Minds of Design

Immerse yourself in thought-provoking presentations, gain insights from industry leaders and participate in lively Q&A sessions.

Location: Village Brewery, 5000 12A Street Southeast Calgary, AB

Presentations:

Dave Nighbor

Brand & Marketing Lead, CarbonAi | Owner, 9 Lives Design

Dave Nighbor is a digital artist, graphic designer, and web developer, as well as the founder of 9 Lives Design, an award-winning agency recognized by the RGD and Graphic Designers of Canada. In 2018, his company was named Northern Ontario Company of the Year for its work in business, design, and community involvement.Currently serving as the Brand & Marketing Lead at CarbonAi, Dave is responsible for shaping the brand and marketing strategy for AI-driven climate tech solutions. With a background in fine arts, graphic design, and interactive media from York University and Sheridan College, his skill set has been developed through years of hands-on experience. His creative work also extends into the world of 3D digital art and NFTs, reflecting his passion for exploring new creative avenues.

Designing with AI: Creative Ally or Hidden Threat?

As AI tools become more integrated into the design process, they challenge traditional notions of creativity and authorship. Is AI a powerful co-creator, or does it undermine the designer’s unique vision? In this talk, Dave will explore the implications of collaborating with AI in design, asking the question: Are we enhancing our creativity, or merely outsourcing it?

Wilson Wong
Partner and Creative Director, Everbrave

Wilson is the creative compass at Everbrave, a “growth agency” dedicated to helping clients expand their businesses and embolden their brands. Over a 20+ year career, he’s propelled a diverse range of clients to achieve their goals and remain relevant in a changing world. Wilson has been a valued mentor to young creatives and is passionate about building community through the Chinatown Pop Up Movie Club, which aims to activate Chinatown, share stories, and spark conversations through film.

$100K Lost: How Getting Screwed Taught Me My Biggest Lesson
Wilson Wong shares his eye-opening experience of losing $100K to a longtime client, and the valuable lessons learned along the way. From protecting your work and health to building strong relationships, this talk offers insights to help designers navigate the business side of creativity with confidence.
 

Karen Ng-Hem RGD
Karen Ng-Hem, RGD is a creative director focused on publication design across Canada.
For 20+ years she has developed a reputation in the AEC and non-profit sectors for creating compelling visual stories. Recognized for her sophisticated use of colour, spatial clarity and clean lines—her intuitive and multidisciplinary approach to design consistently result in clear ideas that compel people to think, feel and act. Karen advocates for professional accreditation, has served as a Judge for the Student Awards, an ongoing portfolio reviewer and past member of the RGD Membership Committee. In her free time, she writes about and chronicles her life through design

Annual Reports: Functional—or Beautiful?
Design x 365: the activities of our lives are being written every day. The same is true for organizations and businesses. If design is expected to have longevity—it must work on more than one level; serve more than one audience; solve more than one problem. As a designer, it’s my responsibility to direct the reader through a document—where do they pause? Where are the visual breaks, and fun content in the sidebars? More importantly, how can the annual report be leveraged to increase awareness? In this presentation, Karen will share how she has positioned creative direction as an annual strategy, and how that evolved into making annual reports not just functional—but beautiful.