ethics. For the team, it reinforced that our work goes far beyond “making things look good”—it has real value and impact. The award served as proof that strong, thoughtful design can thrive within an in-house setting and be recognized at an industry-wide level." —  Hilary McHale RGD, Senior Creative Lead at NorQuest College

"As In-house designers, we deal with specific parameters with specific branding. It's great to have an opportunity to show the brand unity, but also with a designer’s individual development of it. Celebrating the individuals as well as the team is the best of both worlds. Everyone gets a chance for recognition. Not only individually, but institutionally as well." —  Evelina Petrauskas, Graphic designer at Art Gallery of Ontario

Has this recognition impacted your organization since winning the award? If so, how?

"Yes, design gained more visibility and credibility. We’re brought into conversations earlier, and there’s greater trust in design-led thinking. It helped position our team as strategic partners, not just service providers." — Diana Castaneda RGD, Brand Designer/Manager at TRIUMF

"Yes, the recognition had a positive impact across the organization. The award was shared and celebrated internally with over 1,200 staff, helping elevate the visibility of the creative team and the work we do. It created a moment of pride not just for designers, but for collaborators across departments. Importantly, it helped shift perception—reinforcing that the design team are experts in our field who contribute strategically, not just aesthetically. The award also strengthened internal trust in our team’s design. process and affirmed the value of investing time and care into thoughtful, high-quality design solutions." —  Hilary McHale RGD, Senior Creative Lead at NorQuest College

What advice would you give to designers and teams preparing submissions? Are there any tips you wish you had known before submitting?

"Pick projects with real depth. Be clear about your thinking, your constraints and your impact. Don’t shy away from challenges, that’s where in-house work really shines. And document everything as you go; you’ll thank yourself later." — Diana Castaneda RGD, Brand Designer/Manager at TRIUMF

"My biggest advice is to document as you go. Create presentation images and mockups while you’re actively working on the project—it makes the submission process significantly easier later. I also recommend keeping all mockups consistent in size and ratio across projects to save time and maintain cohesion. Make notes throughout the process: key decisions, challenges, outcomes and the feedback. When it’s time to write your submission, you’ll already have the content you need. Treat documentation as part of the project itself and your future self will thank you!" —  Hilary McHale RGD, Senior Creative Lead at NorQuest College

"Advice I would give others? Taking time for art directed photoshoots on finished projects is worth it. Give yourself time to put it together: it may (will) take longer than you anticipate. Also, you might feel your work is not award-worthy, maybe because you’re too close to it…so, always get another perspective."  —  Evelina Petrauskas, Graphic designer at Art Gallery of Ontario