AIGA Communique - November 2003

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	Monthly news and updates for AIGA members November 2003 -------------------------------------------------------------- Contents News and information “The Power of Design” conference stimulates sustaining conversation Participate in national board nominations New ethics brochure on Print Design and Environmental Responsibility Tax planning and AIGA Call for designers: United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program The greening of print In the AIGA gallery www.aiga.org Improvements to Design Jobs will launch in mid-December Advocacy Advocating “graphic design” Coming soon Save the dates! Next “Gain” and National Design Conferences Resources --------------------------------------------------------------- News and information --------------------------------------------------------------- “The Power of Design” conference stimulates sustaining conversation “The Power of Design: AIGA National Design Conference” served its purpose well. Every other year, AIGA convenes one of the largest gatherings of designers to discuss issues relevant to the profession. It is an opportunity to discover new or old friendships and new or old ideas; share experiences; reinforce one’s connection to the profession; and seek inspiration or renewal. At times, the conferences focus on sheer celebration of the richness of visual culture, as they did in the boom times of the 1990s in New Orleans and Las Vegas. The past two conferences have taken a different tack. Rather than a creative cornucopia, these conferences have sought to respond to the times and the questioning we hear from the design community, which seemed to be asking about the relevance of the profession in troubling times, both culturally and economically. Last year, the conference in Washington explored the role of design in civil discourse. This year, we presented issues that will dominate the minds of business and society in decades ahead, trying to provide designers with a sense of the larger context in which clients will be considering the value of design. The vast majority of our members emphasize the priority they place on AIGA activities that will contribute to clients’ perception of the value of design. From listening carefully to business and designers, it appears that demand for design depends upon relevance of design to problems as they are perceived by the client. “The Power of Design” drew on a rich array of speakers, many drawn from outside the typical experience of designers, in order to reveal the role design can play in sustaining economies, cultures and the environment—for each is increasingly at risk. A conference should provoke a sustained discussion of issues mighty and small among designers who attended the conference and those who did not. More than 2,000 people attended the conference, yet casual conversation amplified by web chats, blogs and digital bulletin boards has resulted in a resonating (and rewarding) discourse beyond the network of attendees alone. The role of design in a sustainable future, we feel, is critical to sustaining the future of the design profession itself. We believe strongly that if the profession does not consider these issues today it will marginalize the profession’s role in the future, since business is actually beginning to worry about some of these issues as mainstream concerns. We heard from designers who said: “I never in my wildest imaginings thought that a conference could change my world view or even—!!—build a bridge back into the profession of design, which I have recently semi-abandoned” and “Power of Design—the Vancouver AIGA Conference—related our work to the needs of the real world. Hey, the world really really needs thoughtful, relevant design! How terrific is that?” Even those who felt the content may have changed their view of the world in which they work sought more specific examples of how designers can contribute. The subsequent discussion actually raises interesting challenges for us. The conference program presented some of the dimensions of the problems; it did not mean to suggest that the power of design was for designers to solve the problems alone or that we knew what role each designer would choose to play in contributing to the solution. The conference was meant to stimulate thinking about design and to give designers an even deeper appreciation for the larger context in which their work will be considered. The solutions, as always, will come from the experience, imagination and technique of each designer. Participate in national board nominations The national board nominating committee, chaired by Bill Grant of Grant Design Collaborative in Atlanta, is looking for nominations, to be submitted by January 15, 2004. The committee invites nominations from all members and allows for self-nomination, although it also requires a relatively extensive application process to assure that the committee has the same information on all candidates, recognizes the work nominees have done at the chapter level, and reveals the level of commitment of the nominees. The committee consists of members who are not on the board to make sure member interests are served by the board. Committee members include Maria Grillo, Chicago; Ann Harakawa, New York; Cheryl Heller, New York; Tamera Lawrence, Washington, D.C.; and Tan Le, Seattle. The committee will consider all nominations that are supported with the requested documentation. In years past, this has numbered from 20 to 60 nominees. The committee then prepares a slate of five names to be approved by the professional membership via web balloting next spring. Considerations will include geographic region, background and training, areas of expertise, etc. The committee is charged with developing a slate that complements rather than duplicates the attributes of existing board members. To nominate, visit www.aiga.org/nominationsprocess. Nominations are due January 15, 2004. New ethics brochure on Print Design and Environmental Responsibility Professional and associate members will receive the newest brochure in the Design Business and Ethics series in early December. This brochure provides designers with an introduction to design and print production practices that demonstrate respect for the challenges of one of the truly critical issues of our age: the balance between economic gain and environmental degradation. For design to be responsive to a client’s needs, it should be responsible and appropriate. Appropriateness, in the 21st century, will entail respect for resource constraints. The primer includes best-practices tips and links to resource that will enhance your ability to design, produce and purchase print responsibly. A PDF of the brochure is available at www.aiga.org/designbusinessandethicsseries. Tax planning and AIGA For those of you who are on a calendar year tax cycle and are planning to make contributions to your preferred charities before the end of December, please do not forget the role AIGA, as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, can play in advancing your future and the success of subsequent generations of young designers. Contributions to the Creative Leadership Campaign are encouraged and welcomed. The campaign raises funds for special initiatives, like mentoring high school students in design, preserving archives or celebrating great design. None of the funds are used for operating expenses. Donations can be made out to “AIGA Creative Leadership Campaign” and sent to Creative Leadership Campaign, AIGA, 164 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010. We will provide a receipt and tax letter to