Get to know the speakers at “Gain”

When temperatures cool down this fall, New York City will heat up with the brightest minds in design and business at AIGA’s “Gain: Design and Business Conference” October 14–16. Reserve your seat now to hear insights from David Droga (founder of Droga5, the firm behind the award-winning Puma Index campaign), Karin Fong (Imaginary Forces partner and director of the Terminator Salvation title sequence), Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa (creator of The 99, recently commended by President Obama) and many more.

Find out how they are reinventing business through design by reading the new Q&A series. And check out the freshly updated schedule before you register for the year’s most inspiring and innovative design conference. more-gain »

2010–2011 Worldstudio AIGA scholarship winners announced

This year’s competition was tough. The Worldstudio AIGA Scholarship program received more than 500 applications from minority and economically disadvantaged students eager to influence the world with their talents but without the financial means to do so. Through the generous support of individuals, organizations and corporations, the program was able to award 20 scholarships and 6 honorable mentions to those who demonstrated exceptional creative ability and a commitment to community involvement. more-scholarships »

Save the date: AIGA Awards event next April

In the spirit of “Design (Re)Invents” (the theme of this year’s “Gain” conference), AIGA is planning an entirely new awards event for the spring. In place of the Design Legends Gala, we hope you will join us on April 7, 2011, to celebrate the achievements of AIGA Medalists Steve Frykholm, John Maeda and Jennifer Morla, as well as the soon-to-be-announced Corporate Leadership Awardees. Mark your calendars and stay tuned…

AIGA national board welcomes new directors

Earlier this year, professional- and associate-level members voted to ratify a slate of five nominees to the board of directors of AIGA: Gaby Brink, Phil Hamlett, Deanna Kuhlmann-Leavitt, Santiago Piedrafita and Robin Tooms. On July 1, these newly elected directors officially began three-year terms of volunteer service to the national board. Joining them is Carolyn Colonna, who serves an ex officio role as this year’s chair of the chapter presidents council. At the same time, AIGA extends its gratitude to Shelley Evenson, Kenna Kay, Vernon Lockhart, Elva Rubio, Laura Shore and Lynda Weinman, who completed their service to the board at the end of June. more-board »

Reach out and join IN

This summer, AIGA will begin a comprehensive push to address the needs of in-house designers through the INitiative, led by in-house evangelist Andy Epstein and powered by members like you. If you are an in-house designer (or work closely with them), AIGA needs your help in building this initiative! To help create resources and opportunities for the in-house community, contact Andy directly. Chapters across the country will also be launching events and programming for local in-house designers later this year and will appreciate your ideas and support. more-inhouse »

Celebrate design pioneers with the “Design Journeys” exhibit

“Design Journeys: You Are Here” will be on display at the National Design Center until August 6; don’t miss it! This participatory exhibition shines a light on the extraordinary careers of 25 designers from various backgrounds, whose own lives and experiences demonstrate the ideal combination of diversity and excellence. Visitors are encouraged to consider their own journeys and place in design through several on-site activities and virtually at http://designjourneys.tumblr.com.

Also on display on the mezzanine at the National Design Center through July 22 is the “Create! Don’t Hate” AIGA/NY Mentoring Program project, where as a year-end project, students and their mentors designed public billboards addressing the theme of tolerance. In addition to being exhibited at AIGA, select images will be displayed on Clear Channel’s Spectacolor HD digital billboard in Times Square from July 6 through July 31. more-exhibition »

AIGA promotes sustainability through membership cards

In the past, members received a new plastic card each year they renewed. But starting this month, renewing members will instead receive a colorful expiration-date sticker to place on the membership card they already have. This is just one of the ways AIGA demonstrates its commitment to sustainable design practices.

“Generation X-Wear: An Interview with Douglas Coupland”

By Steven Heller
Known for his cultural commentary, Douglas Coupland trained as a sculptor and designer. Heller inquires about the novelist’s latest frontier: fashion. more-heller »

“Measuring Up: 5 Reasons to Hone Your Verbal and Written Skills”

By Roz Goldfarb
Do visual communicators need writing skills? Yes, according to a recent survey of hiring managers. Recruiter and author Roz Goldfarb counts the reasons why. more-goldfarb »

“Forecasting Your Workload and Finances, Part Two”

By Shel Perkins
The second of this two-part series explains how to project your studio’s workload for the longer term (a year or more). more-perkins »

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