2023 AIGA Year in Review

AIGA is pleased to share the 2023 Year in Review, highlighting the work we are able to accomplish thanks to the support of our volunteer leaders, our members, and the design community.

About AIGA

AIGA brings design to the world, and the world to designers.

As the professional association for design, AIGA advances design as a professional craft, strategic advantage, and vital cultural force. As the largest community of design advocates, we bring together practitioners, enthusiasts, and patrons to amplify the voice of design and create the vision for a collective future. We define professional standards and ethical practices, guide design education, inspire designers and the public, enhance professional development, and make powerful tools and resources accessible to all.

AIGA is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization incorporated in the U.S.

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    AIGA Board of Directors

    The AIGA Board of Directors is elected by the entire membership and plays a crucial role in determining the mission of AIGA and ensuring that the organization continues to operate in the best interest of past, present, and future members.

    AIGA board members are uncompensated volunteers elected by the AIGA membership body to serve staggered three-year terms, with a two-term maximum. The AIGA governance year begins annually on July 1 and runs through the following June 30.

    AIGA Board Members who served whole or partial terms in 2023:

    • Manuhuia Barcham, AIGA president (2022-2024)
    • Cesar Rivera, AIGA president-elect (2023-2024)
    • Dawn Davidson, AIGA secretary (2022-2025)
    • Art Taylor, AIGA treasurer (2022-2026)
    • Sherra Bell, AIGA presidents council chair (2022-2023)
    • Jennifer Ford, AIGA presidents council chair (2023-2024)
    • Victor Davila, AIGA director at large (2022-2025)
    • Rachel Elnar, AIGA director at large (2023-2026)
    • Sheharazad Fleming, AIGA director at large (2020-2023)
    • Michael O. Hammonds, AIGA director at large (2021-2024)
    • Maribeth Kradel-Weitzel, AIGA director at large (2020-2023)
    • Xouchee Moua, AIGA director at large (2021-2024)
    • Eileen Prado, AIGA director at large (2021-2025)
    • Isaiah Steinfeld, AIGA director at large (2021-2027)
    • Anna Thomsen,  AIGA director at large (2021-2024)
    • Reggie Tidwell, AIGA director at large (2023-2026)
    • Frances Yllana, AIGA director at large (2020-2023)
    View AIGA Board of Directors

    AIGA Organizational Restructure

    In 2023, AIGA undertook a significant organizational restructuring aimed at ensuring long-term health and viability. This comprehensive overhaul addressed financial challenges and redefined leadership to better support the creative community. Here are the key steps taken:

    Critical Financial Overhaul
    For over a decade, AIGA had been operating beyond its means, investing in valuable programs and services at a deficit while drawing on reserve funds to cover the shortfall. That continued practice resulted in the need for immediate and drastic actions to keep AIGA financially solvent. To that end, AIGA made critical measures in reducing over $1.5 million in annual expenses, reducing staff headcount from 22 full-time employees to 7 full-time employees, a reduction in consultants and contracted workers related to administrative roles, reducing long term commitments to vendors and design conference venues, and a suspension of chapter dues rebates. AIGA has also repositioned its national board structure to include financial professionals to oversee and hold the organization accountable to the annual budget that is approved by the full board. 

    Leadership Transformation
    To enhance decision-making processes, AIGA replaced its traditional executive director model with a distributed leadership approach. This new structure features a team of three staff executives who share accountability and decision-making responsibilities, ensuring a more balanced governance model that prevents concentration of power.

    Membership Structure Rebuild
    AIGA reimagined its membership model in 2022 to support designers throughout their careers. This initiative aims to create a membership framework that aligns with the organization’s mission and the evolving needs of its community.

    Commitment to Social Change
    AIGA is dedicated to addressing systemic needs for social change and advocacy within the organization and the broader design profession. This commitment is reflected in its diverse board and staff leadership, which actively works to promote inclusivity and equity.

    Financial Recovery and Future Plans
    The substantial budget cuts in 2023 led to a significant reduction in losses and positioned AIGA for a profitable year in 2024. AIGA is committed to continuing this repositioning and is developing a new strategic plan for 2025 with input from over 100 member volunteers.
    AIGA remains focused on creating a sustainable future that empowers its members and fosters positive change in the design community.

      FY 2023 Revenue

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      FY 2023 Expenses

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        Social Media

        Channel growth continued to trend up in 2023 with the exception of Twitter, which was common among Twitter users due to platform volatility. Strategically, the organization began to focus on the highest growing platform, LinkedIn, along with the highest engaged platform audience, Instagram.

        AIGA continues to take advantage of the growing abilities of LinkedIn such as livestreams and community polls.

