DesignThinkers Podcast
From the Association of Registered Graphic Designers, this is the DesignThinkers podcast.
DesignThinkers is Canada's largest graphic design conference. Since the year 2000, the Association of Registered Graphic Designers has been bringing together visionaries from a range of disciplines to explore creativity and the design process live and on-stage.
This podcast is an extension of that mission. We’re here to talk about process, creativity and the business of design with past and present DesignThinkers speakers. Join our host, Nicola Hamilton, for candid conversation with creative legends such as Erin Sarofsky, Michael Beirut, Paul Scher, Gail Anderson, Meg Lewis, Christopher Doyle, and so many more.
Follow us on Instagram @rgdcanada or visit us online at rgd.ca. Purchase tickets to the upcoming DesignThinkers conference at designthinkers.com.
DesignThinkers Podcast
Rachel Gogel
This week on the DesignThinkers podcast, I’m joined by Rachel Gogel. Rachel is an independent creative executive shaping the future of design at the intersection of brand, culture, and technology.
After building multidisciplinary teams at places like GQ, The New York Times, Meta, and Godfrey Dadich, Rachel launched her own consultancy in 2020. Since then, she’s worked with everyone from tech giants like Airbnb and Dropbox to smaller purpose-driven, often women-founded ventures.
In this episode, we talk about what it means to lead creatively—without being full-time. Rachel walks us through the rise of fractional leadership, how she designs her own career on her own terms, and why negotiating your worth is a skill every designer should learn. We explore the challenges of showing work that isn’t always visual, and the importance of making space for queer and marginalized voices in the industry.
Whether you’re freelance-curious, burnt out on traditional career paths, or just looking to redefine what success means for you—Rachel’s story will leave you feeling empowered, clear-eyed, and ready to think differently.
Follow us on Instagram @rgdcanada or visit us online at rgd.ca. Purchase tickets to the upcoming DesignThinkers conference at designthinkers.com.
