Watch presentations by 2SLGBTQIA+ creatives from the RGD Video Library
The RGD shares presentations from its Video Library featuring 2SLGBTQIA+ creatives and inclusive design leaders. These recordings span RGD events including DesignThinkers, Creative Directions and webinars, covering topics like identity, equity, ethics and personal process.
All videos are available for free to RGD Members. Non-Members can access these recordings until July 20.
Mohamad Abdouni
Talk: Bending the Rules of Independent Print Publishing
DesignThinkers 2022
After years of experimenting with traditional publishing models, Mohamad stepped away—only to return with a new, more personal approach. In this talk, he shares how an organic, self-defined workflow led to the creation of a publication that has become a key reference for queer publishing in the Arab region. Drawing on over a decade of experience, Mohamad offers insights on forging your own path, questioning norms and reshaping publishing on your own terms.
Ellen Lupton, Kaleena Sales and Leslie Xia
Talk: Extra Bold: Redesigning power flows
Creative Directions 2021
Do you sometimes feel uncomfortable speaking up in class or sharing new ideas at work? Who feels confident and who doesn’t? What do you need to think about before coming out at work? How can you help build a more diverse and inclusive design field? In this presentation, the co-authors of Extra Bold: A Feminist, Inclusive, Anti-Racist, Nonbinary Field Guide for Graphic Designers explore issues of intersectionality, systemic racism and equity in creative spaces. They reflect on the realities of coming out at work, building inclusive teams and sharing power—while offering practical strategies to amplify others and assert your place in the design field.
Rachel Gogel
Talk: Dear Boss, You Need Help
Creative Directions 2022
The shift to remote and hybrid work exposed a long-standing issue in many workplaces: a lack of support for developing strong, empathetic people managers. In this forward-looking talk, Rachel shares key research and insights into how leadership must evolve to meet new expectations—especially as work becomes more decentralized and project-based. She explores how managers can build more purposeful, flexible and inclusive employee experiences—not just for today, but for the workforce of 2030.
Debbie Millman
Talk: In Conversation with Debbie Millman
Interview session
In this conversation, Debbie shares insights on design for social good, the shifting landscape of design education and her book Why Design Matters. Interviewed by Nicola Hamilton RGD, Debbie also draws on her experience as an advice columnist to answer audience questions about careers in branding, communication and creative leadership.
Brian Johnson and Silas Munro
Talk: Poetic Research
DesignThinkers 2022 Toronto
Polymode blends design and activism through what they call “poetic research”—a process that draws on historical and contemporary narratives to centre equity and amplify marginalized voices. In this presentation, Silas and Brian Johnson how they balance rigorous research, visual experimentation and cultural critique to build impactful, BIPOC-centred design systems. With humour and honesty, they challenge design history, embrace disruption and reimagine what design education and practice can be.
Parker McLean RGD
Put Yourself in the Game
DesignThinkers 2023 Vancouver
We often remind clients that “everybody isn’t a demographic”—so why do creatives expect themselves to know everything about everyone? In this talk, Parker challenges that pressure and encourages designers to embrace the limits of their knowledge. He explores how self-awareness, curiosity and authenticity can help creatives better collaborate, grow and reconnect with their most valuable tool: themselves.
Terresa Moses
Abolitionist Design
DesignThinkers 2022 Vancouver
Design has the power—and responsibility—to challenge systems of oppression. In this presentation, Terresa urges designers to adopt an abolitionist mindset, using their skills to amplify underrepresented voices and imagine new paths toward collective liberation. Drawing on the legacy of the 2020 Uprisings and the long-standing history of abolitionist thought, Terresa explores how creative work can become a tool for justice, advocacy and systemic change.
Aries Moross
Design Your Process
DesignThinkers 2024 Toronto
Creative work can feel like free-falling—but process provides the foundation for trust, clarity and better outcomes. In this talk, Aries examines the realities of navigating design projects and shares strategies for strengthening collaboration, building trust with clients and improving both your work and your working life.
Kelly Small RGD
The Conscious Creative: Design Ethics and the Capitalist Dilemma
RGD Webinar
How do creatives navigate the tension between personal ethics and professional demands? In this webinar recording, Kelly, author of The Conscious Creative: Design Ethics and the Capitalist Dilemma, shares insights from their interdisciplinary design research, career journey and personal values. With a focus on inclusive, ethical and sustainable practice, Kelly explores how designers can push back against systemic pressures and build more purpose-driven, responsible work.
Zipeng Zhu
Getting Confident with Colours
DesignThinkers 2023 Toronto
In this presentation, Zipeng—also known as “Mr. Dazzle”—shares his passion for bold palettes and expressive design. Watch as he breaks down how he approaches colour in his work and encourages designers to use colour more consciously and confidently in their own creative process.
