← Festivals, conferences & talks
Conference
DesignThinkers Toronto
Graphic design, illustration, typography and creative practice, with talks, workshops and a streaming option.
When & where
Meridian Hall & St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts
2026 regular non-member two-day pass
Why go
Organised by the Association of Registered Graphic Designers, the Toronto edition combines keynote presentations, parallel themed sessions, workshops, roundtables and a supplier showcase. Studio tours take place on 19 October. Recordings are available for three months; interactive sessions are not streamed.
Tickets & what they include
In person · Professional RGD member
CA$375 / CA$4752026 · announced edition
Regular one-day / two-day rate. Canadian dollars; tax and fees extra. Membership required. Conference access; streaming and recordings available for three months.
Price source ↗In person · Non-member
CA$450 / CA$5502026 · announced edition
Regular one-day / two-day rate. Canadian dollars; tax and fees extra. Conference access; streaming and recordings available for three months.
Price source ↗In person · Group non-member
CA$425 / CA$5252026 · announced edition
Regular one-day / two-day rate. Canadian dollars; tax and fees extra. Group rate: 3+ from one company, or nonprofit/charity employees. Conference access; streaming and recordings available for three months.
Price source ↗In person · Student RGD member
CA$150 / CA$2252026 · announced edition
Regular one-day / two-day rate. Canadian dollars; tax and fees extra. Membership required. Conference access; streaming and recordings available for three months.
Price source ↗Streaming · Professional RGD member
CA$125 / CA$1752026 · announced edition
Regular one-day / two-day rate. Canadian dollars; tax and fees extra. Membership required. Streaming and recordings available for three months; interactive workshops and roundtables are not streamed.
Price source ↗Streaming · Non-member
CA$175 / CA$2252026 · announced edition
Regular one-day / two-day rate. Canadian dollars; tax and fees extra. Streaming and recordings available for three months; interactive workshops and roundtables are not streamed.
Price source ↗Streaming · Group non-member
CA$150 / CA$2002026 · announced edition
Regular one-day / two-day rate. Canadian dollars; tax and fees extra. Group rate: 3+ from one company, or nonprofit/charity employees. Streaming and recordings available for three months; interactive workshops and roundtables are not streamed.
Price source ↗Streaming · Student RGD member
CA$50 / CA$952026 · announced edition
Regular one-day / two-day rate. Canadian dollars; tax and fees extra. Membership required. Streaming and recordings available for three months; interactive workshops and roundtables are not streamed.
Price source ↗In person · membership combo
CA$7252026 · announced edition
Two-day pass plus one year of RGD Affiliate Membership for new applicants only. Tax and fees extra.
Price source ↗Streaming · membership combo
CA$4252026 · announced edition
Two-day streaming pass plus one year of RGD Affiliate Membership for new applicants only. Tax and fees extra.
Price source ↗Pre-conference studio tour
CA$20 / CA$252026 · announced edition
19 October, per tour: RGD members or conference attendees / non-members. Separate registration.
Price source ↗Checked 8 October 2026. Prices identify their reference edition; availability and checkout totals can change. Historical prices are for planning.
Programme & schedule
Published main-conference running order for 20–21 October. Times are local to Toronto. Parallel rooms run at the same time; programme and availability may change.
