Portfolio Interview

Regular and atypical applicants are required to undergo the written test portion of the Registered Qualification Examination in addition to the portfolio interview. Seniority applicants are exempt from the written test portion of the exam, except for the Rules of Professional Conduct section (as of April 26, 2008) and this section has a 75% passing mark. Seniority applicants must also undergo the portfolio interview.

Portfolio Interview candidates are interviewed for 25 minutes by three R.G.D. reviewers. Candidates bring 6 pieces of work (in original format) that demonstrate a range and quality of achievement in one or more of the following professional areas: (1) Design Practice (2) Design Education and (3) Design Management.

All candidates are assessed on their ability to articulate their role in the projects presented, and the processes used to establish goals and to arrive at the final product. Projects from the design education and management fields are recognized as valid and equivalent evidence of professional attainment, demonstrating the application of design knowledge and abilities.

Written Rationales

Candidates must submit in advance on a specific date a written rationale for each of the six portfolio pieces that will be presented at the interview. It must include an account of the problem, the design objective and the solution.

Details on the preparation and evaluation of portfolios are included in the Handbook for the Registered Graphic Designers Qualification Examination. Download it now. Below are examples of written rationales submitted by candidates who passed the R.G.D. Qualification Examination:

Manager Rationales
Patrick Robinson R.G.D. (Bacardi Breezers; Harvey’s; Nordica Cottage Cheese; K&G; Family Channel; A Marca Bavaria)
Marawan El-Asfahani R.G.D. (Constellation Energy: NEO Web Tutorial; Excapsa Software: Annual Report; Motoretta: Complete Brand Design; adidas: Equipment Line - Global Retail Campaign; Bier Markt" Culinary Advertising Campaign)

Educator Rationales
Arlene Gould R.G.D. (Design Matters: DIAC Design Industry Study; Design for Sustainability - Case Study Research Project; Exchange “Universal Design” Issue; “Marketing Design Services” The Business of Graphic Design: A Professional!s Handbook; Design Management Certificate Program, Ryerson University; Design Management Course, Design Colloquium, Master of Design Program, York University)
Sandra Kedey R.G.D. (Northern Reflections - The Brand; Birks - TV; White Willow; Apotex- Pharmacy First; Ontario College of Art & Design and Barbie; Ontario College of Art & McMaster/Evangel hall))

Practitioner Rationales
Will Hum R.G.D. (Complete brand identity system Terasen Inc; Brand identity, corporate stationery and website pgm Design Associates; 2004 annual report Hudson's Bay Company; 2005 Golf Classic collateral Children's Aid Foundation; 2004 annual report Dundee Reit; Clear Space identity, stationery, promotional material and website)
Gilbert Li R.G.D. (Carte Blanche Book; idea&s, arts and science journal, Faculty of Arts and Science, University of Toronto; art exhibition catalogue, The Institute exhibition; campaign identity for the fundraising event; Alphabet City book series: Trash; Up North:book about Canadian architecture)