Certification Committee Members

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.

Juliana is a committed graphic designer with eight years of experience working with social impact organizations. At Canoa Design, her independent creative consultancy, she uses her problem-solving mind to work with diverse communities and leverage their unique storytelling to develop brand strategies while creating core assets like brand guidelines, reports, digital banners and information graphics with a clean and engaging design. With a highly collaborative disposition, she helps non-profits, social enterprises and environmental organizations show their impact.

Whether it’s the Archie comics I read all the time as a kid or the countless brochures, signs, bookmarks, and other ephemera that make up everyday life, I’ve always been fascinated by how words and pictures are put together on different mediums.

Following my design studies at Concordia University, I joined the team at Groupe d’édition la courte échelle as a graphic designer and production coordinator where my work was recognized by Applied Arts and the Alcuin Society Book Design Awards.

My high standards of quality, attention to detail and organizational skills are assets that I enjoy sharing with my collaborators to create design that exceed expectations.

For 2 decades, Carolane has been perfecting her design and branding practice throughout the agency world by creating immersive brand platforms and experiences for exceptional businesses in the realms of food, beverage, retail, and hospitality. With the launch of Super Studio, she is now focusing on the industries she masters and the success of the clients who choose to become her collaborators. In addition to her work at Super Studio, Carolane is an investor in emerging businesses and creative ventures, leveraging her expertise to support innovative projects and help shape their growth and success.

Gordon began his career in Toronto, working with several firms and agencies before going in-house, eventually serving as the Global Creative Director. As the founder of Cadre Creative, Gordon is a proven strategic creative leader with extensive experience conceptualizing and implementing a breadth of innovative and impactful solutions for regional and global B2B and B2C brands. His work is wide-ranging, utilizing graphic, digital, and spatial design encompassing branding and identity, signage, print, advertising, digital solutions, and large-scale trade fair environments. Gordon has worked with many different businesses, in different industries, in different parts of the world elevating brands across all sectors and channels. Gordon also serves as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence with North Forge Technology Exchange — a non-profit incubator accelerator that works with startups across Canada. With a passion for elevating the understanding and appreciation of design and its significance, rationale, and technique, Gordon is an active member of the Canadian design community, currently sitting on the RGD Certification Committee and is a Certification Portfolio Evaluator. Previously he has served as a Design Mentor and has been privileged to be a Student Awards judge for branding.

Victor is the Creative Director at Green Living Enterprises. Having worked in various capacities in the graphic design field, Victor brings almost two decades of invaluable knowledge to the table. He is proud and fortunate to constantly be collaborating with passionate and interdisciplinary people where he gets to create, develop and execute a variety of visual communications all the time. The types of projects he’s involved with include environmental graphics, campaigns, and branding for the ROM, Cineplex, Scotiabank, TD Bank, Toronto Hydro, the Pembina Institute, University of Toronto, Eva’s Initiatives, B Corporation and the Canadian Journalists for Free Expression.

Emma Tarswell is a versatile designer specializing in corporate communications and editorial design. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to excellence, Emma excels in crafting captivating design that seamlessly integrate text and imagery to tell compelling stories across mediums.Emma holds a Masters of Publishing from Simon Fraser University and is a certified member of the Association of Registered Graphic Designers.