The Association of Registered Graphic Designers (RGD) was created by an Act of the Ontario Legislature to certify graphic designers who have met a rigorous set of standards that includes documented levels of relevant, professional education and experience, as well as demonstrated competence in the areas of business, design principles, research and theory and ethics through successful completion of a written test and portfolio interview. RGD is the only graphic design association in North America to have this kind of legislation.

RGDs are prepared and capable to function as effective ethical, professional, responsible communications design practitioners, managers and/or educators.

The RGD and Registered Graphic Designer designations are signals of quality and competence to the profession, the public and the government.

The Association's vision is for a graphic design profession that is broadly valued for its contribution to life, commerce and society.

The Association of Registered Graphic Designers (RGD) represents more than 3,700 graphic designers, managers, educators and students.

Association of Registered Graphic Designers

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The Society of Graphic Designers of Canada [1] ratified his draft nationally in May 2000, and it is now used as a template for national graphic design organizations by Icograda, the International Council of Graphic Design Associations [2]. This code was used as template for the code of ethics adopted by Grafill no:Grafill (the Norwegian association of graphic designers) in 2008. His work on implementing codes of ethics for national professional designers associations has spread internationally, 

Graphic Designers of Canada Code of Ethics

He served as the president of the first elected board of the Association of Registered Graphic Designers of Ontario, the Americas' first accredited graphic design organization (established by an Act of the Government of Ontario's Legislature), from 1997 to 1999. He drafted the association's constitution and Rules of Professional Conduct, and authored Ontario's certification examination section on ethics and professional responsibility.

President of Association of Registered Graphic Designers of Ontario

In 2000, he was elected Vice President Ethics of the Society of Graphic Designers of Canada, and is currently National Ethics Chair.

Vice President Ethics of the Society of Graphic Designers of Canada

In 2005, Berman was elected to the board of Icograda, and currently serves as Vice-President and Treasurer, and re-elected for additional terms in 2007 and 2009

Board Member Of Icograda

In 2008, Berman was named a Regional Ambassador for "INDEX: Design To Improve Life: Regional Ambassadors".

Regional Ambassador for INDEX

In 2009, he became the Sustainability Chair of International Council of Graphic Design Associations (Icograda)

Sustainability Chair of Icograda

In April 2009, Berman was named a Regional Representative for North America for the World Summit Awards on e-content, a UNESCO initiative.

Regional Representative for North America World Summit Awards

In October 2009, Berman accepted an appointment as a High Level Adviser of the United Nations Global Alliance for Information and Communication Technologies and Development (UNDESA-GAID) on how design can be used to help fulfill the Millennium Development Goals.

High Level Adviser of the UNDESA-GAID

In May 2011, Berman was appointed an Editorial Board member for POOL Magazine in Pune, India.

Editorial Board member for POOL Magazine

In Fall 2011, Berman was made a special lifetime member of Grafill, the Norwegian society of designers, for his work in establishing a code of ethics for the designers and illustrators of Norway.

Lifetime member of Grafill

He is a National Professional Member of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers and the International Federation for Professional Speakers.

National Professional Member of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers 

In 1999, the Society of Graphic Designers of Canada named him a Fellow (the second youngest to have achieved the country's highest professional standing in this field) for his work on the Code of Ethics, accreditation and other national issues.

AIGA

Icograda

IFPS

EIDD

CAPS

Grafill

RGD Ontario

ADGI

ABC-Australian.mp3

FOREWORD BY ERIK  SPIEKERMANN How did design help choose a president?Why are people buying houses they cannot afford?Why do U.S. car makers now struggle to compete? Why do we really have an environmental crisis? Design matters. Like never before.   Disarming the weapons of mass deception. Designers create so much of what we see, what we use, and what we experience. In this time of unprecedented environmental, social, and economic crises, designers can choose what their young profession will be about: inventing deceptions that encourage more consumption—or helping repair the world.   Do Good Design is a call to action: It alerts designers to the role they play in persuading global audiences to fulfill invented needs. The book outlines a more sustainable approach to both the practice and the consumption of design. All professionals will be inspired by the message of how one industry can feel better about itself by holding onto its principles. In this provocative and dramatically-illustrated book, David Berman offers a powerful and hopeful message for all designers.  Today, everyone is a designer. And the future of civilization is our common design project.   Do Good Design is an AIGA Design Press book, published under Peachpit's New Riders imprint in partnership with AIGA. The author will make a donation of 10% of his proceeds to a not for-profit organization whose mission is in alignment with the goals of this book.

