The RGD Branding Awards, held annually by the Association of Registered Graphic Designers, recognize and celebrate the best in branding from Canada and around the world. They are a great opportunity for creatives and business owners to gain international recognition and accept work from large and small studios, firms, in-house teams and students.

I was part of the design team at Significant Other, the branding partner for the 2026 awards. We looked at everything from glitch art and pixel fonts to tangrams, block prints, historical cattle brands and trademarks, and—most notably—textiles and quilting. Quilting and textile art operates within the language of graphic design—geometry, colour relationships, pattern and repetition at scale. Similarly, a design system carries significant visual energy while still feeling refined rather than chaotic. Those graphics paired with bold colours and quirky typefaces, help to create a distinct and vibrant brand for this year's awards.