On September 10th, the RGD Ontario broadcast a memo to their members announcing the resignation of RGD founder Albert Ng – a man widely regarded as the godfather of Design accreditation in North America – from their board of directors. More importantly though, along with his seat on the board, Albert relinquished his status as an R.G.D. member altogether. One day later, vice-president Jack Mlynek also resigned.

On September 21st, retired RGD member Ivy Li published a letter regarding the resignations.

You can read the official RGD Ontario response to her letter, signed by current President Nicole Vallée and endorsed by 5 Past Presidents, here.

1. Jeremy Stewart Says:
   October 2nd, 2007 at 8:37 am

   I agree with Albert.

   Isn’t the whole point of the organization about standards? If we lose these we have nothing.

2. Cameron Says:
   October 4th, 2007 at 7:07 am

   You never know the whole story, but reading all the letters, something seems a bit rotten.

   Its amazing that as a profession we always try to dumb things down. We don’t really see ourselves as a profession. A profession has standards. We value the artist, the individual who did it on her own. Three cheers for spirit and overcoming adversity. I agree, but you wouldn’t want the self-taught doing your surgery. Maybe we aren’t a profession. Maybe what we do isn’t so important (hanging chads exluded), but the Ontario Government was convinced.

   I think a great example is Registered Massage Therapists. In BC you need a 3 year program to get accredited. You can claim RMT with health providers, or you can get a hot rocks massage. They’re different. RMTs have standards. Long time massagers don’t get grandfathered in. What’s wrong with us?

   I found exactly that problem working on the membership categories for GDC. I despise the argument of the RGD president that because we aren’t licensed like accountants we can’t behave as as rigorously.

   It was also interesting to read in Albert’s letter that RGD has failed in its mandate to help achieve accreditation in other provinces. Indeed they have; As I understand it RGD refused to share exam materials with the Manitoba Accreditation drive, offering to sell them for a price Manitoba couldn’t afford. This was a particular affront as Manitoba (and all GDC members) help finance the creation of RGD Ontario.

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