The National GDC is made up of three parts: National Council (elected representatives from all chapters), National Executive (elected from the National Council), and the National Administrator (our only paid employee). These three work together to facilitate the goals of the Society.

National Executive & Council at the 2007 AGM

The National Society:

– provides and promotes national professional certification for MGDC and LGDC members. This credential is transferrable across the country.

– provides members with a Code of Ethics which lays out the designers’s responsibility to their colleagues, clients and the environment. This important document makes members more valuable to their clients.

– advocates on behalf of members against harmful business practices such as speculative work and unfair competition practices.

– provides members with valuable professional documents such as a contract template, copyright information, pro-bono and competition guidelines. - provides members with a membership kit, the prestigious GDC Journal, gdc.net newsletter, GDC eNews.

– provides a National Scholarship programme to support the education of graphic design students.

– provides the national web site to raise awareness of the GDC and the profession, and help employers locate qualified GDC members through the member search function, inform design buyers of appropriate practices, educate and inform members on business & educational matters, provide space for chapters to report, publish articles, activities and membership information; provide a space for members and students to upload their portfolios, provide an active job board to help members find employment opportunities across the country

– provides the GDC Listserv message board to connect designers and provide opportunities for dialog, provides design news, event and awards competition information, professional development articles

– provides career & scholarship information for student members.

– organizes and pays for the GDC National Annual General Meeting so that Chapters have a voice and vote at the national level.

– negotiates sponsorship from major industry sponsors and various printers and paper suppliers. These funds and in-kind contributions support the Scholarship programme, Benevolent Fund, provide paper and printing for publications, and fund special projects.

– provides valuable buying discounts and special offers to save members money - on fonts, images, magazines, books, professional business aids. - negotiates conference discounts for members on the How Design Conference, AIGA Conferences and many others.

– provides member access to ICOGRADA website and Icograda news, through Association membership, where members can download valuable documents such as the Confidentiality Agreement.

– promotes the value of design and professional qualification, through advertising, editorial, advocacy, and connections with other organizations.

– lobbies the government for recognition of the profession and best practices. – maintains the GDC office in Ottawa, our national headquarters and national contact point

– provides a paid national administrator who handles membership dues and other administrative tasks to take the work load off of chapter and national executive volunteers. Contact your Chapter's National Representatives to find out more about the GDC.