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Design Professionals of Canada - DesCan

Name: Design Professionals of Canada - DesCan
Address: Ottawa, ON, CA
Telephone: 1-877-496-4453

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Design Professionals of Canada - DesCan

DesCan is the national advocate, voice and resource for Canada's design profession.

The GDC is an advocate, voice and resource for Canada's graphic design profession. We are a national certified body of graphic designers promoting high standards of visual design and ethical business practices for the benefit of Canadian industry, commerce, public service and education. Through the media, publications, seminars, events, conferences and exhibits, the GDC builds awareness of graphic design and its essential role in business and society.

10/01/2026

This week’s curated post features the work of Heiner Hegemann from 1964.
Emile Zola defined naturalism as a literary movement that emphasized observation and the scientific method in the fictional portrayal of reality. This book collects several of his essays on the subject, including literary criticism and commentary on the social political and historical climate in France during the latter part of the nineteenth century.
The cover design features a circular form that feels like a planet or world, perhaps reflecting Zola’s own view on the importance and significance of his theories, despite their apparent simplicity. It won the Typography 64 “Award of Distinctive Merit” (overall winner) for Book Design.
You can read the full story of this and other examples of Canadian design history at canadamodern.org (link in ’s profile).
CM124
Artifact Type: Softback Book
Title: The Naturalist Novel
Year: 1964
Designer: Heiner Hegemann
Studio: Uncredited
Client: Harvest House
Size: 202mm X 139mm
Blair Th⚫️mson
Believe in®
G R A P H I L A T E L Y
Alliance Graphique Intl

Design Canada

09/30/2026

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a day to remember and honour the children who never came home and to honour survivors of the Residential School system, their families and their communities.
Reconciliation is much more than Orange Shirts and Land Acknowledgments, though. It is about what each of us can each do to learn Canada’s true history and how we can work towards reconciliation in our own ways.
Some suggestions for where you can start:
• Check out www.whose.land/en to learn about the land you live on, including maps with treaty information, Indigenous territories, communities, businesses and leadership stories.
• Download the 94 Calls to Action recommended by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission at www.nctr.ca
• Take the Indigenous Canada online course offered for free by the University of Alberta www.coursera.org/learn/indigenous-canada
• Watch a documentary, like We Were Children (available on Prime)
• DesCan has made a donation to the Indian Residential School Survivors Society (IRSSS), whose mission is: fostering safe spaces for emotional, spiritual, and cultural healing. IRSSS stands by survivors, intergenerational survivors and communities affected by the enduring legacy of residential schools and other injustices. Indian Residential School Survivors Society (IRSSS)

Reconciliation
OrangeShirtDay

09/29/2026

Design with your hands.

Join graphic artist and creative director Scott Clum for OVERLAY, a hands-on Visual Storytelling Workshop.
Renowned for his innovative work in sports brand culture and one of the original designers behind iconic RAY GUN publishing, Scott pioneered a distinctive cut-and-paste aesthetic that blends digital tools with hand-built design mechanicals to lead a process in visual storytelling that feels nostalgic, fresh and unmistakably human.
He’s helped global brands rediscover their visual story through an analogue lens. Now it’s your turn.

Make something real.
Sat. October 17 / 10am-3pm / Sunfire Studios Inc. / Link in Design Professionals of Canada, Vancouver Chapter