document your contribution. Call for Artists: United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program The United States Mint invites designers nationwide to participate in a renaissance of American coin and medal design. The Artistic Infusion Program has been created to enrich and invigorate the design of United States coins and medals by developing a pool of up to 20 professional designers and up to 20 college and graduate-level students in sculpture, graphic design, drawing and other visual arts, who will be invited to create and submit new designs for selected coin and medal programs throughout the year. The National Endowment for the Arts will assist the Mint with the application evaluation and selection process. Applications should be postmarked no later than January 9, 2004. Designers selected for the program will attend a United States Mint-sponsored orientation on February 19-20, 2004, in Philadelphia to learn about the history of coin and medal design, the coin-making process and upcoming design opportunities. The United States Mint was created in 1792 to produce circulating coins for the nation. Today, the Mint creates popular coins such as the 50 State Quarters® Program, the new nickel series, and commemorative coins and congressional medals that honor outstanding persons and events of special meaning to the American people. Augustus Saint-Gaudens, Jamie Wyeth, Tiffany & Co.®, and Don Troiani are among those who have created designs for United States Mint coins. The application packet is available on the Mint’s website at www.usmint.gov or by telephone at (202) 354-7727. Please direct inquiries to art@usmint.treas.gov. The greening of print Many designers feel they do not have adequate information to make optimal decisions in minimizing adverse environmental impacts when they make choices of materials in their design projects. We would be interested in gaining a sense of your experience in making informed decisions on printing, paper and other materials as you pursue environmentally preferable practices. We welcome your encourage your participation in a survey being conducted by Nima Hunter, Inc., which will measure the information needs of design professionals and be used in communicating your needs to suppliers. Participants will be sent an executive summary of the survey findings. To participate in the survey, point your browser to www.nimahunter.com/survey/rp In the AIGA gallery 365: AIGA Annual Design Exhibition 24. Celebrating all 113 selections from this year’s competition, the exhibition opened on November 20 and will continue through February 20, 2004. If you are traveling to New York over the holidays, make sure you stop by to visit this spectacular installation. Exhibition design: Carbone Smolan Agency, New York; presenting sponsor: Aquent. --------------------------------------------------------------- www.aiga.org --------------------------------------------------------------- Improvements to Design Jobs will launch in mid-December AIGA’s new, improved Design Jobs will allow members-only access to exclusive job opportunities when it launches in mid-December. For the first 60 days after launch, employers will be able to post jobs for $49, a 75 percent discount, by entering the word “TALENT” in the “Promotion code” field under the “Payment” section. AIGA members will be able to post portfolios containing samples of work, a personal statement, resumé and contact details. E-mail notifications will be sent to members when a position is posted that matches your criteria. To ensure the highest level of customer support, a dedicated staff member will also be available during normal business hours to address any questions or concerns. --------------------------------------------------------------- Advocacy --------------------------------------------------------------- Advocating “graphic design” We use the term “advocacy” loosely. What we mean is both advocating the interests of design with other audiences (and not just within a political context) and increasing public and business awareness of the value of design. There has long been a perception that the term “graphic design” is not even in the dictionary. Laura Short, from AIGA Dallas, contacted Merriam-Webster and Cambridge dictionaries. "Graphic design" became an entry in Merriam-Webster in 1976, as follows: “the art or profession of using design elements (as typography and images) to convey information or create an effect.” Yet in many of dictionaries, the definition is still inadequate (including Encarta, which probably is used more often than others today). We continue to work with the dictionaries and the U.S. government to improve understanding of the profession. During “The Power of Design”, Marcia Lausen, AIGA Chicago, captured a number of additional definitions of design, as successive speakers characterized it: Conceiving, planning, and making products and services—that serve people.—Tony Golsby-Smith About citizenship.—Brenda Laurel The shaping of flows of energy and matter for human purposes.—Fritjof Capra A core competency that begins with passion.—Michael Volkema How we make things that fit.—David Orr Global success (well-being) as a practical objective.—Bruce Mau Not different from other businesses (don’t ignore proven business advice).—David Baker An impulse that relates to a practical imperative.—John Hockenberry The shape of things to come—Andrew Zolli --------------------------------------------------------------- Coming soon --------------------------------------------------------------- Save the dates! Next “Gain” and National Design Conferences “Gain: AIGA Business and Design Conference” will be held September 30–October 2, 2004 in New York City. Everything is happening faster. Products and services become commodities overnight. As companies curtail costs, R&D often takes the first hit. Reduced resources means greater pressure on both timelines and people. In this challenging environment, embedding design can make all the difference. At next year’s “Gain: AIGA Business and Design Conference,” we’ll explore how to embed design throughout your organization to drive innovation and market differentiation. You’ll see new tools, new ideas and new ways of looking at the problems that face us all. For designers, the business conversation will reveal the enormous new role design can and must play. For business leaders, the role of design, and even what is meant by design, will be completely recast. It’s a conversation you won’t want to miss. www.aiga.org/gain_conference_2004 The next National Design Conference will be held September 15–17, 2005 in Boston, Massachusetts. www.aiga.org/design_conference_2005 --------------------------------------------------------------- Resources --------------------------------------------------------------- Want to renew? www.aiga.org/renew Have you had a recent change of address? Update your profile, including e-mail preferences and affiliation with communities of interest at www.aiga.org/profile. Want to know what’s going on? Check out local and national events at www.aiga.org/calendar. -------------------------------------------------------------- About Communiqué This newsletter is e-mailed monthly to AIGA members; past issues are archived on the AIGA website. To unsubscribe, update your profile or send an e-mail to communique@aiga.org with “unsubscribe” in the subject line. To review our privacy policy, go to www.aiga.org/privacy. -------------------------------------------------------------- AIGA \| American Institute of Graphic Arts 164 Fifth Avenue New York NY 10010 \| 212 807 1990 communique@aiga.org AIGA: stimulating thinking about design www.aiga.org