Ottawa, Canada

For most of its 50+ year history, professional members of the Society of Graphic Designers of Canada (GDC) have used the honourific MGDC which identified them as Professional Members who have passed a certification process.

Now this designation has changed, to CGD: Certified Graphic Designer. The certification standards review educational background, years of experience, case studies, and endorsement by other Certified Graphic Designers. CGDs are also required to adhere to the GDC Code of Ethics and the GDC Sustainability Principles, which further differentiates CGDs from non-certified graphic designers.

By adopting the new honourific, the GDC is aligning itself with other professions who use clearly understood designations (CA, CGA, CMA, etc.) and their associations who similarly advocate on behalf of their professional members. The GDC’s mandate is to maintain a defined, recognized, competent body of professional graphic designers and to promote high standards of design for the benefit of Canadian industry, commerce, public service, and education.

FYI… all designers on our team at Circle are CGDs.

(Thanks to our co-design partners at Ion Design for summarizing the new designation. Learn more about the designation and the GDC at http://www.gdc.net/)