FAQs: About volunteering
AIGA relies on member volunteers to accomplish many activities
throughout the year. There are two ways to volunteer with the
national organization:
Volunteer your time
Each AIGA chapter, as an independently chartered organization,
sets its own policies regarding volunteering for local events. AIGA
provides guidelines to help shape these chapter policies.
For larger events run by the national staff of AIGA, such as the
biennial design conference, the following guidelines apply:
- All volunteers must be current AIGA members at the time of the
event.
- First right of refusal is given to volunteers who have
successfully served at a national event in the past.
- The next order preference is given to members of the local AIGA
chapter where the event is being held.
- All other members interested in volunteering for an upcoming
event should
Volunteer your design services
AIGA's policy is to always provide an honorarium for design
projects as compensation. While we realize it is not set at market
rates, it recognizes that no design should be expected without
compensation. Volunteer designers are usually not required to do
work up front for free before a contract or project begins. Each
designer knows explicitly beforehand the terms we are able to
offer, which is meant as our demonstration that every designer's
work has significant value, knowing that there are both monetary
and non-monetary considerations in any project.
Conferences and events
AIGA works with designers and firms to create promotional
materials including posters, event programs, event web sites, etc.
Designers typically send us a portfolio of their past work, then
have the opportunity to review a design brief and accept or decline
the project. At that time, a contract is executed with a commitment
to an honorarium, after which work on the project begins.
Implementation, such as printing costs, postage and paper, are
covered by AIGA and/or an interested sponsor.
The guidelines are as follows:
- Preference is given to current AIGA members and AIGA student
groups.
- Groups of volunteers may work together on a project if the
majority are current AIGA members.
- To be considered, you must submit a proposal with a link to
your online portfolio.
- A design brief, including honorarium amount, will be provided
for consideration before any work commences.
Volunteer to design an event
If you're interested in volunteering your design services for an
event, to AIGA's volunteer coordinator.
Exhibitions
AIGA invites both established and emerging professionals to
design exhibitions at the AIGA National DesignCenter in New York, as well as related collateral and
promotional materials, for a modest honorarium. Installation costs,
including painting and light fabrication, are covered by AIGA
and/or an interested sponsor. The design firm's ability to help
AIGA secure in-kind donations is an important criterion for
selection.
The guidelines are as follows:
- Preference is given to current AIGA members.
- To be considered, you must submit a letter of interest with a
link to your online portfolio.
- A design brief, including honorarium amount, will be provided
for consideration before any work commences.
Volunteer to design an exhibition
If you're interested in volunteering your design services for an
upcoming exhibition, to AIGA's director of exhibitions to express your
interest and qualifications.