Emerging designers and students design mock projects with help of RGD Mentors

“It’s been a very rewarding experience meeting these budding designers and showing them the magic of empathy in UX design. Walking them through a “make believe” project is a unique way to explore the methodology of User Experience Design in a space that allows for experimentation and learning. This program also reminded me of the importance of play in the process of balancing research and design with a deliberate approach to creating meaningful outcomes.”

“I found this mentorship mock project very informative and really beneficial. UX Design has so many moving parts and Iffat broke them down week by week; She helped us create beautiful and functional mockups. I enjoyed my time learning and want to pursue UX design in the future.”

“With mentorship from Iffat, working on this project has been an incredibly rewarding and wonderful experience. Not only is she very knowledgeable, she was also very understanding and encouraging when we encountered roadblocks. Iffat consistently pushed us to refine and expand our ideas, making the entire process both challenging and fulfilling. I highly recommend this Program!”

“This project focused on my area of interest: non-profit branding. I led four talented designers through the brand development process, identifying each Member’s strengths and growth opportunities. Together, we understood the simulated non-profit’s audience and goals, collaborating to create an approachable and compelling brand. This team-based approach allowed designers in the group to adapt to each other's working styles. I was thrilled to see our designers, including one from the other side of the country, communicate and inspire each other to design an effective brand and bring this pretend organization to life. Overall, everyone embraced the group structure, utilized collaboration tools and created something they're proud to share with the RGD community.”

“Working on this project was incredibly rewarding. Working with Sebastian, Rebecca and Hina, we combined our diverse skills and perspectives to create a cohesive brand identity. Marin's expertise and vision kept us focused and inspired throughout. Marin’s leadership was instrumental in elevating every aspect of our project, ensuring both an impactful design and professional communication. We're grateful to the RGD for this opportunity to collaborate with and learn from fellow professionals firsthand.”

“Although I had participated in the RGD Mentorship Program before, I immediately signed up for the new project-based format after reading about it in the RGD's e-newsletter. What appealed to me most was the opportunity to collaborate as a team without the pressure of client expectations, allowing us to push the boundaries of our design work. In my current job, with only two designers, I'm eager to engage in more collaboration. Working with like-minded people on this project was stimulating and enriching. Thanks to the incredible work of the RGD Committee and the hardworking Members on it who put this program together. I look forward to participating again in the future!”

“As a first year graphic design student, participating in this program has given me invaluable real-world experience. I learned what it's like to work with professional designers, and I learned how design projects are executed by a team! This experience has allowed me to get to know some amazing designers who have fuelled my passion for design even more!”

“Participating in the RGD's Project-Based Mentorship Program was a transformative journey. This experience not only sharpened my skills in art direction and project execution but also deepened my understanding of the design process, from concept to completion. Through this program, I enriched my portfolio with real-world applications and gained invaluable insights into teamwork and creative feedback.”

“As mentor and creative director, I guided my team to integrate brand and UX design thinking into their workflow as a continuous iterative process. I encouraged ideation through mood boards and low-fidelity wireframes, with regular check-ins, reviews, feedback and direction to reinforce and improve brand and user experience. Taking on mentorship, I aimed to inspire their design journey with knowledge sharing, problem-solving and fostering continuous learning and experimentation.”

“Acting as art director allowed me to gain new abilities I wouldn't have had the chance to develop in my agency role as a young designer. It was fulfilling to glimpse into the future of mentoring designers. Sharing my knowledge about accessible web practices with students was a great accomplishment, demonstrating my ability to pass on knowledge and share my values.”

“Participating in this program exceeded my expectations. With exceptional guidance from Susan, I immersed myself in UI/UX intricacies. Regular feedback and direction were invaluable for my design growth and decision-making confidence. The mock project was challenging yet enlightening, equipping me with skills and insights for future projects.”

“As Creative Director, I led a talented team to create INNOVIVA's visual identity. Our goal: a standout brand aligning with agency values and appealing to our audience. From discovery to vibrant moodboards, logos, cohesive brand elements, practical applications and guidelines, each step brimmed with enthusiasm and creativity. Beyond delivering great work, it was an opportunity to explore ideas, share insights and grow through feedback. Proud of the team's dedication, we crafted 3 stunning brand systems for INNOVIVA in just 8 weeks.”

