ASSOCIATION OF REGISTERED GRAPHIC DESIGNERS
University of Alberta professor receives RGD's Design Educator Award of Excellence for Western Canada

Susan Colberg, associate professor of design studies at the University of Alberta, has received the 2023 Design Educator Award of Excellence for Western Canada from the Association of Registered Graphic Designers (RGD).

The RGD's Design Educator Awards of Excellence recognize Canadian design educators at the college and university level who have made outstanding contributions to student development and pedagogical research. Nominees are evaluated on five criteria: area of focus, contribution to the design community, contribution to design pedagogy or practice, support for students and curriculum development. 

Susan has been a professor at the University of Alberta since 2001. A fellow of the Society of Graphic Designers of Canada, she has won numerous national and international design awards for her practice-based research in the areas of book and publication design, typography, information design, visual identity and the book arts. Susan served for many years as the national representative to icograda, now known as ico-D, the International Council of Design. 

"Receiving this award is a wonderful surprise and a significant honour," said Susan. "This award is important because it increases peoples' awareness of the work done by design educators. We aim to build the profession by providing students with a strong sense of the value and reach of design, so they can make the world a better, safer, more functional, instructive and pleasant place to be."

"Susan's legacy can be seen in the many individuals whose lives and careers have been shaped by her teaching," said Justin Pritchard, a sessional faculty member at the University of Alberta and Susan's nominator. "Her contributions to the design education community will continue to be noticed for years to come." 

The Design Educator Awards of Excellence are an annual program run by the Association of Registered Graphic Designers (RGD). One winner is selected for Western Canada and one for Eastern Canada (Chris Ambedkar, Sheridan College). An honourable mention has been given to Glenn McArthur, assistant professor and course leader at OCAD University.