Inspiration, Innovation, and Collaboration: Inside the Ottawa Design Club's Creative Journey
Renaissance - Zine 0006 - Photo by Maryn Devine
ODC’s motto goes by
“If you like creativity, you’re in the club!”
As a newcomer to Canada, and as a creative person, I am always looking out for chances to resonate and connect with like-minded people. If there is something interesting and intriguing happening in town, why wouldn’t I want to be a part of it?
When I came to know that a friend of mine had been volunteering for the ‘Ottawa Design Club’ I was curious to learn about them. I had the opportunity to attend the ‘Beyond the Mark’ event, and upon reaching the event, I immediately felt the liveliness of the crowd and everyone's excitement. From the moment the event started I was completely hooked. I lost track of time as each speaker came forward to the stage and shared their journey, I was fascinated and moved by how art affected each one differently. The event concluded with a panel discussion where the audience directly interacted with the speakers.
The itinerary of the event was simple, yet perfectly organized, and carried out the theme effortlessly. The amount of effort that Ariane and Izzy had put into the event really inspired me, and when I was given a chance to know more about them I was over the moon!
The Interview
With an aim to walk down memory lane with the founders of ODC, I asked Ariane and Izzy about their memories of the early days, and they shared their inspiring journey of how ODC was put into action.
Let’s think, ponder and get inspired…
How did the idea of the Ottawa Design Club come about? Was it a lightbulb moment or more of a gradual realization?
Izzy:
Back in the summer of 2019, I was sipping a cocktail at the Darling Bistro in Montreal. Suddenly, I was invited by pure coincidence by one of my IG contacts (now friend) Sergio Vega Perry. He was inviting me to attend the Montreal Design Club, Print edition.
Intrigued, I decided to check it out! Visiting a community event when you are from another city is always scary.
When I walked in the space, the energy was welcoming and I immediately felt at home! There were some activities, food and drinks and a lot of networking. I was blown away. I left with a phone full of new contacts; I was energized and inspired.
Ariane:
I had never been to a Montreal Design Club event but had been following them on social media for a while when I saw them share a post about the Ottawa Design Club. I had been yearning to find a design community locally (or even start one myself) so I immediately jumped on the occasion and offered my help. A few weeks later, I had been titled co-founder and dove right in. The credit of starting the club is 100% Izzy’s but I’m glad I saw that post when I did.
Design clubs are a unique concept. What motivated you both to start one in Ottawa specifically? Were there any specific needs or gaps in the design community that you wanted to address?
Izzy:
When I decided to start the Ottawa Design Club, I was driven by the realization that Ottawa lacked a dedicated space focused on design. I recognized a need for a community where design could take center stage, and I believed that if I felt this need, others might too.
The club was born out of the desire to create a space that celebrated all facets of design, going beyond just graphic design. We wanted to provide a platform where individuals from diverse design disciplines could come together, share their passions, and explore the broader meaning and impact of design in our lives.
Through our initiative, we wanted to offer a place where individuals could freely ask questions, share knowledge, and geek out about design. Design is a constantly evolving field, and by fostering, we mean a community that embraces curiosity and continuous learning.
Additionally, we wanted to emphasize the importance of networking within the creative community. We felt that there was a big divide between people with creative careers, either working in-house, for an agency or freelance. Everyone deserves a space where they feel a sense of belonging. We wanted to create an environment where individuals could connect with others who share their passion for design, fostering a supportive and inspiring atmosphere.
Ariane:
As a designer working in-house, I always felt like I didn’t quite “belong” when I attended local creative events. My goal when joining the Ottawa Design Club core team was to make sure we would treat every single person with the same level of respect and feature people from all backgrounds. I always say it doesn’t matter to us if you work for the government or if you work for the best agency in town, you are in the club!
Zine 0006 Launch - Photo by Curtis Perry
What were the biggest challenges you faced when launching the Ottawa Design Club, and how did you overcome them? Any memorable stories you'd like to share?
Izzy:
There were so many challenges, I can’t even keep count. One thing is for sure, we are getting great at pivoting and making the best of the situation.