Tuesday 20 October
- 08:15–09:15
Roundtables · Meridian Hall — Lower Lobby
Morning Roundtable Discussions ↗
- 08:45–13:45
Other Programming · Meridian Hall — Main West Lounge
Doodle Square by Cantoo City ↗
- 09:00–09:15
Other Programming · Meridian Hall — Main Lobby
Morning Icebreaker ↗
- 09:30–09:45
Talk · Meridian Hall — Main Stage
Opening Remarks ↗
- 09:45–10:30
Keynote · Meridian Hall — Main Stage
The Art of Seeing: How letter design changes the way you see the world ↗
- 10:30–11:15
- 11:45–12:30
Workshop · Meridian Hall — Rehearsal Hall
Making Your Mark: Exploring sustainability through hands-on creation ↗
- 11:45–12:30
Interactive Session · Meridian Hall — Lower Lobby
The Art of Showing Up: The anti-awkward networking rehearsal ↗
- 11:45–12:30
- 11:45–12:30
Talk · Meridian Hall — Castlepoint Numa Lounge
Probably Right: Designing in the age of AI agents ↗
- 11:45–12:30
Talk · St. Lawrence Centre — Jane Mallett Theatre
Stupid People Start Companies All the Time ↗
Lauren Wong Lee & Gabby Lord
- 12:30–13:00
- 12:40–13:00
Other Programming · Meridian Hall — Castlepoint Numa Lounge
An Introduction to Frankly, hosted by Function Point ↗
- 13:00–13:50
Other Programming · Meridian Hall — Board Room (Lower Lobby)
2SLGBTQIA+ Virtual Community Meet-up ↗
- 13:20–13:50
Workshop · Meridian Hall — Castlepoint Numa Lounge
Spectacular Results: The one print tool every designer should know ↗
- 14:00–14:45
- 14:00–14:45
- 14:00–14:45
Workshop · Meridian Hall — Castlepoint Numa Lounge
Trading Busywork for Better Work: Design faster without looking like everyone else ↗
- 14:00–14:45
Workshop · Meridian Hall — Rehearsal Hall
Creative Recess: A play lab for designers ↗
- 14:00–14:45
Roundtables · Meridian Hall — Lower Lobby
Afternoon Roundtable Discussions ↗
- 15:15–16:00
Talk · Meridian Hall — Main Stage
Out of Trends: How going offline from global aesthetics made me a global creative ↗
- 15:15–16:00
Award Ceremony · St. Lawrence Centre — Jane Mallett Theatre
Branding Awards Ceremony ↗
- 15:15–16:00
Workshop · Meridian Hall — Castlepoint Numa Lounge
InDesign to Acrobat: A practical guide to accessible PDF workflows ↗
- 15:15–16:00
- 15:15–16:00
- 15:15–16:00
- 16:20–16:45
Keynote · Meridian Hall — Main Stage
The Abundance Paradox: When more creative creates less impact ↗
- 16:45–17:30
- 17:30–18:00
- 18:00–21:00
Other Programming · CRAFT Beer Market
Delegate Party ↗
Wednesday 21 October
- 08:15–09:15
Roundtables · Meridian Hall — Lower Lobby
Morning Roundtable Discussions ↗
- 08:45–13:45
Other Programming · Meridian Hall — Main West Lounge
Doodle Square by Cantoo City ↗
- 09:00–09:15
Other Programming · Meridian Hall — Main Lobby
Morning Icebreaker ↗
- 09:30–09:45
Talk · Meridian Hall — Main Stage
Opening Remarks ↗
- 09:45–10:30
Keynote · Meridian Hall — Main Stage
Form, Function and Feeling ↗
Christina Worner & Alice Shaughnessy
- 10:30–10:40
Keynote · Meridian Hall — Main Stage
Elevation, Not Reinvention: Making a respected brand contemporary without losing trust ↗
- 10:40–11:25
- 11:45–12:30
- 11:45–12:30
Talk · St. Lawrence Centre — Jane Mallett Theatre
Personal Branding for Creative Introverts ↗
- 11:45–12:30
Workshop · Meridian Hall — Rehearsal Hall
From Sketch to Wall: Designing Murals and Lettering for Public Space ↗
- 11:45–12:30
Interactive Session · Meridian Hall — Lower Lobby
Meet your Monster: How to conquer perfectionism, imposter syndrome and career paralysis ↗
- 11:45–12:45
Workshop · Meridian Hall — Castlepoint Numa Lounge
Practical Uses for AI with InDesign ↗
- 12:30–13:00
- 13:00–13:30
- 13:00–13:45
Workshop · Meridian Hall — Rehearsal Hall
The Geometry of Form: Building Letterforms from Scratch ↗
- 14:00–14:45
- 14:00–14:45
Workshop · Meridian Hall — Castlepoint Numa Lounge
How are Pop-up Books Made? Make a Pop-up to find out! ↗
- 14:00–14:45
Talk · Meridian Hall — Main Stage
Personal Work: Art for fun, profit and whatever comes next ↗
- 14:00–14:45
Roundtables · Meridian Hall — Lower Lobby
Afternoon Roundtable Discussions ↗
- 14:00–14:45
- 15:15–16:00
- 15:15–16:00
Talk · St. Lawrence Centre — Jane Mallett Theatre
From Idea to Campaign: Building visual stories with Firefly Boards ↗
- 15:15–16:00
- 15:15–16:00
Interactive Session · Meridian Hall — Lower Lobby
Panel Discussion on AI ↗
Nicola Hamilton RGD, Maggie Chen, Wendy Millard RGD, Jacqueline Lane RGD
- 15:15–16:15
- 16:30–16:45
- 16:45–17:30
- 17:30–18:00
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