Volunteers of the Month: 2025/2026 Student Committee Co-Chairs

This October, the RGD thanks Jennifer Sutherland Associate RGD, Priya Shukle Associate RGD and Kendra Vermette Student RGD, for their contributions to the RGD community as Co-Chairs of the RGD Student Committee for 2025/2026.

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

Jennifer: I joined the RGD Student Committee in 2023, during my second year of the three-year Advanced Diploma Program at Centennial College. I ended up connecting with the Student Discord subcommittee and decided to contribute my time there, along with volunteering at DesignThinkers Toronto. My involvement eventually evolved into the Co-Chair position.

Priya: I've been volunteering with the RGD since first hearing about it in 2024, when I first joined the RGD Student Committee. After serving on the Committee as a Member in 2024–2025, I became a Co-Chair for my final year at Alberta University of the Arts. Serving on the Student Committee also allowed me to volunteer at DesignThinkers Vancouver in 2026, where I was able to connect in person with many fellow Committee Members, pasts mentors and other RGD Members.

Kendra: Since beginning my design studies at Capilano University in 2024, I have been actively involved with the RGD. What started as a way to connect with students nationwide and learn more about the industry evolved into leadership: I continue to serve as one of the Co-Chairs for the RGD Student Committee, as well as representing students on the RGD's Board of Directors, advocating for and supporting emerging designers across the country.

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

Jennifer: The moments I'm most proud of are the ones where I got to encourage and share in my fellow Student Committee Members' enthusiasm for design. For me, it's not really one specific memory. It's sitting in a meeting and having someone excitedly suggest a change for our Discord server, seeing a student really connect with one of our monthly speakers and their story or connecting with another designer at DesignThinkers about a talk we both just enjoyed. Those moments humanize the industry and role for me. They remind me that there are real people who care about what they are learning and they motivated me to continue contributing.

Priya: The memory that stands out the most to me was setting up for DesignThinkers Vancouver this spring. It was amazing seeing fellow Student and Associate RGD Members and RGD staff come together to set up for such an exciting and inspiring event. This was a great end to my RGD Student Membership chapter, as I got to celebrate this era by being a part of and attending this conference. I left inspired by the talks as well as the connection to the design community beyond my studies. After graduation, I've now begun volunteering with the Associate Committee.

Kendra: In 2025, I took on the role of Events Sub-Committee Lead for the RGD Student Committee. Stepping into a leadership position so early in my design journey felt daunting at first—there were plenty of moments of feeling like I had no idea what I was doing! However, working alongside such an amazing, dedicated group of students made all the difference. As a team, we successfully hosted six student events and brought together more than 10 speakers. Hearing those diverse industry perspectives firsthand made the learning curve entirely worth it.

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

Jennifer: I used to work in not-for-profit and association management. In that role, it always felt like associations were valuable, but their role was mostly about providing learning and networking opportunities. Since volunteering with the RGD community, I've come to see association membership as something much bigger and more meaningful. Through volunteering, networking and learning, I've seen firsthand the enthusiasm and care RGD Members have for their field of work, their community and the future of design. The conversations around ethics and where our industry is going have helped me become more enthusiastic and motivated as a designer, and helped me see being an RGD Member as more than just a title. It's a community and field that I actively get to participate in and help shape.

Priya: The most unexpected thing about volunteering with the RGD was the variety of ways to contribute. When I first signed up, I thought it might just be attending meetings that may not be open to much contribution, but I was pleasantly surprised. I'm so proud of how much my fellow Co-Chairs, Kendra and Jen and I were able to improve on to better the Student Committee and encourage future growth through our initiatives.

Kendra: Going into this, I expected to just feel like a student. Instead, I found a community of designers dedicated to helping emerging talent carve out space to take up. I realized I genuinely have a seat at the table, and that my voice matters alongside students nationwide. The RGD has been an incredible launch pad for my growth, and I'm excited to continue developing within this network.

What have you learned about the industry since volunteering with the RGD?

