Conference: DesignThinkers Toronto 2025

Canada’s largest gathering of design and communications professionals

Audience at the DesignThinkers conference | Photo: Nadia Otake

DesignThinkers Toronto

October 1–2, 2025
Meridian Hall & St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, Toronto
www.designthinkers.com/tor

DesignThinkers is a professional development and networking conference for designers and creative communicators. Whether you’ve been in the profession for decades and want to stay up-to-date on emerging technologies and trends, or you’re new to the industry and want to expand your connections, attending DesignThinkers is your chance to learn from renowned creative leaders and gather with a community that gets it.

Join 2,000+ attendees for presentations, workshops and discussions that cover sustainable design, micro-storytelling on social media, typography licensing, how to build a thriving design business, creative bravery and more. Plus, get access to a trade show of industry exhibitors and a delegate party.

30+ speakers are on the lineup. They include:

• Chris Clarke, Editorial Creative Director at The Guardian
• Eleni Beveratou, Creative Director at Dalton Maag
• Kemp Attwood, Founding Partner & Chief Creative Officer at AREA 17
• Nadia Tzuo, Emmy Award-winning Director & Motion Designer
• Pali Palavathanan, Co-founder & Creative Director at TEMPLO
• Pablo Martín, Creative Director at MUBI
• Samar Maakaroun, Partner at Pentagram
• Verònica Fuerte, Founder & Creative Directress of Hey

Speaker Eleni Beveratou, Creative Director at Dalton Maag | Photo: Nadia Otake

Hotel and travel discounts are available.

In-person and streaming passes are on sale now. Discounted rates are available for non-profits/charities and groups of 3+ people from the same company. A scholarship program is open to Associate RGDs until August 15.

Related Programming

Design Educators Conference
October 3, 2025
George Brown College, Toronto
www.rgd.ca/educatorsconference

The Design Educators Conference takes place the day after DesignThinkers. This conference is crafted for design educators and researchers looking to explore design’s potential to adapt, flourish and influence through a mindset rooted in curiosity, resilience and the courage to challenge the norms.

Connect with other attendees in small groups during guided discussions on relevant topics | Photo: Connie Tsang

About the Association of Registered Graphic Designers (RGD)

The Association of Registered Graphic Designers (RGD) is Canada’s largest professional association for graphic designers. The association’s membership of more than 4,000 people includes firm owners, freelancers, managers, in-house designers, educators and students.

Through the RGD, Canadian designers exchange ideas, educate and inspire, set professional standards and build a strong, supportive community dedicated to advocating for the value of design.

About the DesignThinkers conference

Over its 25-year history, the DesignThinkers conference has spanned massive changes in the communication design industry. From print to digital, visual identity to brand, and websites to UX, design has evolved as trends, technologies and philosophies transform the wider world. DesignThinkers continues to offer an opportunity for design professionals to gather together and consider design’s impact as we confront fundamental global challenges.

DesignThinkers
October 1–2, 2025
1 Front Street East
Toronto, ON
www.designthinkers.com/tor
info@rgd.ca
1.888.995.6133
Instagram @rgdcanada
LinkedIn @rgdcanada

Accessibility:
Meridian Hall and the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts are accessible. For more information, scroll to venue accessibility on this page.

Image Descriptions:
1. A large auditorium filled with multiple rows of people. They are watching a presentation. The auditorium is dimly lit.
2. A close-up of a woman delivering a presentation. The screen is slightly visible behind her. She has light skin, dark brown hair and is wearing an olive green dress. She is talking emphatically with her hands.
3. A room full of people sitting at roundtables. They are having discussions with each other at their tables.