The Garden signs on as Design Partner for DesignThinkers 2025

Joining the roster of esteemed firms who have developed branding for the DesignThinkers conferences over its 25-year history, The Garden shares its design process, challenges and inspiration for next year's branding. 

In 2025, DesignThinkers will be held in person in Vancouver on May 13-14, with an option for online streaming, (registration opens in December 2024) and in Toronto in October (dates TBC).

Why did you and your team want to take on the DesignThinkers branding as a project?

At The Garden, we thrive when faced with creative challenges, and love the opportunity to play, explore and exceed expectations as creative makers and collaborative partners. So when we were given the opportunity to work alongside the RGD on DesignThinkers, we were excited to dive in and push design narratives, challenge perceptions and explore new connections. As creatives with a wide range of skills and backgrounds, we want to extend our passion beyond just projects and deepen our involvement in the design and creative community. Teaming up with organizations like the RGD and contributing to events like DesignThinkers enables us to challenge ourselves and also help contribute to the creative community.

What has been the most challenging aspect of developing the design/concept?

Honestly, having such a wide net to play and explore in was both a blessing and, at times, a curse. Sometimes, as creatives, our own ideation and constant creative flow needs to be harnessed and focused to reach the best idea and direction. So, for us, finding ways to allow our team to play and feel untethered while also providing a structured framework and strategy to ideate to was a constant balancing act.

What has been your team's design process for tackling this project?

We knew right away that if we were able to work on DesignThinkers, it would be an agency-wide initiative and collaborative process. We approached the DesignThinkers 2025 Conference with the same passion and dedication that drives all of our creative work. We began by immersing ourselves in the core of what we do—innovation, collaboration and pushing boundaries. Our team knew that this wasn’t just about creating materials; it was about elevating the entire attendee experience and finding new ways to challenge and propel the creative community forward.

We engaged in group brainstorming sessions, where designers, copywriters and strategists collaborated to create a cohesive narrative. The goal was to ensure that every piece of collateral—from the event’s promotional materials to wayfinding signage—embodied our theme in a way that would mean something to every attendee. Our team recognizes this isn’t just about creating materials but elevating the entire attendee experience.

What is the source of inspiration for your concept? What research did you undertake?

Our source of inspiration is realizing the integral role design plays in perception. It’s not just about aesthetics. It’s a tool with which we shift and shape how the world sees. Every choice–from colour to layout, typography to imagery–sends a message. As designers, we are responsible for ensuring that the message matters. Our goal with this year’s theme is to empower designers to recognize the power of their choices to challenge conventions, break down barriers and introduce new ways of thinking. Even if that means we have to push (or shift) the whole damn industry outside its comfort zone.

Ultimately, this concept was inspired by revelling in the unknown, thriving in flux and resetting our sight lines. It’s only when we challenge ourselves to ditch our default settings that we can reveal new dimensions. We also examined the role of design in addressing global challenges and social issues, understanding that designers increasingly view their work as a tool for social change and innovation. We wanted our materials to reflect this heightened sense of responsibility that designers feel today. By researching how design can both respond to and drive cultural shifts, we sought to capture a sense of urgency and purpose in our work.

To learn more about sponsoring DesignThinkers, email Rushika Shah, RGD's Communications & Development Manager, at rushika@rgd.ca 

General conference inquiries can be sent to Abdul Omar, RGD's Programs Manager, at programs@rgd.ca.