Volunteer of the Month: Bianca Jozwiak RGD

This September, we thank Bianca Jozwiak RGD for her contribution to the RGD community.

How long have you been volunteering with the RGD, and in what capacity?

Since 2015, which is actually crazy considering that was over a decade ago. I started as a Student Committee Member back when I was just figuring out what this industry even was. From there, I joined the Provisional RGD Committee (now the Associate RGD Committee) and, in 2023–2024, I supported the RGD Book Club. These days, you'll find me hosting roundtable discussions during DesignThinkers and generally supporting wherever I can.

What contribution are you most proud of, or what experience/memory stands out most for you?

The Book Club, without question. Moderating it alongside Esther Sunghee Byun and Rupsha Mutsuddi Associate RGD, was a true collaboration. We got to learn and design together, while building something for our RGD community. I met incredible authors, geeked out about book and editorial design with people who love it as much as I do, and got to share my love of design literature.

What is the most surprising or unexpected thing about volunteering with the RGD?

How much I get out of "giving back." When I was younger, I signed up thinking I'd only be contributing my time. Instead, I continue, even a decade later, and walk away from every session, discussion or meeting with new ideas, new contacts and a longer reading list! A chronic volunteer, it's rare for me to stick with something for a long time, as my interests change frequently and dramatically (perks of being a Gemini). The RGD stuck because I've been able to do so many different things and support various initiatives.

What have you learned about the industry through your volunteer experience with the RGD?

That the challenges are universal but the solutions are local. Whether you're a team of two at a startup or embedded in a giant corporation, everyone's wrestling with the same big questions – visibility, advocacy, proving design's value—but the way through always depends on your specific context. Also: design literature is alive and well, and the people writing it are more accessible than you'd think. Sometimes they'll even show up to your book club!

Based on your experience, how would you describe the RGD's role in the industry?

It's the connective tissue. Design can be a surprisingly isolating profession, especially in-house, where you might be the only designer in the building. The RGD turns thousands of individual designers into a community with shared standards, shared language and shared ambition. I love being a part of it.

“Bianca demonstrated amazing initiative and care in speaker outreach for this year's In-House Design Conference. She spent time and effort researching potential speakers and personalizing application invitations. This thoughtfulness reduced the barriers of application for many busy creatives, prompting a number of those contacted to respond right away.”

Meghan D’Mello RGD

What have you gained from being an RGD volunteer, and why would you recommend it to other Members who may be considering getting involved?

A network I actually use, a decade of friendships and collaborators and a front-row seat to where the industry is heading. My pitch to anyone on the fence: volunteering is the cheat code for everything we tell other designers to do. Want visibility? Want to build leadership experience? Want a community? It's all right there and you get to give something back while you do it.

Are there any volunteer opportunities or initiatives you would like to pursue with the RGD in the future?

I'd love to keep building conversation-based programming. The roundtables I've led over the years have brought me so many new friends and connections, and I want to keep that going. There's something special about the format: it's low-key and just a bunch of designers chatting. Turns out that's where the good stuff happens.