Resources

The GDC community has developed a wealth of amazing resources and tools that are useful for all designers.

For Designers
Branding
Typography
Education + Students
For Business
Ethics
Books + Links

Know of a useful tool, or great resources we should have in our library? Contact us!

This page, and linked GDC pages have been curated by: Peggy Cady, FGDC, Karen Jager CGD, Adrian Jean CGD

GDC Publications

Dealing With "Spec" Work

Professional designers should be compensated fairly for their work.

CGD Certification Case Study Review Criteria

Please review this criteria before submitting your application for CGD Certification.

Creative Earners Salary Surveys Archive

Survey of Salaries and Billing Practices.

Accessibility Design

Resources on accessibility issues and designing for people with a range of capabilities

Case Studies: Do Yours Win Business?

When you're preparing a presentation to a prospective client, do you throw the case studies in at the last minute? How important are case studies? We count the ways...

Design Case Studies Worth Studying

How to Write a Case Study

Don't miss this step in your work

GDC Listserv

First launched in May 1997 as a way for designers to share ideas and techniques, the GDC Listserv continues to function today as an open forum for design and creativity for designers from all over the world.

External Resources

Graphic Standards and Branding Resources

Online resources with tips on creating graphic standards and branding guidelines

Copyright, Trademarks and Patents

Free tools and resources for professional practising graphic and communication designers.

Having Character

You’ve known the names of letters and numbers since you were a little kid. But did you realize that every part of those characters have names, too?

Typography Books

Recommendations and comments by GDC Listserv members

Typography Resources

Sites for everything type-related

An A-Z Guide to Student Awards

We've compiled a list of organizations accepting entries for a variety of different awards for you!

GDC National Scholarships

GDC Foundation Scholarships application deadline May 1, 2021

Mentoring Guide

Graphic Design: A Guide For Buyers

Connecting with the right creative professional is more about partnership than consulting.

What is Graphic / Communication Design

Graphic designers help to achieve communication goals...

A Guide for Interns, Studios and Agencies

Internships can be a valuable to the foundation of a professional career in graphic or communication design. Here are some tips for interns & studios to get the most out of an internship experience.

Unpaid Internships: A survival guide for designers and studios

The GDC sees paid internships as a useful part of a designer’s education and path to professional practice.

Writing a Project Rationale: A guide for students

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

Educators’ Bookmarks

Sites of Interest to Design Educators

Help grow design education in Canada…

…and get a great typeface while you’re at it!

Defining the value of design

Designers know the value of the design — but how can this value be articulated and understood by those outside of the industry?

Graphic Design: A Guide For Buyers

Connecting with the right creative professional is more about partnership than consulting.

What is Graphic / Communication Design

Graphic designers help to achieve communication goals...

Copyright, Trademarks and Patents

Free tools and resources for professional practising graphic and communication designers.

How to Write Copy That Sells

Designers who produce marketing materials will know that design and copy should be developed together to work well.

How to Write a Press Release

Contacting the media with your story doesn't have to be stressful. If you have an interesting story to tell, a press release will help you to make newspaper editors aware of it.

Tips for Designers: The Ultimate Design Brief

Are you doing your best to make sure you and your client are on the same page?

Making the Go/No Go Decision

Proposal Management Tips

Keep it Legal: IP and Copyright References

A living list of useful intellectual property and copyright online references.

How to Hire a Graphic Designer

Resources for design buyers

Design Contests

Members may not undertake any speculative project or schematic proposals for a project either alone or in competition with others for which compensation will only be received if a design is accepted.

What is Speculative Work?

Speculative design work or spec work is work done without any guarantee of fair market value remuneration or compensation.

Ethics means Professional 24/7

The GDC Code of Ethics saved me a whack of professional time the other day, and its not the first time.

Print Design: Top 5 Links for Designers

Who doesn't love cruising the internet for some new reading material? This month, we are giving you our top websites for print design!

Typography: Top 5 Links for Designers

Who doesn't love cruising the internet for some new reading material? This month, we are giving you our top websites for typography!

Sustainability: Recommended Reading

National Sustainability Committee member favourite publications

Useful Links

From blogs to archives, initiatives and programs here is a regularly curated listing of our favourite links.