We had to cancel our first event due to the covid-19 lockdown. We had a lot of printing issues with Zine 0002 - Pop Culture. When looking for sponsors we often send emails into a void. Most recently we were rejected by the Canada Arts Council saying they don’t see design as an art form.
One of our biggest challenges was our event and Zine 0005 - Collaboration launch. Two out of three speakers fell ill, hours before our event. We couldn’t cancel or postpone our event because everything was already in motion (food, sponsors, room location etc.). Thankfully, we could fall back on the zine launch. Sandra Ngenge Dusabe was not only a speaker that night but also one of the curators of the Zine 0005 alongside Priya Gurnani. We asked them if they would like to be on an open mic panel and discuss the art/design/zine curation. They both accepted and saved the day! Some attendees told us this event was just as fun as our regular program, and because of it, we are brainstorming ways to have more panel discussions at our events.
Unfortunately, speakers canceling their engagements happen more often than we like to admit. Thankfully we are getting good at pivoting!
The design industry is constantly evolving.
How do you keep the Ottawa Design Club relevant and in tune with the latest trends and innovations in the design world?
Izzy:
Having my design studio (IP Design), I feel like I have no choice but to stay aware of what is happening. I personally look at people's behaviour a lot. Maybe this is the strategist in me, but if you truly listen, people will tell you exactly what they want. For example, our Zine 0003 - RAW was inspired by the honesty and feelings people were going through during the pandemic. There was also a big shift where people showed up more authentically. Even the Instagram super polished posts were disappearing from the grid. People were looking to connect on an emotional level.
We do the same with our events. When we attend other creative events, we are very observant, listen to the conversations/questions people ask, and try to fill the gaps with what we put out. Our Beyond the Mark - Event 0007 was inspired because we felt the community sought answers on creating impact with their craft. With our most recent event, we took a risk and dared to talk about the double-edged sword of creativity and mental health. We felt like our audience wanted more than friction and success stories. They also wanted vulnerability and to be seen.
I think relevancy is more important than trends, but we need to look the part with the communication and products we put out. But when I need inspiration, I personally like to look at IG, Behance, Type One, It’s Nice That, design conferences and, of course, Adobe Live.
Ariane:
The perk of being a passionate designer is that it isn’t hard to stay in tune with what is happening in the design world. If I hand you my phone and you have a peek at my Instagram feed, that’s pretty much all you will see! Being part of our target audience definitely helps us get a feel for what our attendees might be interested in.
But beyond the innovations and design trends, we are much more interested in people and their stories. Creating that connection between the speaker and the audience is what we care the most about when organizing our speaker events, and the people we meet keep blowing us away.
Beyond the Mark crowd - Photo by Curtis Perry
What strategies did you employ to engage and grow the design community in Ottawa? Any initiatives or events that really helped you connect with people?
Izzy:
I’ve noticed that Ottawa is timid, and speaking to other clubs, we seem to have to work harder to bring people into one space. Therefore, we focus on the ambiance and the feeling of being in the space at an ODC event. This strategy works for every individual, initiative, business… you name it… because people will remember how they felt before remembering the content or offer. If you focus on your lasting impact or making them feel good, odds are they will want to come back and even become an advocate for you.
This is why we put a big emphasis on what is happening during our networking hours. We want to make sure everyone feels seen and heard. We have volunteers who we call ‘social butterflies,’ their task is to go and talk to people who might be a bit shy and scared to network. They are tasked to make them feel at ease and go to crowds and introduce themselves. It’s always easier to network with other people. We also don’t want the social butterflies to be identified as volunteers, so we don’t give them a badge. We want it to be seamless and organic.
To us this task is THE most important to create the ODC experience.
We also make sure to have a different activity that connects the event's theme to the audience. This also ensures the audience is in the proper mindset to hear the presentation from the speakers. It is also a good way to connect and maybe share the work/ideas with someone you don’t know who’s also doing the activity.
How do you choose your speakers for your events?
Izzy:
Last year, we would decide on a theme, draft a list of the people who we feel would be best at speaking on the topic, and interview them to see if they are a right fit. We would typically interview between 5-7 speakers to select 2-3 for the events.
