National programs
Each year, AIGA members develop and produce more than 1,000 local events through AIGA chapters across the country, including design lectures, portfolio reviews, networking sessions, competitions, exhibitions and studio tours—see the Events section for upcoming events near you!
To augment these local activities, AIGA produces national programs to support all members. These initiatives have been made possible through the support of our generous partners and sponsors, as well as the efforts of many thousands of members. Join AIGA now to support these activities:
Design for Good
AIGA created Design for Good to build and sustain the implementation
of design thinking for social change. As a movement to ignite, accelerate and amplify design-driven social change, Design for Good creates
opportunities for designers to build their practice, their network and
their visibility by supporting those who play a catalytic
role in communities and create positive social impact.
Learn more.
In-house design “INitiative”
AIGA launched “INitiative” with The Creative
Group in 2011 to help in-house designers and managers make a greater impact at their companies, evolve
professionally and connect with a broader network of peers. Through articles, videos, events and a quarterly newsletter, this program provides information, advice, inspiration and insights to help in-house design teams thrive.
Learn more.
Design for Democracy
Since 2000, Design for Democracy’s ballot and election design project
has worked to make voting easier and more accurate for all U.S.
citizens. Recent accomplishments include the “Field Guides To Ensuring Voter Intent” to help county election officials design and test ballots
for usability, as well as the 2012 “Get Out the Vote” project to create nonpartisan posters and videos to inspire the American public to vote. Learn more.
The Living Principles for Design
Originally conceived by AIGA, The Living Principles for Design distill the collective wisdom
found in decades of sustainability theories and bring them to life
in the first quadruple-bottom-line framework for sustainable design. They weave
together environmental protection, social
equity, economic health and cultural
vitality to create an actionable framework for
sustainability—a common point of reference to which all designers
can refer. Learn more.
Professional development
Through events, webinars, workshops, certificate programs and national conferences with strategic partners, educational institutions and program sponsors, AIGA members have personal and professional development opportunities to learn new skills, get advice on pressing career questions, hear insights from industry leaders, build leadership capacity and learn how to manage more effectively. Learn more.
National design conferences
Each year, AIGA hosts one of two national conferences: the biennial “Gain: AIGA Design and Business Conference,” and the biennial “AIGA Design Conference,” whose theme and location changes with each event. In addition, the AIGA Design Educators Community hosts annual design conferences for curriculum development, and chapters host many local and regional conferences and events around the country. Learn more.
Design awards
AIGA awards the AIGA Medal to individuals in recognition of their exceptional achievements,
services or other contributions to the field of design and visual
communication, and AIGA chapters honor those who have contributed significantly to the practice of design,
teaching, writing or leadership of the profession with the AIGA Fellow Award. Similarly, the AIGA Design Archives are a repository of inspiring, award-winning work from AIGA’s design competitions.
Public resources
AIGA provides free public design resources such as the Symbol Signs, an international system of 50 symbols produced by AIGA and the U.S.
Department of Transportation. Regular reporting on the design industry takes the form of articles and case studies on this site, as well as economic surveys including the annual AIGA|Aquent Survey of Design Salaries and the quarterly Design Leaders Confidence Index survey.