Jennifer: So much! I really appreciate the ethical and accessibility standards that RGD Members consider and build into the projects they contribute to. Seeing how those conversations happen reinforces how important these parts of the profession are and encourages me to advocate for them in my own work. I also really appreciate hearing RGD Members' opinions and experiences with changing technologies in our field. As a relatively new designer, it can be difficult to navigate new technology and understand what it means for the work we do. I find it really helpful to hear open discussions among more seasoned professionals. It helps me stay open-minded and thoughtful about my own ever-evolving design practice.

Priya: Since I started out as a student with no industry experience, the RGD brought me opportunities to learn from and speak to design professionals outside of my local bubble. Through Portfolio Reviews, Mentorship Sessions, Student Committee Meetings, DesignThinkers and more, the RGD has opened my mind to a wide variety of different perspectives from a diverse range of designers and other creative professionals.

Kendra: Beyond networking, it really comes down to building a community. Finding mentors through my volunteer work has been game-changing; their insights and perspectives have accelerated my growth as a student. Being able to connect with working professionals directly through the RGD Directory has been an invaluable resource as I navigate the transition from school to the industry.

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

Jennifer: I see the RGD as helping shape the design industry in Canada at all levels. Sitting in Board meetings, hearing RGD Members present to the Student Committee and connecting with people within the association at conferences, I've seen how much the RGD title means to Members and how much they care about the industry, not just as a place for themselves to thrive, but as a place where they can encourage and support others in the field. The word I would use is abundance. There is an abundance of enthusiasm, support and learning within the RGD, and being part of that makes me feel like design itself is an abundant industry. There is room to learn from each other, support each other and contribute something back.

Priya: As a recent graduate who just moved from Calgary to Vancouver a month ago, needing to rebuild connections and find work out here, the RGD has provided me confidence in a very unsure and stressful period. Moving here and not knowing anyone is isolating, but the RGD made it easier to contact and connect with other Members. Volunteering with the RGD is a great starting point to meeting new people and learning about what the industry is like out here. Moving to a new place can feel like starting from zero, even if it's just one province over, but the RGD continues to make the transition smoother.

Kendra: I often refer to it as a grounding piece of the industry. Beyond offering an extensive network of design professionals, the RGD champions design ethics and teaches us how to advocate for ourselves and others. It's a community built on a foundation of deep professional respect.

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

Jennifer: There are so many ways I could answer this: pride in my profession and my Associate RGD title, education and experiences I wouldn't have gained otherwise, friendships and connections. But I think I'll answer with something I didn't expect to gain: empathy for myself and my career. I worked really hard to get through school and build a new career at a stage in my life when I didn't think I could do such a thing. As a result, I can sometimes push myself a bit too hard, overcommit and end up a little too close to creative burnout. Volunteering with the RGD has given me so many opportunities to come face-to-face with what life as a designer can look like long-term, and to understand that it's through our daily lives and practices that we cultivate a career that nourishes and supports us instead of burning us out. I'm learning how to sustainably build a career in design that I can enjoy long-term, while also supporting the people around me. That's something I didn't expect to gain from volunteering!

Priya: Being a volunteer really helped me gain a community. The RGD helped provide me with a network of connections that go beyond just a single coffee chat. Volunteering with the RGD helped me gain leadership experience and community, and provided the opportunity to give back and support other designers and students.

Kendra: Volunteering has given me invaluable new perspectives and connected me with an amazing community of peers who have become true friends—plus, I've been able to attend DesignThinkers twice! It's an extraordinary opportunity to embrace while still in school. I always hope that building these foundations now will set me up for the future, and the RGD has truly been the catalyst for that.

Do you have any thoughts on what you might like to do as a volunteer with the RGD in the future?

Jennifer: I currently work as a graphic designer at an interior design firm, so I'm curious to explore whether there are opportunities to contribute where those two areas overlap. As an Associate RGD, I'm also looking forward to learning more about the different ways I can contribute to the RGD going forward.

Priya: Now that I've graduated, I've begun volunteering with the RGD Associate Committee, which has just gotten started for this term in September. Beyond that, I'd love to continue involvement in volunteering for in-person events such as DesignThinkers. I love that through in-person events you really get to connect with people and collaborate.

Kendra: I'd love to continue volunteering beyond my time as a student, and I'd eventually like to be considered for DesignThinkers Committees and an Associate RGD volunteer role.