We changed this model for 2024 as we did feel stuck a few times last year. We have interviewed and set expectations with over 25 potential speakers to create a roster. This will make it easier to create our event themes and figure out their availabilities.
We are very selective with our speakers. Their point of view and takeaways are important to us. We focus on knowledge, lessons and inspiration. It can’t be a simple portfolio review or timeline because that doesn’t bring value and doesn’t always resonate with the audience. We have also started to experiment with different storytelling models.
Once our speakers are selected, we go through 3 meetings. The first one is the brainstorming phase, where we select an angle for the talk. The second is the first rehearsal. Usually, the talk isn’t fully fleshed out at that point, and there’s room for feedback and conceptualization. The last rehearsal is with all the speakers involved in the event. This allows them to get to know each other and develop synergy.
No matter what, we keep the audience in mind to ensure there’s value in the talks. At the end of the day, the talks are for them, so our job is to make sure the talks will connect.
Ariane:
It's been an important shift to keep a list of potential speakers updated as we meet or learn about interesting people in the creative industry. It has saved us a few times!
Stories that Matter activity - Photo by Finn
Could you describe a little about ODC’s Zine to our readers? And its various perks.
Izzy and Ariane:
I feel the community is still discovering our zines. There’s so much to be said about them and we never know how much information is too much or not enough.
We describe our zines as mini-printed group exhibits. We have a theme and we like to explore the subject through the eyes of multiple creatives.
In this sense, the zines are an extension of the club's offering. Since the club's main mission is to connect creatives, we see the zines as a connecting tool. It’s a way to showcase the work of creatives for readers to discover. We also hope the readers will connect and have deeper conversations/connections with the people that are being featured.
We also see the zine as a way to put Ottawa on the map as a creative hub. We’ve noticed that Ottawa likes to tell Ottawa that it’s a creative city… but we need to have those conversations outside our radius. This is precisely why it’s important for us to feature people outside our city. By sending the zine to other big hubs, we start to have eyes on Ottawa and hopefully change the conversation about our creative status.
We also wanted to re-invent the reading experience by adding multi-sensorial experiences. By adding music, tastes and smells we can amplify the storytelling of each zine therefore giving a bigger platform to the creatives that are featured.
We are happy to announce that our 2024 call for submissions will be launched during our first speaker event, Twisted by Design. This year, we're embracing the abstract, challenging the community to stretch their imagination and interpret the theme in ways that are uniquely theirs. The anticipation is palpable, and we're on the edge of our seats, eager to witness the creative interpretations that will unfold.
Can you share some examples of successful collaborations you've facilitated between designers or with other organizations? Any particular project that stands out?
Izzy:
The first one that comes to mind is our On Set-Mindset workshop, a 50/50 collaboration with Studio20/20. The workshop was a great success as we paired the ODC model of our previous workshop Mystery Box with the beautiful shooting space of Studio20/20. Attendees were given a brief and needed to create a photoshoot set using the assets in the space. They had 30 minutes to put everything together, and after, we would walk around and critique the sets. Some attendees volunteered to model in the set, allowing kickass pictures.
Another big collaboration I can think of is with SweetCheeks Kitchen. Every time they offer us goodies, they match the taste to the profile of the events. I love how they understood what we’re trying to do with our zines and are contributing (and elevating) the ODC experience.
Of course, I have to mention our zine. Zine 0005 - Collaboration inspired by our own mission to the creative community. We wanted to see what the community would do if we prompted them to work together. We have been blown away by the results.
As we wanted to follow our own guidelines, we decided to collaborate with Debaser. We felt that their music events and Pique festival were an excellent marriage with our multi-sensorial zine experience. It’s been really fun to work with them and discover new musical artists.
Recently we had the pleasure of working with Wall Space Gallery for the launch of our latest zine Renaissance. They helped us to put up an exhibition of some of the featured work in their space.
We have also teamed up with Gilmore Reproductions to print our latest zine, issue 0006. Their commitment to excellence raised the bar for quality and aligned perfectly with our vision. As designers, the opportunity to play with neons, golds, silvers, and spot gloss opened up a new realm of creativity for us. But it didn't stop there; Gilmore supported our events, ensuring that each space was transformed to reflect our events' aesthetic.