Do Good Design: How Designers Can Change the World

It used to be that the only way to comply with Web accessibility standards for persons with disabilities or difficulties was to publish content in HTML. One of the most exciting parts of the new Standard On Web Accessibility and WCAG 2.0 is that it has become feasible for you to choose PDF as the only container for certain content on your Web site ... but only if you know how. We've worked with Adobe and accessibility experts T-Base Communications to put together this comprehensive and powerful book, where readers gain immediately-applicable tips and techniques to make PDF files that are more accessible. De-mystify how to make PDF accessible whether your source is Word, Excel, Powerpoint, InDesign... or existing PDF! Sometimes the best way to provide content in an accessible format is to choose PDF, whether to reduce costs, or to share knowledge and processes more effectively. Most adults suffer from some level of disability or difficulty that can be mitigated through accessible technologies. And when we design for the extremes, everyone benefits. Not only will you comply with the standards (Section 508, WCAG 2.0, Standard On Web Accessibility, AODA, ...): you'll be broadening the audience for your content while enriching the experience of existing users.

Accessible PDF By Design | Leaving No Content Behind

Learn the successful and straightforward methodology that has helped hundreds of organizations get the results from their communications projects that help fulfill their missions. Readers gain hands-on experience as they learn the principles of applying strategic techniques in marrying project implementation to organizational objectives. Read this manual from David Berman's course to learn a step-by-step system that will apply a strategic approach to planning any communications project. David's celebrated approach addresses strategic issues and builds buy-in from everyone along the way, resulting in solutions that don't just work right: they get the right things done.

You will become more valuable to your organization by equipping yourself with a strategic tool. The result will reduce organizational risk and personal stress, avoid hurdles, and optimize measurable results. With a strong strategic framework, you'll get the results you deserve.

It is not enough to have great design: we need great design that gets the right things done. Including strategy in your design process will make you a more valuable designer.

Sustainable Strategy: Quadruple-Bottom-Line Design Thinking

In a world of mobile apps, tweets, and status updates, some sites thrive while others flounder. Is your Web presence lagging behind?

David Berman wants you to have the Web presence you deserve. He's been a senior strategist for Canada's three largest Web presences, and advises the United Nations... and he has a passion for sharing knowledge: he's presented in over 20 countries on how the Web can improve our world.

In this manual, David Berman will personally share the systematic framework he's developed over 15 years of Web experience, that will help both your Web presence and your career. Without a strategic system, no matter how many hours you labour, you'll fall further behind, waste resources and opportunity. Plan for social media, search engine optimization, accessibility, and most importantly, success.

Perfecting Your Web Strategy 2.0

De-mystify accessibility standards! Most adults suffer from some level of disability or difficulty that can be mitigated through accessible Web site design. When we design for the extremes, everyone benefits.

Whether you are new to accessibility and WCAG, or already familiar with WCAG 1.0, by using the immediately-applicable tips and techniques you'll learn in this powerful accessibility manual, not only will you comply with the standards (Section 508, WCAG 2.0, Standard On Web Accessibility, AODA): you'll be broadening the audience for your Web site while enriching the experience of all your visitors. David Berman will convince you of why accessibility and standards are important for everybody, then provide in-depth familiarity with federal and international guidelines that will help your Web presence be a more effective resource for your entire audience. You'll also gain familiarity with technologies that help people with specific disabilities and difficulties.