“Congratulations on finishing your projects! They all look so amazing. All of your hard work really shows! Thank you for being so receptive to my feedback every week. It helped me improve as a designer as well.”

“It was such a pleasure working with you over the past 8 weeks! I learned an incredible amount from both you and Danzel, and I hope to keep in touch.”

“I’m really glad to have worked with all of you. These past 8 weeks have been incredibly valuable and have taught me a lot. I loved Namra's final work; it looks very detailed and clearly shows her thought process. Nice job!”

“This project, based on my previous work, aimed to empower designers to create something original within real-world parameters. Leading a team of 4 designers weekly from April to May, we transformed a hypothetical event into cohesive deliverables that they could proudly showcase in their portfolios. Working with a newly formed group posed challenges but through collaborative efforts, we addressed agency-level design challenges unfamiliar in academic settings. Our process included sharing strengths, refining ideas through constructive critiques, resulting in a robust case study suitable for any portfolio review.”

“I joined the RGD Mentorship program to learn and lead. I got that chance when appointed Art Director. I’m a recent graduate, but with my Creative Director’s support, the transition felt natural. I started slow, made early mistakes, but achieved my objectives by the end. If I could improve one thing, it would be producing finished assets and visual guidelines earlier. Overall, I enjoyed working on the 2024 RGD mentorship program and look forward to more opportunities.”

“As a design student, I spent a lot of my time working on my own with no external structure, and I feel this mentorship program helped me a lot with working in a team, coming together dividing tasks, creating cohesion between our different designs and learning to take and receive feedback. Victor was a great lead understanding that we are all different kinds of designers and adapting to make the team work well together. Overall I had an amazing experience.”

“Through this program, I had a profoundly meaningful experience beyond traditional academia and solitary work. Collaborating with Victor and our team, each bringing unique perspectives, allowed us to develop concepts aligned with my core design value: creating universally resonant designs. This reinforced the crucial importance of communication in graphic design. I'm deeply grateful to my team for their honest feedback and support.”

“The RGD mentorship program was a great experience and would highly recommend it to other students. It provided a great opportunity to build my portfolio and gain experience with the creative process while working in a team. Victor and Alex provided great feedback about our work and pointed us in the right direction to produce a number of deliverables that function as a cohesive whole. In comparison to an academic setting, I found this mentorship program to be more dense in terms of the feedback you receive and ideation and design insight. You get a lot more 1 on 1 time than you would in a classroom with numerous students. Great for the resume, great for the portfolio.”

“Participating in this program was an experience that made me grow as a mentor and reinforced the importance of clear direction and communication. Seeing the amazing skill and ideas come out of my team was truly inspiring. Guiding them through new communication platforms across four time zones challenged me to lead effectively in a rapidly evolving, colossal project for 8 weeks, but crucial to learn given how the industry is moving into the future. I have been truly changed as a designer through this experience and have become a better verbal and written communicator. I am grateful to the RGD for organizing such a wonderful program that connects different generations of designers who learned from each other, while doing what we love.”

“Being part of this program was transformative. As Art Director, I collaborated closely with Virginia, a seasoned RGD Member, and managed a team of three talented Student RGD. This opportunity provided invaluable management experience and deepened my understanding of professional project execution. Virginia's mentorship was crucial to our team's success. Working with such a skilled and supportive group of designers was truly rewarding.”

“Delving into the RGD project with a team of unfamiliar designers posed a significant challenge. Despite the difficulties, it was a valuable opportunity to collaborate with creatives from diverse backgrounds and explore my own design identity. I'm grateful to Virginia and Kim for their unwavering support, guidance and patience throughout the process. Their encouragement to take initiative and develop strong communication skills, beyond visual design, was instrumental in our growth as a team.”

“It’s been an incredible experience. Despite our team being spread across Canada, we came together to create an outstanding project. My biggest takeaway from this journey is to always ask questions and never hesitate to explore every possible solution. Cheers to my team, and a heartfelt thank you to the RGD for selecting me to be part of it.”

“As a first-year graphic design student at George Brown College, Virginia and Kim's expertise and guidance enhanced my skills and deepened my understanding of industry standards. Their mentorship encouraged me to push boundaries, explore new techniques and shape my approach to design. I am immensely grateful for their constructive feedback and unwavering support, which will undoubtedly influence my future work.”