Finally getting my RGD designation

I've been putting it off for years. But I finally got my designation with the Association of Registered Graphic Designers (RGD) — despite a lot of encouragement from people I respect, especially Bob Hambly, who brought it up more than once. Very kindly, very persistently.

I always brushed it off. Told myself it wasn't necessary, that outcomes mattered more than certifications, that I had my own yardstick and didn't need someone else's. But if I'm being honest, some of that was fear. Fear of coming up short. Fear of not fitting into a standardized box. Fear of being judged by a system I didn't fully trust.

Things have changed. Design — and creative work in general — is at a crossroads. Between AI and automation, shrinking budgets, and the constant pressure to prove value, we need people and organizations willing to advocate for the work, and for the people who do it. I've watched RGD do exactly that over the past few years.

So I decided it was time to stop rationalizing, show a little courage, and start contributing. Late, but glad to be here.