As a writer and editor at Destination Canada, one of the most fun things I do is collaborate with our awesome in-house designers to create graphics that tell a story. Even more fun – this year, I got to join them for DesignThinkers Vancouver, Canada’s largest graphic design conference.
According to their website, DesignThinkers “brings together visionaries from a range of disciplines to explore creativity, the design process, the future of design and design thinking.” I had to take their word on the visionaries part, because I hadn’t heard of any of the speakers before going along.
Which kind of made it a very cool place to be. Zero context. Zero expectations. I was just free to soak up whatever wisdom came my way. So what exactly did I learn at DesignThinkers?
1. Try new ideas at the speed of fun!
Learning to have fun in our creative work was a major theme of the first keynote of the first day by artist, performer and educator, Meg Lewis, who spoke on “The Power of Play.” As she explained, doing things at the speed of fun means that when you have an idea, no matter how silly, do it immediately – before you lose your nerve! As an autistic person, I can overthink everything to within an inch of its life, but I also love applying rules which make sense to me. When you have an idea, go for it at the speed of fun is a super easy rule for me to adopt. Thanks Meg!
2. Infographics can be emotional
Information designer Valentina D’Efilippo wowed me with her keynote “Beyond the Chart: The art of transforming data into knowledge.” She showed how effective visual encoding can offer a new perspective and make new information really clear. The reader doesn’t just see an infographic – they deeply sense the implication of the data, enabling them to take transformative action. Valentina’s “Poppy Field” from The Infographic History of the World, is a moving example, using a symbol of remembrance to represent every war of the last century – and reveal the greater truth, that we do not live in peace.
3. Great brands feel like a person
Yo Santosa gave a really entertaining keynote on “Emotion, Identity and the Courage to Grow Forward“, sharing what she’s learned over a long career as Brand Matchmaker & Founder & Creative Director at Ferroconcrete. It was easy to see why Yo has been nominated for an Emmy three times! She shared how humans seek brands that are the most advanced, yet acceptable, choice. We all have different personal reasons for loving the brands we do, rooted in our identity, emotions and values. Great brands shift and grow with their customers. These brands feel like a person – and they make us feel more like ourselves.
4. Beautiful design can change lives
As if it isn’t obvious: I am not a designer. I am a hyperlexic autistic with a 20-year career as a writer, editor and translator. I was never talented in art at school and have not dabbled in it as an adult. But after two days with pattern designer and illustrator Catalina Estrada at DesignThinkers, my mind is opening.
Catalina’s keynote “Dare to Make It Matter: Stop creating for likes, start creating for change” was inspirational, delving into the beautiful work she has done to support good causes, including CaroYacu, an educational project delivering school kits to Indigenous children in the Amazon every year. Her intricate patterns inspired by the jungle and river have been transformed into scarves to help fund the project and recreated on special notebooks for the children, which she helped to deliver herself.
4a. I actually can create meaningful art
On the second day, I attended Catalina’s workshop “Stop Overthinking, Start Creating: Shut your mind up and take action.” I wasn’t sure what to expect and was nervous as all hell, but hoped for the best. The session was hands on right away, as Catalina demonstrated how we could create stamps from some sponge, cardboard and pens – and use them to create our own images of the jungle and its creatures. She shared some stamps already made by her own children’s classmates to get us started – I took a leaf.
Then the creation started. I was lost. A creative task with no guidance, other than jungle, stamps and a leaf? But I had to dive in. No time for overthinking. I had to go with my first idea. At the speed of fun.
So I created an octopus stamp, inspired by the neurodivergent community, then a geometric shape inside a circle, following a desire to draw round shapes, but also yearning for some MC Escher-style geometry, and finally a turtle shell, in honour of my love for these beautiful ocean creatures. Stamps made, I set about applying them to the page – and a strange thing happened.
Little by little, even though I started with no particular intention, the scene took on shape and meaning. It became a picture of myself as a little octopus, looking out wide eyed into the jungle around me, with the sea beneath my feet, turtles protecting me, and the leaves of the forest connecting me with the world. Catalina had managed to make me take action and create meaningful art that I love. I still can’t believe it.
5. Declare your audacious dreams
Executive Creative Consultant and author of “The Art of Direction“, Vincent Wanga, was one of the best speakers of DesignThinkers, clearly driven to give us real takeaways and actionable tools. In his keynote on “Unlocking Creative Audacity“, he dropped so much wisdom, I think I’ll have to buy his book. As he shared with us: Vision comes from the top down, while innovation comes from the bottom up. Develop a bold vision. Focus on how, not when. Make sure you’re solving a problem. If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go with partners. Declare your dreams, plan backwards and execute.
So here we go – declaring my dreams. I want to publish a book. Watch this space!
DesignThinkers is organized by The Association of Registered Graphic Designers (RGD), Canada’s biggest professional association for graphic design professionals, including company owners, freelancers, managers, in-house designers, educators, students, and, at least for now, me.