Design Currency

Design Currency is DesCan’s national platform for design editorial, opinion, and case study. It publishes a range of topics that provide inspiration and knowledge.

Looking to contribute to the national conversation and elevate the Canadian design communications profession? Submit your article to our editorial team: designcurrency@descan.ca

Sustainable Q&A: Erika Rathje

For this sustainable design case study, we interviewed designer Erika Rathje CDP, based in...

Staying Competitive in the Age of AI

By Joseph Mercieca, CDP Although Artificial Intelligence (AI) existed for some time, the AI race...

Sustainable Q&A: Narrative Environments

For this sustainable design case study, we interviewed interdisciplinary designer John deWolf from...

2022 National Indigenous Peoples Day

Today is National Indigenous Peoples Day. It’s celebrated every June 21st, the summer...

Copyright in Canada

Frequently asked questions about graphic design and copyright in Canada. Who owns copyright? The...

A Guide for Interns, Studios and...

Internships can be a valuable component of practical education and help fortify the foundation of a...

Pro Bono Guidelines

How designers can best donate their services to a cause or organization. These guidelines were...

A Necessary Shift: Embracing Research...

Graphic design practitioners are increasingly called upon to develop outcomes that facilitate...

Research on First Nations (Innu-Naskapi)...

Abstract: The following article presents an analysis of painted patterns on caribou skin coats (and...

Marking the National Day for Truth and...

The only way forward is together. Thursday September 30th, 2021 is Canada’s first National Day for...

The Forgotten History of the GO Transit...

Originally published in GDC Journal #7, 2018 Designers are usually the first to take note whenever a...
Brutally Compromised

Brutally Compromised

Originally published in GDC Journal #7, 2018 The tragedy of the common store front sign. Store front...

Writing a Project Rationale: A guide for...

Tips on how to write the who, what, where and why for your design solution. When designers present...

How the Covid-19 Pandemic Can Empower...

In a design landscape littered with requests for unpaid work, Covid-19’s sinister reach has even...

Sustainability: U of M Stops the Presses...

Manitoba’s first Certified B Corporation, Manoverboard is a purpose-driven design firm whose...

Sustainability: Culture, environment at...

Not just ticking the boxes: Backyard Creative brings a sustainable design mindset to designing an...

Sustainability: Print or Digitize it?

Designing to lower impacts Should we print or not print to ease the burden on the environment? It is...

Sustainability: The GermSmart Campaign

A unique approach to hand hygiene We’ve all seen them. The black and white hand washing...

Sustainability: Design illustrates green...

In-house design team at Science World, led by Carolina Becerra, uses design to engage and inform...

Sustainability: Cutting Carbon with...

Seven25. Design & Typography promoted Beat Global Heat’s backyard carbon-cutting concerts...

Sustainability: smashLAB Leveraging...

The designers at smashLAB give credit to their client for the opportunity to make an impact online...

Best Practices for Inclusive and Diverse...

This valuable article on best practices for using photography to accurately include those...

Sustainability: Engaging Community with...

Steven Cretney’s approach to sustainable design starts by selecting clients and projects that help...