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Our commitment to supplier diversity and working with community organizations

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Supplier diversity and community engagement are key aspects of delivering inclusive products and services.

We intentionally seek out diverse and inclusive suppliers and service providers and continue to demand more of the suppliers and clients we work with.

As part of our core value of inclusion, we collaborate with organizations and individuals from underrepresented groups, as well as supporting organizations with explicit policies around equity and inclusion.

It’s key for us that the organizations we work with are ethical, diverse, and inclusive in their service offerings and their internal practices.

In addition to seeking out and working with diverse and inclusive suppliers, we join organizations as members to support these communities of suppliers and diverse professionals, to ensure we are also collaborating with inclusive organizations across all aspects of our work.

Diverse suppliers & organizations

Learn more about and connect with these diverse and inclusive organizations.

Code for Canada runs fellowship programs where technology professionals can put their skills to work for the public sector.

Code for Canada’s GRIT Toronto program provides organizations with access to diverse and underrepresented communities in Toronto who are interested in participating in usability testing.

We’re members of the Canadian Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (CGLCC), an organization that supports LGBTQIA+ businesses and advances inclusion in entrepreneurship ventures.

Working with CGLCC opens up access to diverse business owners from across industries who can provide a wide variety of products and services.

Research & design organizations

We participate in, collaborate with, and engage members of these communities on topics of usability, accessibility, inclusivity, and supplier diversity.

Interactive Ontario is an association for the interactive digital media (IDM) industry in Ontario.

They host educational and community events, including lunch and learns, conferences, and more.

The Service Design Network (SDN) brings together global service design professionals. Every year, the different chapters of SDN hold events, meetups, workshops, and more.

RGD, or the Association of Registered Graphic Designers, offers professional certifications to designers, as well as organizing conferences and events like the annual Design Thinkers events in Toronto and Vancouver.

The DesignX community hosts events, conferences, and networking opportunities for designers of all disciplines.

As part of these community-building efforts, they also have a vibrant Slack discussion community that provides support and networking opportunities for designers and design leaders at all stages of their careers.

The UX Research Collective runs research events, conferences, and networking opportunities for researchers in UX, including an annual conference, and smaller, more intimate networking get-togethers.

Our CEO Lee Dale is on the Code for Canada Selection Commitee, supporting government initiatives by evaluating fellows each year who earn roles municipal, provincial, and federal governments.

Inclusive events we attend

A11y Toronto brings together designers, developers, and other accessibility advocates to discuss best practices and case studies, and educate people new to accessibility on how to get started.

We regularily attend #A11yTO (a11y Toronto)’s accessibility focused events and conferences.

Civic Tech Toronto works to create civic change in Toronto and beyond, from transportation, to housing, to social good.

In addition to regular participation in Civic Tech TO events, Say Yeah designer Kate Matesic is part of a project team focused on bringing diverse voices to data governance policies related to smart cities.

IDTO, or Inclusive Design Toronto, is a conference focused on growing inclusive design and accessibility practices, held by the Scotiabank Design Community of Practice.

Our commitment to anti-racist work

Read our CEO Lee Dale’s call to action for design agency leaders.

Read the commitment

Our additional commitments

We’ve signed the Contract for the Web pledge to help build a more open, accessible, and equitable web.

We’ve signed the BlackNorth CEO pledge as part of our commitment to anti-racist practices.

We have commited to adhering to RGD’s code of ethics.

Our CEO Lee Dale is a mentor for the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs (FWE). His mentorship is focused on supporting women from underrepresented backgrounds as well as entrepreneurs who are developing businesses and programming that serve underrepresented communities.

We’re shaping a more inclusive digital community

We’re bringing capability and opportunity to the digital community through Together, our volunteer organization that operates a series of inclusive programs for both youth and underrepresented professionals.

Are you ready to bring inclusive practices to your team?

From our inclusive public sector work to our insurance, banking, and other private sector work, we use inclusive design processes to bring impactful service design and product strategy outcomes to the organizations and communities we work with.