The new Standard on Web Accessibility: WCAG 2.0 / Easy Steps for Including Your Entire Audience

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A New Format For Canadian Legislation

David Berman, FGDC, R.G.D. is a thought leader and author who helps organizations get great things done, through the motivation and techniques he provides for applying strategy, design, ethics, accessibility, and creative branding and communications to business problems.
He was recently appointed a high-level advisor to the United Nations on how accessible design thinking can help accelerate the Millennium Development Goals.
He has over 30 years of experience in design and strategic communications, including Web design, environmental graphics, airport signage systems, wayfinding design, and software interface development.
As an expert speaker, facilitator, communications strategist, graphic designer, typographer and ethics chair, his thought-provoking speaking and professional development engagements have brought him to over 40 countries.
David is internationally-acclaimed for presenting keynotes, workshops, seminars, and books that change attitudes. He also provides custom on-site training, consultation, and one-on-one coaching. David makes the complicated fun, understandable and memorable.
David has been called the "David Suzuki of design". Since 1984, David worked to establish a code of ethics which embraces social responsibility for designers throughout Canada. The Society of Graphic Designers of Canada ratified his draft nationally in May 2000, which has been adopted as an international model by Icograda, the world body for communication design.
David is a senior strategic consultant to many of Canada's largest Web sites. His clients include IBM, the International Space Station, the Canadian government, the World Bank, and the Aga Khan Foundation.
He served as the first elected president of the Association of Registered Graphic Designers of Ontario, North America's first accredited graphic design organization, from 1997 to 1999. He drafted the association's constitution and Rules of Professional Conduct and authored Ontario's accreditation examination section on ethics and professional responsibility. In 1999, the Society of Graphic Designers of Canada named him a Fellow for his work on the Code of Ethics, accreditation and other national issues. In 2000, he was elected Vice-President Ethics of the Society, and has served as National Ethics Chair since 2002. Since 2005, he is also a Vice-President and Treasurer of Icograda, having been re-elected to a second term in October 2007, and a third term in 2009. 


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Vint Cerf

Vice President

Maureen Quirouet

Publishing Professional

It used to be that the only way to comply with Web accessibility standards for persons with disabilities or difficulties was to publish content in HTML. Now that PDF is recognized as a legitimate primary format for accessible publishing, there's a need for people to understand what constitutes sufficiently-accessible PDF, and the steps to get there with the least expense and effort. One of the most exciting parts of the new Standard On Web Accessibility and WCAG 2.0 is that it is now feasible for you to choose PDF as the only container for certain content on your Web site . . . but only if you know how. David Berman will convince you that accessibility standards are important for everybody, then provide in-depth familiarity with federal and international guidelines that will help your Web presence be a more effective resource for your entire audience. You'll also gain familiarity with technologies that help people with specific disabilities and difficulties. These courses include a thorough review of pertinent standards to comply with the Canadian government's new Standard on Web Accessibility, Ontario's AODA regulations, WCAG 2.0 Level AA, and Section 508.

David Berman on the new Standard On Web Accessibility WCAG 2.0 events

David Berman on planning time for interruptions in a well-balance, goal-focussed day (Nortel, Ottawa, November 2006). For more, visit www.davidberman.com or planorbeplanned.com .

David Berman: "Expect The Unexpected"

David Berman (www.davidberman.com/about) speaks about communications design and social responsibility at the Icograda Design Week in Hong Kong, January 2006. Video by Don Ryun Chang. Editing by Dan Hayes.

Berman on Design And Social Responsibility in Hong Kong

Mousharaka! Break time at Icograda Design Week in Doha, March 2009. Watch Malaysian Muhamad Tamyez and Canadian David Berman collaborate as they update the centuries-old Greetings to the Aliens of Planet Earth :)

Greetings from Doha!

SCAD-plans-revitalization-of-Waters-Ave-WTOC.mp4

Opening portion of Designing With A Purpose sold out full-day seminar by David Berman at Oslo's Norsk Design (Norwegian Design Council), Sept 22 2011, filmed...

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