In 1956, a group of dedicated designers met in Toronto to form the Typographic Designers of Canada. Eventually, the need for a truly national organization of Graphic Designers was felt by practitioners in major centres across the country. Thanks to the efforts of a number of dedicated designers and design educators, negotiations between members of the original society, the federal government and designers from every region of the country culminated in the granting of a Federal Charter in 1976, and the Society of Graphic Designers of Canada was born.

GDC celebrated its 50th Anniversary as Canada's national association for graphic design in 2007. Today, the Society's mandate and membership base is much broader than ever before. The GDC is organized into 9 regional chapters representing British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Atlantic Canada and the Arctic. Designers in Quebec are represented by the Societe des Designers Graphiques du Quebec (SDGQ), which has an official affiliation with the GDC. The University and College Designers Association (UCDA) is also affiliated with the GDC. The Association of Registered Graphic Designers of Ontario (RGD Ontario), is an independent provincial association of accredited graphic designers which was legislated into existence in 1996 (previously Ontario consisted of a number of separate Chapters of the GDC which banded together for provincial accreditation).

GDC Membership is comprised of practicing professional graphic designers, design educators, design administrators, design students, associates in related fields and corporate sponsors. Through the Society, members form a network of professional assistance that is a resource to the profession and the public.

The Society provides a communication network among its members for the exchange of information and ideas pertinent to the development of the profession, and to the careers of its professional members. Professional development through access to publications, seminars and current affairs in the design world is a tangible and important benefit to members. Advocacy of the role of design is supported by liaison with federal and provincial agencies, and by promoting design through the media and the Society's own projects such as newsletters, exhibits, catalogues, juried shows for students and professionals.

The Society also provides a reliable source of information on the Canadian design community to students, government, industry and the general public. GDC members determine the evolving role that the Society plays, and provide the required voluntary effort to make things happen.

At the national level, the Society is concerned with actions and issues affecting members of all chapters across Canada. As a self governing body the GDC adopts and sets standards of professional conduct for members; lobbies with federal government departments concerning issues such as taxation, education, and the general advocacy of design; and liaises with the international design community, largely through Icograda (International Council of Graphic Design Associations) of which the Society is a member. The National Council consists of an executive of officers elected bi-annually, and proportional, regional representation from every chapter.

The National Council is responsible for budget planning and determining priorities of national objectives, in response to the interest and direction of the chapters and individual members. It may delegate specific tasks to individuals or committees, but the council remains accountable for the proper functioning, finances, and overall well being of the Society and its chapters.

Elections are held bi-annually by the National Council. The chapters elect their own executive and form committees for their various activities. They also elect at least one representative to the National Council, which then elects the National president and other officers of the Council.

The chapters deal with specific and long term needs of their local members, and interface with educational institutions and provincial governments regarding design education. Personal involvement for most members is concentrated at the chapter level, and most activities are organized by and for members within each region. Membership is administered by the chapters although admission requirements are arrived at nationally. Every chapter is able to generate and modify its own chapter bylaws, and every chapter complies with the requirements set out in the constitution.

In the final analysis, the Society is effective and productive because individual members make it so. It is through the voluntary efforts of individuals and generous donations of sponsors who support the industry, that progress is made. The Society of Graphic Designers of Canada welcomes the membership and participation of designers, design educators, students and associates who share our concerns, and are willing to work to achieve our objectives.

→ Read about GDC's 50th Anniversary.