We create community, connection and opportunities for designers around the world.

TDK (The Design Kids) is a global community, resource, and a network of volunteers around the world working together to create community, connection and opportunities for emerging designers.

Since 2009

Welcome to the fun world of The Design Kids!

TDK began in 2009 when Graphic Designer Frankie Ratford realised there was little–to–no education around what the industry actually looked like.

So she built some bridges!

After a bunch of shitty design jobs, while she was studying,she landed what she thought was an awesome design job in Sydney, at one of her favourite studios, and eventually realised, this was not a good fit for her personally.

After 18 months of soul-searching, and asking herself how she could love Graphic Design so much, and it still didn't feel right — she quit her job and started a small blog about designers.

She then jumped into her van and went to meet some of these designers.

This turned into a six-year road trip, meeting with over 2,000 designers across 33 countries, giving talks, workshops, running exhibitions and generally just getting to know everyone.

Everyone!

Since then, TDK has become a giant family across the world bridging the gap between studying and working, between asking questions about the industry and meeting people who have ten different versions of the answer and shouting hooray, I'm normal!

Today, designers around the world can access The Design Kids' free resources and community, attend a free event in their city, or jump into a monthly chat with designers from across the globe.