Tashia Potter lives on the West Coast of Vancouver Island in Port Alberni, BC. She is currently in her second year of the Graphic Design degree program at Vancouver Island University, choosing photography, Typography and Web Design as her favorite areas of practice. She finds great reward in being consumed by the intricate nature of these subjects, and the process of dissecting and manipulating the tiny details, to then be able to step back and see a whole picture in the end. Tashia is passionate about design and the role it plays in society, and plans to make socially responsible contributions to the field.

Tashia looks forward to working in the industry after graduation. She hopes to start as an in-house designer working in a design firm to begin to get a real life feel for the industry. Her dream job would include photography, design, as well as fashion into one all incompassing role, as Tashia is also a seamstress and spends her free time hand printing textiles. Tashia is extremely excited about choosing this career path and is enjoying every step of the education, which she says happens at every curve, she sees everything differently now.

Over a Year of Sustainability
by Valerie Elliott, National Sustainability Committee Chair

“AIGA is pleased to announce a partnership with the GDC in developing the Living Principles for Design website as a global, trans-disciplinary source of best practices in socially responsible design, considering environmental, economic, social and cultural implications. This open site, which aims to evolve with the participation of concerned designers and environmentalists globally, resulted from early conversations with GDC, recognized by AIGA as a leader in defining the dimensions of responsible design; other partners will be invited to join from among the international design community, although GDC will always be among the most influential of partners as a result of their longtime commitment and pioneering work.”
- Ric Grefé

The GDC adopted Sustainable Values and Principles in April 2009. Since launching the first known sustainable communication design definition, we’ve been networking with other like-minded organizations. National Sustainability Committee (NSC) chair, Valerie Elliott traveled to NYC to discuss partnering with AIGA in the sustainability cause. This lead to the GDC being represented at the table while building the AIGA’s Living Principles. Our partnership continues.

Meetings were also held at TypoBerlin where the NSC Chair met with Robert Glogowski from the The Coalition of German Graphic Designers (Bund Deutscher Graphikdesigner) and various members from The Alliance of German Designers (Allianz Deutscher Designer). These opportunities allow us to widen our networks and share information, moving our mandate ahead more effectively.

During Vancouver’s Design Week our partner SGDQ (Société des designes graphiques du Québec) and others from the NSC met with Icograda, to brainstorm on a self assessing LEED-like process. We are also working hand in hand with Re-Nourish on a Sustainable Design Auditing Project (SDAP) that is a multi-stakeholder project to develop open-source metrics for the industry.

Our goal this 2010/11 work year is to post a number of GDC member case studies so members can aim high and continue building resources for sustainable practices. We also welcome representatives from each chapter stepping forward to distribute information from the NSC to their chapters. More coming soon as the NSC committee works to make sustainability easier for you and your design practice.
 

The GDC National Executive Council, comprised of your Chapter representatives, have made a number of significant changes to membership categories. On September 15, 2010, delegates voted on and approved categories that will provide the GDC with a streamlined application process and an enhanced Certification status.

In summary: the Graduate and LGDC categories have been eliminated; the Associate category has been re-named Affiliate and limited to non-designers; and the honourific for Professional Member (MGDC) has been changed to Certified Graphic Designer (CGD). The certification process is unchanged. It is simply a clearer and more definitive honourific, with the same requirements and case study portfolio review.

A new Provisional category has been established for: those members who have applied online for Certification and are awaiting case study portfolio review; recent graduates; and those working in the field of graphic design who do not yet have the required qualification for Certification.

How these changes may affect you

Students - There are no changes to the Student category. Students are encouraged to use the following text reference (without the GDC logo) on their own promotional materials and websites: Student Member, Society of Graphic Designers of Canada

Graduates -This category has been eliminated as of January 1, 2011. As a current Graduate member, there is nothing you need to do as your membership will automatically be transitioned to the new Provisional category on January 1st. In order to make the Provisional category accessible to new graduates, this category will have a three-level membership dues structure. On your 2011 renewal date, you will be charged the first and lowest level renewal rate. The National portion of the dues will increase in the second and the third year and remain static thereafter. As Provisional members, you are encouraged to use the following text reference (without the GDC logo) on your promotional materials and websites: Provisional Member, Society of Graphic Designers of Canada

LGDC - As of December 1, 2010, the GDC will no longer be accepting applications for the LGDC category. All current LGDCs may continue to use the LGDC honourific until January 1, 2013. It is anticipated that current LGDCs will use this two year period as an opportunity to gain the necessary qualifications to apply for the CGD category. LGDC members who have not transitioned into the CGD category by January 1, 2013 will be automatically placed into the Provisional category at the level three rate.

MGDC - Current MGDC members are encouraged to begin using the honourific CGD immediately and by January 1, 2011 at the latest. CGD members may use the GDC logo and the following text reference on their promotional materials : Certified Graphic Designer, Society of Graphic Designers of Canada. To obtain a copy of the logo, please contact Melanie MacDonald at director@gdc.net

Associates - The Associate category will become the Affiliate category as of January 1, 2011. This category is limited to non-designers. If you are a practicing designer who is presently in the Associate category, please contact your
membership chair prior to January 1, 2011.

Every effort has been made to minimize the transitional process for members, and to have the changes as revenue-neutral as possible. If you have any questions, please contact me.

Sincerely,

Aaron Heppell, CGD
Chapter President, Vancouver Island Chapter