Resources for students

Welcome to AIGA, the professional association for design!

AIGA represents designers, connects students and professionals in a community passionate about design, teaches everyone about the value of creativity and design, and helps students learn how to navigate the ins and outs of working as a professional designer. We’re here to help you enter into a great profession with confidence and opportunities for success!

Resources for AIGA student members

Join AIGA at any level and select “Student” as your primary attribute to get access to these exclusive benefits, unique resources and discounts:

• Introduction to a community of design students and local professionals through student groups and local chapters
• Discounts on national events and conferences 
• Invitations to local events like talks by influential local and national designers, discussions of important design issues and social gatherings 
• A portfolio in the exclusive AIGA Member Portfolios Gallery
• Portfolio reviews hosted by chapters and student groups
• Access to job and internship listings in AIGA Design Jobs
• The Buzz monthly newsletter for emerging designers
• Free and discounted professional development webinars and workshops
• An introduction to professional standards, ethics and practices

Advice and resources for all design students

As a professional association, AIGA provides articles, videos, advice and resources for emerging designers worldwide:

While you’re in school

• Worldstudio AIGA Scholarships for students studying art and design in the United States
• A guide to internships: What you need to know before you start brewing the coffee
• The skills students must master: A look at what you should learn before your first job
• Advice on public speaking: How you can be a better presenter
• Inspiration from the Design Archives, the largest digital collection of juried design work in the world, dating back to 1902
• Historical perspective from the lives and work of design legends in the AIGA Medalist gallery
• Case studies illustrating how designers are involved in solving complex problems

Finding and starting your first design job

• After School Special: Ten tips for getting started in your design career
• Nailing the Interview: The basics of how to be a great interviewee, straight from one of your your colleagues!
• Our top eight tips for keeping your first design job
• Presenting your portfolio: A guide to putting your best foot forward, in person or in print
• Ten common mistakes in resumes and cover letters—and how to avoid them
• AIGA spec work position: What you need to know about working for free
• AIGA|Aquent Survey of Design Salaries: The only salary guide you need for design positions
• Copyright basics: A primer on intellectual property and copyright for creatives
• Making a living: How to make a design career work
• What is graphic design? A collection of articles about the design profession to help guide students in their educational planning

Looking for more? Please don’t hesitate to contact us with questions about student membership or to suggest ideas for this site.

Students are also encouraged to take the initiative and start an activity locally, with a student group or with the nearest AIGA chapter. AIGA’s success is the result of many volunteer members acting on their impulses to improve the member experience!