Vanessa Eckstein RGD

From reconciliation action plans to diplomas issued in nine Indigenous languages, design shapes how institutions and communities recognize, celebrate and sustain Indigenous identity in Canada. The projects featured here span brand identity, information design, community communications and government documents.

Daughter Creative joins the notable group of firms that have taken on the conference branding over its 26-year history. Canada's largest conference for the communication design industry, DesignThinkers gathers visionaries from a variety of disciplines to explore creativity, the design process and the future of design thinking. DesignThinkers 2026 will be held at the Vancouver Playhouse on May 26-27 and Toronto tentatively scheduled for Oct 20-21, both with options for live-streaming.

Often, design is dismissed as something merely decorative—a superficial layer meant to please without deeper meaning. While some projects may fall into this category, such a view is misleading. True design should aim for beauty, not just what is pleasant, fashionable or trendy. Content-driven design also risks falling flat if it lacks beauty. Beauty is not optional; it is essential for us to thrive.