And those are a few of many collaborations. We are always open to collaborating with people and organizations. If you have an idea, please share it with us!
ODC Cheer tradition - Photo by Finn.
Have you seen any remarkable transformations or success stories that can be attributed to the Ottawa Design Club's influence?
Ariane:
Looking back, it’s exciting to think about how much we have had an impact on our community already!
I’ll start with the simplest but most important to us: the friendships that were created. Whether they be virtual friendships between some of the people that joined our online workshops during the pandemic or people that have met in person at our events, it’s incredible to see friendships forming between like-minded individuals because of the club. It’s very easy for a lot of creatives to become very isolated and creating connections is really our core purpose.
Another big one is the creation of the New York Design Club. Yes, that’s right! New York [City] was inspired by Ottawa to create their own version of the Design Club. Izzy was instrumental in helping them get their gears going and we are excited to see what they create for the community in New York!
Finally, I have to give a shout out to every single one of our speakers and to every person that has applied or has been featured in our zines. As creatives, it’s a huge deal to put ourselves out there and be vulnerable and that is an achievement we should not overlook.
Izzy:
Our zines are gaining momentum. Zine 0005 - Collaboration was noticed for its design, it got an editorial ribbon on Behance (which is a big design achievement and recognition).
We also got the chance to sell our zines in the coolest magazine shop called Issues located in Toronto. This was a great opportunity to put Ottawa on the map and be part of the conversation.
As Ariane mentioned, I had the pleasure of going to NYC this September to help the New York Design Club with their first in-person event. It’s been a journey to share all of our knowledge and learnings. Most of all, we wanted to make sure they understood our brand as we want to maintain a level of consistency with all of our sister chapters. I can say that NYDC executed their event perfectly and I felt like I was in Ottawa hosting one of our events. This was definitely a big moment for me.
Whether we have small or big successes, every collaboration are a step forward to achieving our mission and living our purpose.
Are there any specific designers, artists, or even places that have greatly influenced your own design journeys? Any hidden gems you'd like to share?
Ariane:
Fran Meneses (frannerd) for her exquisite colour palette and vulnerability (watch her Youtube videos if you need to unwind!)
Jessica Hische for her incredible skill and attention to detail. She is always learning something new and isn’t scared of speaking the truth. She is proof that caring is cool. Don’t cut corners.
Finally, Charli Prangley is a design Youtuber that I recommend to anyone working in Marketing design. Although she works mostly on web design, I really love the videos she does on her salary and income. So valuable to any designer working in-house.
In terms of resources, I highly recommend the 2 blogs by UnderConsideration. I’ve been reading the blogs by UnderConsideration for years and they never disappoint.
Brand New is a blog that chronicles and provides opinions on corporate and brand identity work. It’s so good. Don’t skip the comments section.
In-house In-focus highlights the work and the people of in-house design, communication, and brand teams from companies around the world.
I honestly could go on and on so if you are looking for recommendations, don’t hesitate to reach out!
Izzy:
What Ariane shared is great! I would add to diversify your sources from time to time to allow some design growth. Also, ask yourself some questions when you look at creative work. Question yourself, how was it made, what is it communicating, and what are people’s reactions to it? Never stop questioning what you see.
As founders, what is your vision for the Ottawa Design Club's future? Any exciting plans or goals you have in mind that you can reveal to us?
Izzy:
This is such a hard question to answer because I feel like we are still figuring it out. Our vision for the future is continually evolving as we navigate the growth and development of our community. Since our first in-person event in May 2022, we have been learning and experimenting with our yearly agenda, shaping our plans based on the feedback and needs of our audience.
One important aspect of our vision is to strike the right balance with our programming. We initially had to make the difficult decision to slow down our zine production, as we found it was taking a significant amount of our attention and wanted to focus on our speaker events. However, now that we have refined our event process and gained more experience, we felt confident in restarting our zine production. We have decided to produce one zine per year with its own launch event. We are still trying to find the right balance for us and our audience.
