Scholarship recipients reflect on their experiences at DesignThinkers 2025 in Vancouver
The 2025 DesignThinkers Conference in Vancouver brought together the design community and creative minds from around the world to share ideas, inspire one another and push the boundaries of creativity.
DesignThinkers Scholarship Recipients attend free and receive $500 in cash, through the support of sponsors, to help cover their expenses.
Below, they recount their experiences at the Conference and express how it has impacted their design journeys and fueled their passions.
Mia Antinori Student RGD
Sponsor: Will
“This event has shown me what other events haven't. It offered a community of passionate, dedicated and kind people—designers who are open to learning from each other’s perspectives. Giving me more than I have ever wished for: a strong, welcoming community I can call my own.
The most significant part of attending was seeing proof that success in this industry is possible. People often say how hard it is to ‘make it’ as a designer—but DesignThinkers redefines what success can look like and that gives me hope for myself and other young creatives.”
Mia's favourite sessions included Carson Ting’s workshop and Catalina Estrada’s talk.
“As a nature and ocean conservationist, I was inspired by Catalina’s work and her commitment to using design as a tool to help the planet. Carson’s workshop, on the other hand, challenged the notion of the 'starving artist' and reminded us that illustrators can absolutely thrive when we own our creative identities.”
“Helping set up the conference was the most valuable and meaningful experience I had at DesignThinkers. I love helping people. It means the world to me because to help something as amazing as DesignThinkers happen can create more positive change. One small deed can go a long way.”
Mia Antinori Student RGD
Kristi Zuo Associate RGD
Sponsor: Pendo
"Being selected for a scholarship reinforced to me that my growth and efforts are being seen and valued. Navigating this industry, especially learning everything from scratch, can be intimidating. Some days you're immersed in new communities and juggling different types of projects, yet not seeing tangible outcomes. This recognition reminded me to keep going. It’s okay to need external encouragement now and then. But more importantly, it was a nudge to believe in my own potential and trajectory even more than others might."
"The most meaningful moment for me was realizing how much more connected I felt this time around. Attending the conference twice in one year is rare (I attended DesignThinkers Toronto last November), and the second time felt like a full-circle moment. The relationships I’ve nurtured over the past year made the design world feel a little less lonely and a lot more like home. Starting out as a freelancer can be isolating, so recognizing familiar faces, sharing conversations and feeling a sense of belonging reflects the quiet momentum that’s been building all along."
“My biggest takeaway was the importance of audacity—in whatever shape or form that feels true to you. With the rise of AI and the push for speed and efficiency, it’s easy to overlook the emotional intelligence and intuition that creatives bring. But our ability to observe, curate, connect dots and make thoughtful judgments is irreplaceable. Building taste and refining the lens through which we see the world is what sets us apart.”
Kristi Zuo Associate RGD
Priya Shukle Student RGD
Sponsor: PS&Co
"Receiving a scholarship meant more than being able to fly to Vancouver and attend the conference. It also meant that I was able to meet designers outside of my school and work in Calgary and see design from different perspectives. The scholarship and attending the conference helped me push myself, make connections and learn so much about being a designer professionally and personally. This was such a great opportunity for me, and I am so grateful that I was able to attend and experience DesignThinkers before going into my final year of undergraduate studies. It has really shifted my perspective positively, and I'm excited to see how the experience influences my practice in the future.
Priya shared how Meg Lewis’ presentation set the tone for her experience.
“After flying in and heading straight to the venue, I was feeling a lot of pressure. But Meg’s talk helped me release that. They encouraged us to focus on what we connect with, not what’s expected of us—and to act at the speed of fun. That message stayed with me for the rest of the trip… including when I took their advice and randomly swung my friend’s arm in the air—it really does get a laugh.”
“There were many valuable parts of the conference, but the part that stands out was being in such a wonderful community of people. I had so many great one-on-one conversations with people and learned so much through talking to people from different experience levels, professions and backgrounds. Specifically, I think of conversations I had with the vendors in the exhibitor areas. So many people took time to answer the many questions I had and provided me with relevant resources as a student designer from Calgary.”
Priya Shukle Student RGD
Linden Wheeler Student RGD
Sponsor: One23West
"Receiving a Scholarship was a special joy that I never expected. It gave me the chance to attend my first DesignThinkers and see Vancouver for the first time. It was amazing being surrounded by other creatives."
"I think my biggest takeaway was that I can form my career any way I want. Meg Lewis’ workshop really drove this home for me. Also, to always remember to have fun and be curious!"
"My favourite speaker was Valentina D’Efilippo! Her ability to condense complex topics into not only something understandable but also beautiful is amazing. It inspired me to take on some data visualization projects of my own."
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