Five remarkable directors complete national board service

NEW YORK, July 18, 2008. 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. On July 1, AIGA lost the leadership—but not the involvement—of five who each contributed to our ambitious programs.

Connie Birdsall, from Lippincott in New York, brought design passion and branding experience to AIGA. Connie was an active force in AIGA’s pursuit of promoting the value of design to business. She was the program director for “Gain: AIGA Business and Design Conference” in 2006 and managed a highly successful and stimulating conference. In her final act on the board, she chaired the 2008 Corporate Leadership Awards. She has been a strong voice in all of AIGA’s strategic efforts and we will continue to count on her going forward.

Moira Cullen, from Coca-Cola North America in Atlanta, has played an active role in AIGA for a decade, having previously served as national program director for AIGA and as chapter president in both Los Angeles and Kansas City. Since joining Coca-Cola, Moira has been an influential voice on branding and communications issues, a source of thoughtful programming ideas and a popular presenter on the potential role of the designer in business strategy.

Bill Grant, of Grant Design Collaborative in Canton, Georgia, who served as AIGA president from 2005–2007, recently completed the final year of his second term on the board. During his run-up to that leading role, he spearheaded virtually every national activity at one time or another—from the “Design Business and Ethics” series to the 2004 “Gain” conference—as well as having served as chapter president in Atlanta. One of his legacies will be AIGA’s diversity initiative, in which he committed undaunted leadership over the tenure of his presidency.

Steve Hartman, from Creativille, Inc., in St. Louis, brought an important perspective to the national board and brought a network of others like him to the board table. A designer at a small-sized studio in the Midwest, Steve most recently served as development director for AIGA St. Louis and has served as vice president and president of the chapter. He participated in two national committees and was very active in developing the AIGA Midwest Leadership Retreats and Midwest initiatives.

Hank Richardson, president of the Portfolio Center in Atlanta, brought a tireless focus on students and education to the national board. He championed students’ interests when considering AIGA activities and policy discussions and rarely held back in the heated debate over the future of design—and of AIGA.

All five parting board members leave an indelible mark on the institution. Yet their places on the 15-member board have been aptly filled by: Brad Weed, Microsoft, Redmond, Washington; Stanley Hainsworth, Tether, Seattle; Elva Rubio, Bruce Mau Design, Chicago; Khoi Vinh, NYTimes.com, New York; and Pam Williams, Williams & House, Avon, Connecticut.

About AIGA

AIGA, the professional association for design, is the go-to place for design—to discover it, discuss it, understand it, appreciate it, be inspired by it.

AIGA’s mission is to advance designing as a professional craft, strategic tool and vital cultural force. AIGA stimulates thinking about design through journals, conferences, competitions and exhibitions; demonstrates the value of design to business, the public and government officials; and empowers the success of designers at each stage of their careers by providing invaluable educational and social resources.

Founded in 1914, AIGA remains the oldest and largest professional membership organization for design. AIGA now represents more than 22,000 design professionals, educators and students through national activities and local programs developed by more than 60 chapters and 240 student groups. AIGA is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) educational institution.

For further information, please contact:
Steve Rogenstein
Director of marketing and communications
AIGA | the professional association for design
Tel 212 710 3121   Fax 212 807 1799
steve_rogenstein [at] aiga [dot] org