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.
If you're interested in volunteering your design services for an
event,
to AIGA’s volunteer coordinator.
Exhibitions
AIGA welcomes an expression of interest from established and emerging professionals who would like to design exhibitions that AIGA is planning for the AIGA National Design Center 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 assignment would be based on an AIGA design brief for a planned exhibition, which would also specify the honorarium that is available. The guidelines are as follows:.
- Preference is given to current AIGA members or their firms.
- To be considered, you must submit a letter of interest with a
link to your online portfolio.
- The selection of a firm will be made by the executive director.
If you’re interested in volunteering your design services for an
upcoming exhibition, contact AIGA to express your
interest and qualifications.