What Design Directors Know

About this video

Description

Design directors each share the most important lessons they've learned during their careers.

What DO Design Directors Know? That is a BIG question. Simply put, Design Directors know A LOT. They have to. They are strategic problem solvers, expert tastemakers and skilled communicators. Great Design Directors inspire teams to do brilliant work, while instilling clients with confidence in the design process. Design Directors care about the sketched details and the final execution. Design Directors are also always excited to share stories and insights into what they do and what they know. Join us for this discussion with experienced professionals who will each provide an insider's understanding of the joys and challenges of this integral role within any creative agency and what you need to know to achieve this position in your own creative career.

Presentations

Hot Mess, Cool Work, presented by Holly Gallacher RGD, Design Director at Daughter Creative
Embracing Chaos and Designing through it. Emotions, Instinct & Creativity

Emotions: The part no one prepared me for, turns out directing also means directing people, real life human beings and with that, comes emotion.
Instinct: Making decisions, and making them fast. Relying on past experience, whether it be good or bad to make the right call.
Creativity: Keeping curious and rejecting complacency. Feeding off the surrounding team to keep things interesting, and embracing experimentation.

Presenting Is a Design Skill, presented by Tyler Dias RGD, Founder and Design Director at Pixels&
A practical look at how understanding your client, speaking in your own voice, and knowing your sh*t can turn presenting from something you dread into something you’re genuinely good at.

Designing with Nerve, presented by Zoe Kim, Design Director at Anomaly
How designers can distinguish themselves at senior levels by building the capacity to challenge and expanding the scope of what design can influence. While craft becomes an expected baseline as your career progresses, true differentiation will come from strategic thinking, a willingness to question the status quo, and the ability to drive innovation that shapes more meaningful outcomes. Designers with a bit of nerve can be a catalyst, influencing bigger decisions and inspiring teams to imagine and build the future we actually want to live in.

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H

Holly Gallacher RGD

Daughter Creative

Tyler Dias RGD

Pixels&

With nearly 20 years of experience in the creative industry, I am the Founder and Design Director of Pixels&, a design studio driven by the Power of &—blending creativity and strategy to deliver branding, identity, and digital experiences that align with business objectives. Holding a Bachelor of Design (BDes) from the Ontario College of Art and Design, I’ve built my career working with clients across health care, real estate, legal, entertainment, retail, and technology sectors.

Dominic Ayre RGD

Hambly & Woolley Inc.

Dominic graduated from The Bournemouth & Poole College in the UK and has worked in Toronto as a designer for more than 25 years. As the Creative Director at H&W, Dominic focuses on high-level strategic initiatives with clients such as York University, Caseware, University of Toronto, Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Horizon Trading Solutions and RTOERO. Hambly & Woolley is also the publisher and creators of Find: A Journal for the Curious. Currently on faculty at George Brown College, Dom is an enthusiastic mentor to new designers and is well known within the design community for his expertise in branding, typography, web platforms, design trends and popular culture.

Tag

• Career-Building