Board of Directors

Nicola is an independent art director and graphic designer, who specializes in editorial design. She’s obsessed with magazines, so much so that she opened Issues Magazine Shop, a retailer of independent magazines in July 2022. Her work has been internationally recognized by the D&AD, the Society of Publication Designers and the National Magazine Awards, among others. Nicola is also the co-founder of The Scaries Project, an artistic exploration of the emotional realities of being creative, and a part-time design educator.

Julian Brown is ON THE CHASE! Julian creates ‘motion-first’ brands and content for smart clients (Sport Chek, University of Toronto, Cineplex, World Wildlife Fund). His motion design & branding projects have been awarded by Graphis, The Webbys, Adobe and many more. Julian is a speaker on motion design, running a solo studio, and, sometimes, telling people why their offices f*cking suck. He serves as a VP on the Board of Directors for RGD, Canada’s largest design association. Julian is a York/Sheridan Toronto alumni, a world traveller, and this one time he starred alongside his dog in a TV ad for pet food. It was adorable.

Diana Varma RGD is an award-winning design educator by day and a podcaster by night; getting creative with creatives about all things creative. She is a woman in STEAM who operates a traditional offset printing press, a variety of digital press technologies, as well as engaging in exploratory print-making practices such as LEGO letterpress. She teaches within the School of Graphic Communications Management (GCM) and the Master of Digital Media (MDM) program at Toronto Metropolitan University, as well as through digital learning platform, Domestika.

Diana has written 150+ published articles in Graphic Arts Magazine and through the Association of Registered Graphic Designers, as well as 170+ episodes through her podcast called Talk Paper Scissors, speaking with global experts about design, printing, typography, branding, books and publishing.

Diana holds the position of VP of Education on the RGD Board of Directors for Canada’s largest professional association for graphic designers and she’s actively involved in organizational initiatives, chairing the RGD’s Education Committee, regularly speaking at conferences and conducting workshops.

Ruth uses her creative talents to inform and delight at the City of Côte Saint-Luc (a municipality in the West End of Montreal), where she has worked for over 20 years as their in-house graphic designer with a special passion for print design. Fishtank Communications, her independent studio, focuses on clients within the arts and non-profit sectors. She is co-chair of RGD’s Membership Committee—where she helped to kick-start the Virtual Communities initiative, serves on the RGD Board, and has been a member of the Events Committee and judged student competitions.

Xandr is a multi-hyphenated queer trans creative director, designer, illustrator, front-end developer, travelling speaker and educator. His design firm, ARToverMATTER, is a creative studio that gives a damn and specializes in helping changemakers make a positive impact in their communities. He is also a co-founder of Ripple of Change Magazine.

Outside of AOM, you might find Xandr as a guest speaker sharing stories about his entrepreneurial immigrant life journey or advocating for inclusive and accessible design. Xandr sits on the Board of the Association of Graphic Designers (RGD) Canada and chairs the Diversity & Inclusion Committee.

With a proven track record in brand transformation and a passion for captivating design, Alex is an experienced Creative Director dedicated to delivering exceptional results. She specializes in creating immersive brand experiences, leveraging innovative digital solutions, and incorporating user-centric design methodologies. By staying at the forefront of industry trends and continuously pushing creative boundaries, she has successfully elevated numerous brands to new heights.

As a collaborative leader, Alex excels in guiding and inspiring design teams to achieve outstanding outcomes. With a relentless drive for excellence and a commitment to delivering impactful design solutions, she is poised to make a significant impact in any organization ready to redefine their brand presence.

I lead design at Creative Currency, leveraging my background in editorial design and branding to lead projects that help organizations tell their stories more effectively, present information more clearly, and engage audiences more deeply. I also serve on the RGD Board of Directors, and volunteer for committees, mentoring, portfolio reviews and more.

Meghan specializes in print design, illustration and motion. While she started her career on the agency side, her passion for international development, education and gender equality helped her land roles as an in-house designer for global charities, including UNICEF & Plan International. For the past 10+ years, she has prioritized working with socially-conscious businesses, not-for-profits and organizations that advance human rights – using design to bring about positive change in Canada and communities around the world. Meghan started volunteering with the RGD in 2020 and currently acts as Secretary on RGD’s Events Committee.

Chris is an award-winning strategic communicator, copywriter, and graphic designer living and working in Metro Vancouver, on the unceded, ancestral, and traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), and səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples.

Over the past decade (and change) he has freelanced up and down the Pacific coast to clients in the academic sector, including Simon Fraser University, UCLA, and Sacramento State, as well as to Vancouver's burgeoning tech start-up scene.

