Society of Graphic Designers of Canada
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| Abbreviation | GDC |
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| Founded | 1956 |
| Founder | Frank Davies, John Gibson, Frank Newfeld, Leslie Smart |
| Type | Professional Association |
| Registration no. | 0994952 |
| Location |
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Area served
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Canada |
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Official languages
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English, French |
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Key people
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President Adrian Jean CGD |
| Affiliations | Icograda |
| Website | gdc |
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Formerly called
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Society of Typographic Designers of Canada |
The Society of Graphic Designers of Canada (GDC) is Canada's national professional graphic design society. The GDC is a member-based organization of design professionals, educators, administrators, students, and associates in communications, marketing, media and design-related fields.
GDC was Canada’s first distinct group to professionalize graphic design as a distinct field.
The GDC was founded in 1956 as the Society of Typographic Designers of Canada, with a statement mission “to build up a professional status by accepting professional responsibilities”, “to encourage printers, publishers and others to help them in their efforts towards higher standards in printed communications“, and “to increase public awareness of the benefits which we all derive from good design and craftsmanship”. In 1968 it changed its name to the Society of Graphic Designers of Canada and created the MGDC (Professional Member) certification.
By the early 1970s, several other design associations had been founded and the GDC was no longer truly national. In 1974, with the help of Design Canada, GDC in Ontario called a meeting in Ottawa to meet with the other associations to discuss establishing a single national presence, and the Council of Regional Representatives was formed. It joined Icograda in the same year, then in 1976 it was incorporated by federal charter.
In September 2010 the GDC adopted membership changes to replace the then-current MGDC and LGDC (Licentiate Member) certifications with a new CGD (Certified Graphic Designer) certification in order to reduce confusion over the meaning of the MGDC designation. The CGD certification mark was registered in 2011.
The GDC has been an advocate and resource for Canada's graphic and communication design profession since 1956. The GDC maintains a national certified body of graphic designers and promotes high standards of graphic design and ethical business practices, for the benefit of Canadian industry, commerce, public service and education.
Through the media, publications, seminars, events, conferences and exhibits, the GDC builds awareness of graphic and communication design and its essential role in business and society.
Since 1960, the GDC has been recognizing as Fellows those designers who make major contributions to Canadian graphic design. Designers who have received the honour include Allan Fleming (1960), Burton Kramer (1975), Chris Yaneff (1983), Paul Arthur (1996), Jim Rimmer (2007), and Mark Busse (2014).
As of July 2014, GDC consists of nine chapters across Canada, facilitating a national, ongoing exchange of ideas and information for designers and students:
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