Staff spotlight: Guillaume Duclaud-Williams – Symbols and Information Designer

October 2024

Meet Guillaume Duclaud-Williams, or as we fondly know him here at Widgit, ‘Gee’: our Symbols and Information Designer. With a passion for bringing symbols to life, Gee's meticulous attention to detail ensures that all Widgit Symbols accurately represent the concepts they symbolise, resulting in the clear and colourful schema our symbol users know and love.

From his unique role as symbol creator to helping worldclass organisations embrace symbols as part of their offering, we spoke to Gee about his journey with Widgit so far, including a few highlights along the way – and most importantly – his favourite Widgit Symbol!

How would you describe your Widgit journey through the years?

I've had the privilege of watching Widgit's remarkable growth and transformation. From a small but mighty team with a powerful vision, to the thriving organisation it is today, it's been great to see Widgit realise its true potential. I've relished the challenges and opportunities that have come my way, and found working for a company that genuinely makes a positive impact incredibly rewarding.

Tell us about your role as Symbols and Information Designer

As Symbols and Information Designer, I've had the pleasure of creating some fantastic new symbols and collaborating with a diverse range of organisations. I've built strong relationships with my fellow Widgit colleagues and partners worldwide, working on projects ranging from football sensory rooms to country-specific symbol requests. I enjoy the collaborative nature of projects, working with teams across different departments to ensure all of our symbols meet the highest of standards.

What makes Widgit a unique place to work?

Widgit is a wonderful place to work, offering a supportive and collaborative environment. The company has supported me through challenging times and provided me with numerous opportunities for growth and development. Working at Widgit means being part of something much bigger, which I always find truly inspiring.

What’s the most memorable project you’ve worked on so far?

The Wembley Stadium project and football club sensory rooms have been really fun to work on, as I’ve been able to witness firsthand how Widgit Symbols have positively impacted the community – and we’re just getting started! In addition, I do enjoy the smaller projects, such as helping parents and carers with specific symbol requests. There's something special about knowing that you've directly helped someone in need.

Tell us about your involvement with Widgit’s Symbol-Friendly programme.

I've been actively involved in Widgit's Symbol-Friendly programme, contributing to the development of resources, materials, and new symbols. I've also worked with organisations to help them become more symbol-friendly – from Woburn Safari Park to Chelsea FC, and beyond – as we collectively work as a team to bring symbols into the mainstream.

What are the most weird and wonderful symbols you have created?

Amongst the hundreds of symbols I have drawn, there are a few that definitely stand out!

Babylonians and Sumerians were created for our Italian partner to support the Italian History curriculum.

Face mask and Quarantine were released in response to Covid as part of a vocabulary set designed to help explain the pandemic.

Stimming and Chew toys were some of the self-regulation symbols I developed for our Autism support pack.

Titan and Tidally locked are just some of the new space symbols. I'm a bit of a science nerd, so can't wait for them to be released soon!

The most unique (and arguably weirdest) symbol I have created has got to be Puffin in bucket!

Finally…what’s your favourite Widgit Symbol, and why?

While I have many favourite symbols, the Wolf symbol holds a special place in my heart. As a lover of animals, I'm drawn to the symbolism and imagery the wolf represents. I do however appreciate the unique story behind all of our Widgit Symbols (many of which I designed myself)!