Last night I stepped down from my National VP of Communication role with the GDC (Society of Graphic Designers of Canada). I don’t want to make a big deal of things as there are a lot of potential designers in Canada that still have a role to shape the Society for the better. However I was elected to the national board four years too early. Each local chapter in Canada has such a strong roster of leadership that I would have loved the chance to work with them once they move on to National. However like I mentioned my chance came too soon. The GDC is at a critical time for sustainability and I felt that I couldn’t accomplish what I wanted to see for that to happen. It is so sad that that the older generation is happy to leave things as they are and hope that things “just” get better.
Through a private e-mail I was asked this deceptively simple question. “What has your experience with GDC been like?” My response “As for my experience with the GDC, it’s not an easy answer. I’ve been involved since I was a student. First as a student rep, Chapter VP of Education, Chapter President and for a short period National VP of Communications. If I hadn’t been involved I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have gotten this far, so how could that be a bad thing? However there were a lot of hard times with putting up with stuff that I probably wouldn’t have time for now. But I had goals of things that I wanted to accomplish which made the road a lot easier. I also met so many amazing people and had the chance to learn from them that I could never turn my back on a shared value system.”
However I do feel at the current time that the National GDC has a serious technological, strategic and philosophical disconnect with the potential of design. Or maybe it’s just me. Anyways, like I said the National board in four years will be stacked with the current leaders at the local chapters that will bring the GDC the legacy it deserves. As for my next steps, it’s not like I can quite being a part of a design community. I’m starting with the AIGA mentorship program where I’ll get the chance to befriend someone that has a lot ahead of them. Aside from that maybe it’s time to start something new with likeminded people.
