Volunteer of the Month: Zia Somjee RGD

This June, we thank Zia Somjee RGD for his contribution to the RGD community.

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

I've been volunteering with the RGD all the way back since 2020's virtual edition of DesignThinkers, where ZAK and I participated in a virtual studio tour and panel discussion on navigating our industry during the pandemic. Since then, I've participated in everything from volunteering as a Student Awards judge in 2024, Branding Awards Judge in 2025, speaker at DesignThinkers 2025 in Toronto and even hosting a Design Trivia Night here in Vancouver alongside the local events committee!

What experience/memory stands out for you?

Personally, the opportunity to speak at DesignThinkers Toronto holds a special place in my heart. Fellow ZAK partner Kristian Hay and I both spoke about the importance of building a studio culture where trust, respect and good tension can drive great work and great relationships.

It was also a great way to feel connected to the broader RGD community and connect with audience members who felt they had gotten value from our talk.

I would also say a key memory that stands out to me is participating in the Vancouver firm owners meetup in 2025, where the RGD invited a small group of firm owners in the city to get together for some open dialogue about what the design community in Vancouver wants to see. To me, this feels like a key part of the continued efforts the RGD has been making to engage with the West Coast design community.

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

Looking back at everything since 2020, the overall range of opportunities to get involved with the RGD is definitely more than I expected when I started. Speaking, studio tours, judging and even volunteering ZAK as a studio to create the design direction for the 2025 branding awards.

Additionally, just seeing how committed and hardworking all the volunteers in the organization are. It shouldn't come as a surprise, but they all consistently outdo themselves. I'm just trying to keep up!

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

How many people want to see a more united design community across Canada, and how important a national design association is to advocate for our profession. We're a big country, and something like the RGD helps us feel less disparate. This can only happen if there is active representation across the country so that we can put a spotlight on design talent in every province. To me, being involved with the RGD is a step toward continuing to create that unity, and I hope that my small efforts can make a difference in Western Canada, playing a larger role in the national design conversation.

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

On one end, the RGD has always played a role as advocates for our profession. Part of that is pushing for stronger standards and best practices, but part of it is also about listening to designers, as our role is rapidly changing.

We're an industry of designers, but the role of designer is not what it was years ago. To me, the RGD is here to represent all designers as we navigate what that means in 2026 and beyond.

On the other end, the RGD are community makers. In big moments like DesignThinkers, or smaller moments across local events, I see them as one of the core pieces that keeps our industry connected with one another, and I hope to see that keep growing.

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

If you feel that you have a perspective on how our design community can be stronger, get involved! There are so many ways to contribute your time with the RGD that are true to your skills and passions—whether that's organizing, finding new opportunities or sharing your expertise.

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

I'd like to keep volunteering in ways that align with my goals of connecting Vancouver and Western Canada more closely with our national design community. To me, staying involved and engaged with the RGD is a way to keep the region — which I know has immense creative talent—on the map. I want people to see this part of the country as a creative hub and pool of design resources, so that the opportunities that exist for designers here are plentiful and high profile.

I'd also like to be a participant in shaping how our industry is seen as a whole. The industry is changing, and new technologies are both unlocking new ways of working and challenging expectations around what we should be able to do. I hope to keep participating in ways that allow us to better communicate what it means to be a creative professional for the coming decade.