We envision hosting four to six speaker events throughout the year, and producing one high-quality zine annually. We believe this combination of speaker events, zine publication and launch event will provide a well-rounded experience for our audience
As our core team continues to grow and gain expertise, we may have the capacity to expand our initiatives even further. We are open to exploring new opportunities, partnerships, and collaborations that align with our mission and benefit our community. While we can't predict the future with certainty, we are dedicated to adapting and evolving to meet the changing needs and aspirations of our members.
Creative Pursuits crowd - Photo by Finn
Since your graduation and now, what do you think has changed/evolved in the design field? (Opportunities and recognition available for creative professionals)
Izzy:
I’m sure we all have our personal opinions about this; in the past, when I graduated (in 2011), there was often skepticism or doubts about the practicality of my degree. People would question what I could do with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree. I also encountered situations where I was turned down in job interviews for being "too creative" or "too ambitious." It seemed that creativity and ambition were not always valued or understood in certain professional contexts.
However, over time, there has been a notable shift in the perception and appreciation of design and creative professionals. Today, the demand for innovative and forward-thinking solutions has become essential due to the rapid pace of technological advancements and the changing landscape of industries. The presence of AI and other emerging technologies has transformed the way we live and work. This has created a necessity for professionals who can ride the wave of change and think creatively to address complex problems.
Ariane:
When I applied to the graphic design program, I didn’t even really know what it was. I was 18 and had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. My brother was studying advertising at the time and I remember thinking his graphic design projects sounded like a lot of fun. I still remember the first day when they showed us what the Adobe programs were, I actually had no idea.
I feel like graphic design has gained so much popularity in the last 10 years and I believe it’s tied to the beginnings of content creation on social media. Eye-catching visuals and good branding became essential for any company wanting to connect with their audience. Beyond that, everyone is doing design!! Whether it’s good or bad, people are playing around creating Youtube thumbnails and curating their personal brand online every day.
This shift has definitely created more opportunities for designers in the workplace as companies see the importance of their visual identity. On the other hand, I’ve definitely seen too many job postings looking for Unicorns that can do everything from writing content, to logo designs, to web programming. We are losing a bit of that expertise.
What are some of the key qualities that you think are essential for success as a design entrepreneur?
Izzy:
You won’t like this answer... But honestly, a business mindset. I haven’t met a lot of creatives who both have a creative and business mindset. The good news is you can learn how to have both mindsets. There are tons of resources to monetize your creative business.
I’d say it took me over two years to feel confident in my business after starting it. I can also say now that I have learned many strategies and tools to help me elevate my business. When you truly start to see a difference, you can also put their strategies and tools in place for your client and your OWN business. Practice what you preach… the best social proof there is…
If having a creative business is what you really want to do for your career, don’t quit at the first sign of friction. I can’t count the number of times that ‘shit’ got difficult. Look at the bigger picture. Friction is normal. You can’t have all the answers and run a smooth-sailing business overnight (I wish!). If you want to talk business, I’m just a quick email away.
Finally, what do you see as the future of design and the creative industry, and how Ottawa Design Club will contribute to that?
Izzy:
In terms of the future of design and the creative industry, the rapid advancements in AI and other emerging technologies introduce a level of uncertainty. The possibilities are vast and unpredictable. I firmly believe that the role of design and the creative industry will continue to be essential and influential in shaping the future.
The Ottawa Design Club aims to contribute to this future by staying on top of these changes and embracing them alongside our community. As the design landscape evolves, we will adapt our programming to and engage in meaningful conversations so we can reflect and grow together.
Ariane:
Like Izzy said, the arrival of AI in the creative industry is going to change our landscape dramatically. But just like the arrival of design softwares changed what design looked like in the 80s, I am confident we will adapt to this new reality.
I also think that spaces like the ones we create with the Ottawa Design Club will be crucial for human connection and exchange. We want to take part in the discussion!
As we come to the end of this power packed interview, it's clear that their commitment to design, community, and the pursuit of excellence is nothing short of inspiring. Let’s take simple cues from them and bring our ideas to life!
Do not forget “If you like creativity, you’re in the club!” [wink]
Ariane Bedard, Jared Lebel, Corinne Blouin, Ava Margueritte, Izzy Poirier - Photo By Finn