Are Designers Certifiable? At every large gathering of designers, a conversation will begin about whether designers should be certified in order to separate those with a full set of skills, education and experience from others who may be adept in using the tools of design, but less qualified to deal with the deeper needs, context, content and results that a client would expect from a fully accredited professional. Lionel Gadoury, president of Registered Graphic Designers of Ontario, and Hilary Ashworth, Executive Director made this presentation at Pivot, AIGA Design Conference, October 2011.

39. Becoming a Registered Graphic Designer
Review of R.G.D. Handbook for the Registered Graphic Designers
Qualification Examination
All information and forms can be found at
www.rgdexamboard.com

40. OVERVIEW
• Effective ethical, responsible graphic design professional
• Professionally competent in business, design principles, research
and theory and ethics.
• Able to apply this knowledge to design problems, management
and/or education
• Graphic design practitioner, manager or educator

41. OVERVIEW
• Effective ethical, responsible graphic design professional
• Step 1: Application Process
• Step 2: Written Test
• Step 3: Portfolio Interview
• Step 4: R.G.D. Membership

42. OVERVIEW Handbook
Page 4
Regular Applicant
7 Years of education (3- or 4-year post-secondary graphic design diploma or
and practice degree and 3 or 4 years of professional practice).
Seniority
7 years of relevant education and/or professional practice
7 Years of education
prior to 2000 and continuous professional engagement in
and/or practice before
the field from 2000 to the present. Seniority applicants
2000
are exempt from the written test portion of the exam,
except for the Rules of Professional Conduct section.
10 Years of education Atypical
(10 years of relevant education and/or
and/or practice
professional practice.

43. HOW TO APPLY Handbook
Page 5
(1) Completed application form
(2) Sealed official transcript(s), if applicable
(3) Payment of Applicable Fees ($150 + HST or $75 + HST)
(4) Submission of WrittenRationales (con’t on next page)

44. HOW TO APPLY Handbook
Page 5
(1) Rationale for each of the six pieces
(2) Visual reference to the portfolio piece
(3) The following information: project objectives, target audience,
concept, design issues, design process, outcome/results,
(4) Date when produced
(5) Consolidated into one PDF, named and posted

45. HOW TO APPLY Handbook
Page 5

46. THE TEST Handbook
Pages 7-11
• All Multiple Choice Questions
• Approx. 1.5 hours
• Dates scheduled on an on-going, as needed basis
• Suggested texts available from RGD Ontario if you have
scheduled a date to write in next 3 months
• R.G.D. Membership

47. THE TEST Handbook
Pages 7-11
1 (a) Design History
Suggested Texts:
A History of Graphic Design, by Meggs, Philip
(ONLY the 20th century will be tested)
Canadian Icons, Applied Arts Article by Saldanha, Errol
1 (b) Design Research
Suggested Text:
A Designer’s Research Manual: Succeed in Design by
Knowing Your Clients, by Visocky O’Grady, Jen & Ken

48. THE TEST Handbook
Pages 7-11
2 (a) Business
Suggested Text:
The Business of Graphic Design: A Professional’s Handbook
Available at RGD Ontario Office
2 (b) Design Principles
Suggested Texts:
Graphic Design: The New Basics by Ellen Lupton
Design Elements: A Graphic Style Manual by Timothy Samara
(ONLY Chapter 3)

49. THE TEST Handbook
Pages 7-11
(3) Basic Technology
• Technology
Choose one of five:
• Print OR
• Electronic Media OR
• Packaging Graphics OR
• Environmental Graphics OR
• Studio Management

50. THE TEST Handbook
Pages 7-11
(4) Rules of Professional Conduct
• Based on RGD Ontario By-Law # 3
• 15 Multiple Choice questions
• 25 Minutes to complete (If Seniority)
• 75% passing mark to be eligible to complete portfolio interview
Seniority applicants must pass the Rules of Professional Conduct
Section and are exempt from the rest of the Written Test

51. THE PORTFOLIO Handbook
Pages 12-16
Review R.G.D. Exam Handbook in detail
25 Minutes
3 R.G.D. Examiners
6 Portfolio Pieces

52. MEMBERSHIP Handbook
Page 17
Within 2 weeks of completion of all 3 steps, you will be notified if
you have Passed or Failed. You then have 3 months to submit
your R.G.D. Application Form to RGD Ontario

53. “RGD is an active, committed, intelligent
organization that supports Ontario designers. I am
proud to be a member and to have earned my
RGD designation.”
– Ben Hagon R.G.D.
Principal, Hagon Design

54. “R.G.D. next to my name is like a badge of
excellence and passion that I,
as a professional, get to wear.”
– Carl Poirier R.G.D.
Creative Director, Cayenne Creative

55. “The R.G.D. designation is an acknowledgment of
my commitment to high standards and motivates me
and my company to strive to new heights.”
– Diego Casco R.G.D.
President and Creative Director
Casco Design and Communications

56. “I really appreciate being part of a group that is
continually strengthening and growing our profession
by empowering members to achieve their goals while
creating an awareness of the value of design.”
– Jeff Hardy R.G.D.
Director, 211 INTERACTIVE

57. “I believe good design delivers a solid return
to our clients; it's important that we educate
clients on the value of well-executed,
strategic design communications.”
– Karl Thomson R.G.D.
Creative Director and Managing Partner
Compass360