Chris recently joined Visual Capitalist as an Editor for Branded Content, working with a team of writers and designers to make the best darned tootin' data storytelling out there. When not doing deep dives on data troves, or freelancing, he can be found playing the banjo, working to improve his chess game, and trying really hard not to cut himself while woodworking in his garage.

Michelle is Founder, Creative Designer and Information Specialist at Hopgood Creative. She helps researchers, academics and thinkers use the power of design to explain complex ideas. With over 15 years of experience in design, information, knowledge and information management, Michelle brings a unique perspective to clients and business. Michelle was a Design Educator at Seneca College teaching information design. She holds a diploma from Sault College, a Bachelor of Design from OCAD University, and a Master of Information from the University of Toronto. Michelle was a recipient of RGD’s In-House Design Awards 2016 and a speaker at DesignThinkers TO 2019. She has an unshakeable commitment to making complex ideas beautiful to help her clients get media attention, teach courses and reach a wide audience.

As a creative leader with over 20 years of strategic management experience and hands-on expertise in various digital ecosystems and industries, I've built my career by designing insight-based, accessible products and experiences that engage, convert, and retain diverse audiences, ultimately driving organizational growth. Being one of the few UX Master-certified professionals in Canada, I specialize in creating and scaling consistent, cohesive, innovative, and highly usable omni-channel experiences. Notably, I've led the development of multiple company-wide design systems and the XE currency app, which boasts over 80 million installs. Along the way, I've successfully grown and led design teams, fostering collaboration, innovation, and a commitment to excellence.

In addition to my professional work, I'm an active Association of Registered Graphic Designers (RGD) Board Director and Vice Chair of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee. I conduct portfolio reviews and RGD new member portfolio evaluations. Hosting monthly webinars, I champion accessibility for web and mobile spaces. Additionally, I share my expertise at industry events and teach UX/UI design at the University of Toronto, where I enjoy mentoring and identifying up-and-coming talent.

Geneviève is a strategic design leader with hands-on product and service design expertise and 10+ years of experience empowering creative teams in fast-paced tech environments.

She helps companies thrive by understanding their service ecosystem and identifying growth opportunities that balance value to people and deliver on business intent.

She is passionate about shaping ways of working in organizations to foster human-centricity, systems thinking and evidence-based product practice. And she's known for nurturing a team culture where growth and inclusion flourish.

From robotics to healthcare and consumer services, Geneviève has been entrusted with the digital experiences of some of the most recognized brands in Canada. At Shopify, her team designed the inbound logistics workflows, helping the business meet critical scale targets. Her work on the Canada Post website, mobile app and illustration system has brought lasting value to millions of Canadians. And she is proud to have shaped digital and physical services for patients and families at SickKids Hospital.

Geneviève has actively supported the design community throughout her career and has been a proud RGD member since 2006.

Rupsha is a Designer specializing in Human-Centered Design, an Emerging Design Educator, and an Emerging Design Researcher. Rupsha is pursuing her Master of Design at York. Her work involves looking at the intersection of design, accessibility, and everyday health management. Her research focuses on designing interventions in augmented reality to assist with everyday activities for people living with early-stage dementia aiming to enhance their quality of life through the integration of rituals and habits. Supported by the Government of Canada Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council grant, she is working with people with dementia, their care partners, and community organizations across Ontario to design better ways to support people living with dementia in everyday life.

Hello, my name is Marina Walsworth. I’m currently in my third year of the Advanced Diploma in Graphic Design at Algonquin College. I am a spirited, dedicated student driven by a deep passion for creativity in all its forms—from bold, impactful designs to the finer details that make each project unique. I’m excited to contribute my perspective to the dynamic world of visual communication and am always eager to take on new challenges, approaching each with passion, persistence, and an open mind. Talk to you soon!

Natalie R. Chiovitti is a Canadian interdisciplinary communication designer and visual artist. She engages in material and digital approaches to designing zines, artists' books, exhibits, and visual identities. She explores themes of sustainability, consumerism, environmental communication, and community. Her current work explores how communication design can support sustainable fashion consumption practices of reduce, repair, and reuse. Natalie is a second-year student in the Master of Design (Interdisciplinary) program at Emily Carr University of Art + Design. She has an Honours Bachelor of Arts at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM), double majoring in Communication, Culture, Information and Technology; & Art and Art History. Natalie integrates her work as a graphic designer in marketing / advertising, publishing, and education fields.