Award for Storytelling

Winners: June Hong, Collean Chau and Cindy Lin

Winning Project: In My Shoes

Award Sponsor: Creative Currency; School: George Brown College, Toronto, ON; Educator Support: Christopher Pandolfi and Eirene Keh

In My Shoes is a storytelling card game designed to help people build deeper connections in settings ranging from friends and families to therapy, community programs and rehabilitation centres. The goal was to reduce social isolation by fostering empathy through structured storytelling, particularly in vulnerable or stigmatized contexts such as addiction recovery.

The game system encourages deep listening and reflection without requiring players to speak until ready. Each round revolves around a story prompt, active listening and emotional guessing with visual tokens. Playtesting with peers, social workers and diverse public audiences—including children, young adults, older adults and newcomers—validated the design’s ability to create inclusive, emotionally safe spaces for conversation. The brand identity was expressed through the design of the game system, colour palette, typography, card layouts, tokens and packaging. Team members contributed card illustrations, website sections, promotional materials and production management.

Honourable Mentions

Lunation by Isabella Durazo, OCAD University, Toronto, ON
無為: This book won't help you by Bethany Fung, George Brown College, Toronto, ON
Out of Sight by Rowena Huang, Wilson School of Design at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Richmond, BC
notes by Faith Innes Student RGD, York University, Toronto, ON
Kataloag by Sophie Reimer, George Brown College, Toronto, ON

Judges

Rahul Bhogal RGD, Owner at Nothing Design Studio Brampton, ON
Laila Haus RGD, Creative Director at The Phoenix Group, Regina, SK
Brooke Langmaid, Art Director at ZGM, Edmonton, AB
Leanne Persichini RGD, Graphic Designer at Niagara Parks Commission, Hamilton, ON
Kyle Schruder RGD, Creative Director at Creative Currency, Toronto, ON