DesignWorkshop DesignCraft

09/28/2026

and .Vancouver celebrate the global theme for October of ‘ALTITUDE’ and our featured speaker is renowned architect, designer, and entrepreneur Michael Leckie.
Leckie is the founder of Leckie Studio Architecture + Design, an award-winning multidisciplinary practice working across architecture, interiors, installations, and product design. Rooted in the Pacific Northwest, his studio explores how buildings can respond to place, material, climate, community, and the changing ways we live. His work has earned major recognition, including the RAIC Emerging Architectural Practice Award, Architectural Record’s Design Vanguard, and recent honours from the World Architecture Festival, Canadian Architect, and the Architecture Foundation of BC. Beyond conventional practice, Michael is also co-founder of The Backcountry Hut Company, bringing rigorous design thinking to modular, off-grid structures. With a background that includes genetics, forestry, and years spent in remote landscapes, he brings CreativeMornings a generous perspective on creativity as craft, restraint, experimentation, and a deeper way of seeing the built world.
🎵 This month we are delighted to introduce singer-songwriter, producer, and guitarist Brandon Wolfe Scott!🎶
This month’s local partners are Tomo Spaces.
Friday, October 2, 2026
8:15am - 10:15am PST
Hosted at Vancouver Art Gallery, Room 4 East, 750 Hornby Street, Vancouver, BC
Register at creativemornings.com/talks/michael-leckie.
Portrait of the Michael by Anya Ali Mulzet Anya
If you are an artist and would like to illustrate a future speaker portrait, please email [email protected]!

09/25/2026

This week’s curated post features the work of Manfred Gotthans from 1965.
Monarch Machinery was founded in Winnipeg in 1935, and remains a manufacturer of hydraulic cylinders and iron castings to this day (now called Monarch Industries). This stylised lion figure provides a bold modern interpretation of the classic regal icon and is the perfect combination of geometric symmetry and ornamental craft, producing an almost ‘hallmark’ like quality in its aesthetic. The design was handled by Manfred Gotthans, Chris Yaneff’s creative partner in the studio.
You can read the full story of this and other examples of Canadian design history at canadamodern.org (link in ’s profile).
TM15
Title: Monarch Machinery
Year: 1965
Designer: Manfred Gotthans
Studio: Chris Yaneff Ltd.
Client: Monarch Machinery
Sector: Textile Manufacturing (Knitting)
Blair Th⚫️mson
Believe in®
G R A P H I L A T E L Y
Alliance Graphique Intl

Design Canada

09/21/2026

BusinessCase 18
Using Your Licensed DesCan Marks Accurately & Advantageously
Looking to stand out in a competitive market?
Canadian designers are fortunate to be able to access a CIPO registered certification mark through DesCan.
Designers licensed to use the Certified Design Professional® mark, and those hoping to in future, are encouraged to attend this discussion, moderated by our National President, Amanda Parker. We’ll take you through the correct ways to use DesCan’s Certified Design Professional® mark as well as our new and exclusive Human Designed™ mark. We’ll talk about best practices and share resources that will help you use these marks to stand out in a crowded Canadian design marketplace.
We strongly believe that these marks will become increasing valuable as procurement practices shift to focus on Canadian suppliers. Decision makers will be looking to quickly and definitively discern professionals in the field. What conveys this more than “Certified Design Professional®“?
This event is no charge for current DesCan members and $40.00 for non-members.
Monday, September 28, 2026
3:00 PM EST
DesCan Members: Free!
Non-members: $40
Register at the link in our bio.
This is our 9th Business Case offering in 2026 and follows:
BusinessCase 17: Project Management for Creatives + Toolkit
BusinessCase 16: (July) LinkedIn For Service-Based Professionals
BusinessCase 15 (June): Pricing in the Age of AI
BusinessCase 14 (May): How to Collaborate with a Writer
BusinessCase 13 (April): Sustainability: Design Beyond the Environment
BusinessCase 12 (March): Intellectual Property Strategy for Designers and Agencies
BusinessCase 11 (February): Q&A with a CPA
BusinessCase 10 (January): Grow Your Business: Sell to the Federal Government
Business Case is a business speaker series that connects new and experienced designers with various industry professionals. Interested in speaking about your area of expertise in the design industry? Reach out to us!

