Design Within Reach and Harley-Davidson receive Corporate Leadership Award

AIGA recognizes Design Within Reach and Harley-Davidson as the recipients of its 2008 Corporate Leadership Awards. Both companies consistently demonstrate an unparalleled commitment to design, broadly defined, to inform the entire customer experience. The awards will be presented at the fifth annual Design Legends Gala, to be held on September 18 in New York City.

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Get Out the Vote posters displayed during Democratic and Republican National Conventions

Thousands of visitors to Denver and Minneapolis will see posters from Get Out the Vote, an AIGA Design for Democracy initiative, which will be projected in the lobbies of the Denver Art Museum during the Democratic National Convention and the Walker Art Center during the Republican National Convention. These posters are intended to inspire the American public to participate in the electoral process and vote for a presidential candidate in the 2008 general election.

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Worldstudio Foundation and AIGA award 22 scholarships

The Worldstudio AIGA Scholarship program receives hundreds of applications from minority and economically disadvantaged students desperate 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 awarded 22 scholarships and 10 honorable mentions to those who demonstrated exceptional creative ability and a commitment to community involvement.

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Celebrate your profession at the Design Legends Gala

Make plans to attend the fifth annual Design Legends Gala on September 18 in New York City. Once a year, the design community celebrates those whose creativity, inspiration, innovation and brilliant execution define the profession. The evening honors the 2008 Medalists (Gail Anderson, Clement Mok and LeRoy Winbush); Design Within Reach and Harley-Davidson, recipients of the 2008 Corporate Leadership Award; the 2008 Fellows; the winners of the 2008 Winterhouse Awards for Design Writing & Criticism; and recipients of the Worldstudio AIGA Scholarship.

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AIGA launches the Center for Practice Management website

AIGA’s Center for Practice Management provides extensive tools and resources to help designers with daily studio management. Visit the site for insightful articles, audio presentations and webinars that cover a broad range of internal business and operational issues.

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AIGA design competition selections announced

After careful and considered review, the juries of “AIGA 50 Books/50 Covers of 2007” and “365: AIGA Annual Design Competitions 29” have selected entries representing the best work produced in 2007 for exhibition, publication and inclusion in the AIGA Design Archives, both online and at the Denver Art Museum. See the list of works chosen for “365/29” and “50/50” online. Images will be available in the AIGA Design Archives in December.

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Five remarkable directors complete national board service

Each year, five design leaders rotate on and off the AIGA board of directors, assuring that there is always a lively churn of insight and experience. This also means that each year there is a sense of loss as well as gain. On July 1, AIGA lost the leadership—but not the involvement—of five who each contributed to our ambitious programs.

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Get involved: Nominate a board member for 2009

The 2009 nominating committee, chaired by Sam Shelton (DC), requests that nominations to the AIGA board be submitted by November 15, 2008. Five seats with a term of July 1, 2009, to June 30, 2012, are open. The nominating process is designed to identify, encourage and enlist the active participation of dedicated professionals in the service of AIGA at a leadership level. more-nominations.

Image, Space, Object 5: People Centered Design: Tools & Inspiration

Denver
August 7–10

Immerse yourself in the ultimate design workshop, where you’ll collaborate with the world’s top design innovators at the foot of the Rockies. As you convert theory into practice, learn how to create multidimensional environments, human interactions and brand strategies in which images, spaces and objects work together.

For more information, visit www.aiga.org/iso-2008.

IIT Institute of Design Research Conference

Chicago
September 19–20

The IIT Institute of Design, AIGA’s Leading Collaborating Partner, will hold its annual Design Research Conference. This collaborative forum will explore emerging topics and methods in design research across a wide spectrum of design disciplines. As part of its strategic partnership with AIGA, IIT offers significant registration discounts to AIGA members. Use the discount code “AIGA” when you register and select the lower price option when you check out. The early registration deadline is July 27.

For more information, visit trex.id.iit.edu/events/drc/2008/index.html.

Social Studies: Educating Designers in a Connected World

Baltimore
October 17–19

Designers work with clients, institutions, users and communities to make things happen in the world. Yet education often focuses on the individual voice. How are we preparing students for a lifetime of working with and for other people? How do our students connect to the world? Come participate in a relaxed and stimulating weekend of lively discussions, hands-on workshops and informal activities.

For more information, visit www.socialstudiesconference.org.

Gain: AIGA Business and Design Conference

New York
October 23–25

“Gain” offers studio tours, workshops for in-house design and practice management, receptions, networking and presentations by experts from Google, IDEO, Johnson & Johnson, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Pinkberry, Procter & Gamble, Saturn and more. Acquire new tools, new ideas, new connections and new ways of working to advance your design practice and increase your business success. Seats are selling fast!

For more information, visit gainconference.aiga.org.

“Thank You for Not Smoking”

By Ralph Caplan

What happens when signs are necessary to correct other design failings? According to Caplan, a genre is born.
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“Ever Notice?”

By Steve Portigal and Dan Soltzberg

How can an act as simple as noticing inspire and drive innovation? Portigal and Soltzberg share their observations.
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“American Icons: Or How Trade Characters Rule the World”

By Steven Heller

How did a former trademark become a powerful symbol for America? Heller ponders the branding of a nation.
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Join in the discussions and submit ideas for future issues at voice.aiga.org and gain.aiga.org.