09/17/2026

This week’s curated post features work from 1971 (designer unknown).
A higher education text book which forms part of the Curriculum Resource Books Series. A total of 28 titles make up the series, of which this is number 26. The four cities discussed in this book are chosen to illustrate the concepts and problems related to urban growth and urban and regional planning. Three of them are metropolitan centres (Windsor, Sarnia, London), while the fourth offers a study of some singular aspects of regional development (Waterloo-South, Wellington area).
The cover for the series utilizes a consistent design across the entire series with a colour update on the cover applied to differentiate each title. The insides are set in black ink only on a typographic grid in Univers and Time New Roman.
You can read the full story of this and other examples of Canadian design history at canadamodern.org (link in ’s profile).
CM225
Artifact Type: Soft Cover Book
Title: Four Cities
Curriculum Resource Books Series
Year: 1971
Designer: Uncredited
Studio: Uncredited
Client: McClelland & Stewart
Size: 250mm X 168mm
Blair Th⚫️mson
Believe in®
G R A P H I L A T E L Y
Alliance Graphique Intl

Design Canada

09/15/2026

Together We’re Better Conference
Wednesday, September 16
Vancouver, BC
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 (Recruitment | Mentorship | Education | Inclusion)
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 (Leadership | Strategy | Culture | Profitability)
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘁 (Technology | Innovation | Design | Collaboration)
Every Speaker on this year’s 𝗧𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 roster represents a different part of the print industry. Together, they represent its future.
This year’s theme, 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘁: 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘁, celebrates the women helping move our industry forward while exploring how leadership, opportunity, mentorship, and collaboration can help build a stronger industry for everyone.
Together We’re Better 2026 brings together leaders from every corner of the print ecosystem – including commercial printers, suppliers, technology partners, recruiters, educators, designers, marketers, and industry advocates – for one important conversation about where our industry is headed.
Whether you’re leading a business, managing operations, developing talent, or planning for what’s next, every decision we make impacts the broader print community. This isn’t just another conference. It’s an opportunity to better understand the people, partnerships, and ideas shaping the future of Canadian print, and discover how we can move that future forward.
Join us September 16. Bring your perspective. Be part of the conversation.
𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘂𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘁, 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿.
Ticket comes with breakfast, lunch, and admission to our Social (adult beverages, canapes, hors d’oeuvres, etc. included)
10 Speaker presentations
1 Panel discussion to wrap up the conference
An opportunity for the design & print communities to mix, mingle, network, and connect
Regular price: $150
Member price: $125 (DesCan members eligible for the member rate).
Register at: printforward.org/events/together-better-conference-2026/

09/14/2026

Sustainability Chit Chat
September’s informal meet-up for design and communications professionals curious about sustainability.
Hosted by DesCan Sustainability, this is a space to explore how sustainability shows up in our work. From big questions to small shifts, let’s share ideas, challenges, and approaches with others navigating the same tensions.
Come with your questions, your curiosity, or just to listen. No pressure, no presentations, just chit chat.
Register at descan.ca
September 15, 2026
12:45 – 1:35pm PDT

09/11/2026

Designer
Know History, Inc.
Remote
Deadline: 18 September 2026
Summary:
Know History is a Canadian firm that provides historical research services to Canadian and Indigenous organizations, governments, municipalities, museums, and heritage groups. One of our defining characteristics is our ability to communicate complex information and perspectives to public audiences through impactful sensory experiences, ranging from engaging physical design to emotive graphics to leading-edge media.
We are seeking a creative thinker and talented designer who can approach projects with originality and imagination, collaborating with our team to tell stories that matter.
Salary Range:
$30-35/hour
Apply through descan.ca/job.
DesCan connects employers with designers! Looking to post a job opportunity? There is no time limit on your post and companies that employ DesCan members post at no charge.
Looking for your next project, client, or career move — opportunities are on our website. Jobs are posted regularly and the Job Board is open to both members and non-members.

-designers-and-business-owners

Address

Ottawa, ON

Opening Hours

Monday	8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday	8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday	8:30am - 5pm
Thursday	8:30am - 5pm
Friday	8:30am - 5pm

Telephone

1-877-496-4453

Website

http://descan.ca/

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