        @AIGADesign Follower Count
        Total audience reach: 1,328,524 (up 2.4% YOY)
        LinkedIn: 216,515
        Instagram: 333,208
        Facebook: 101,203
        Twitter: 491,213    

        @aigaeyeondesign Follower Count 
        Total audience reach: 1,039,683 (up 3% YOY)
        LinkedIn: 186,385
        Instagram: 798,779
        Facebook: 21,327
        Twitter: 33,192


        Podcasts

        In 2023, AIGA released 8 full podcast episodes, 1 feedswap episode (rebroadcasting a partner’s podcast episode) as well as a handful of preview clips. We attained a total of 20,106 podcast listens in 2023. We have shifted our approach to focus on producing fewer episodes to give our marketing team the space to better promote each episode and to account for our smaller team. As part of this consolidation, our integrated podcast feed, which once featured separate shows, Design Adjacent and Design Future Now, was consolidated into simply the “AIGA Design Podcast.” 


        AIGA Eye on Design

        AIGA Eye on Design was placed on hiatus in mid-2022 and did not publish new online stories and editorial content in 2023. Throughout the year, former EOD editors Liz Stinson and Jarrett Fuller worked on the curation and design of the new book, What It Means to Be a Designer Today, Reflections, Questions and Ideas from AIGA’s Eye on Design, preparing it for print publication in the spring of 2024. 


        AIGA Design Conference

        In 2023, AIGA held our very first national Design Conference in New York City at the Times Square Sheraton. The in-person component of this conference sold out, with over 1200 attendees. We also sold over 300 online streaming tickets. This is the first time in our current staff’s memory that an AIGA Design Conference has completely sold out. Debbie Millman, who hosted one of the three days of our 2022 Design Conference in Seattle, returned to host the 2023 conference in New York. She was joined by Michael Bierut and Lisa Babb, who served as moderators. Jennifer Kinon and Bobby C. Martin Jr. were conference co-chairs, and the theme of the conference was “The View from Here.” Read the conference recap blog post from Champions Design.

        AIGA members can view the 2023 Design Conference recordings for free in our community space

          AIGA Worldstudio Scholarships

          The AIGA Worldstudio Scholarships program increases diversity in creative professions. Since its inception in 1995, nearly $1.4 million dollars has been awarded to more than 800 college students studying art and design. It provides an opportunity for underrepresented and economically disadvantaged  undergraduate and graduate students , to achieve their educational goals and give back to their communities through their work.

          In its 28th year, the AIGA Worldstudio Scholarships program awarded $35,500 to students across the country.

          Awarded annually, the scholarships encourage social and environmental responsibility and cultural awareness in the next generation of artists and designers. Jurors recommended 16 students to receive awards for the 2024/2025 academic year in three categories: communication design, illustration, and photography. One award was declined. Each student also received a one-year, complimentary Student-level AIGA membership.

          Applications received: 136  
          Applications awarded: 16
          Scholarship awards ($3,000 each): 11 
          Honorable mention awards ($500 each): 5

          You can find additional information for this year’s recipients at AIGA.org.

          This program would not be possible without the generous support of our donors. We acknowledge and appreciate supporters of the #AIGATogether campaign, including the Richard and Jean Coyne Family Foundation and CASE Agency.
           

            AIGA Certificates for Creatives

            As the professional association for design, AIGA empowers designers to continue reaching new heights throughout their career journey. The community told us they wanted professional development opportunities, and AIGA looked at ways to help fill this gap. Since the launch of the Certificates for Creatives program in August of 2021, over 550 individuals have registered for a certificate.

            In partnership with the leading online learning platform, MindEdge, AIGA is now offering courses that help creative professionals identify business needs and work towards future goals. Through this partnership, AIGA is able to offer this benefit to members.  


            Executive Education
            AIGA + Yale Business Perspectives for Creative Leaders

            AIGA’s executive education program, Business Perspectives for Creative Leaders, in partnership with Yale University, is designed to equip creative leaders to meet the challenges of management and give participants the skills and perspectives they need to reach the next level in their careers.

            The Yale School of Management curriculum is designed to accomplish two goals: first, to instill a general competency in meeting the challenges of management; and second, to facilitate creative leaders’ development of their own personal career aspirations. Instead of teaching management topics in separate, single-subject courses, Yale teaches core subjects in an integrated way, providing frameworks and concepts in a richer, more relevant context.

            In this program, design-industry professionals broaden their management skills to complement their deep creative abilities and become well-rounded senior leaders. They strengthen their strategic thinking skills to better tackle high-impact opportunities and drive innovation for growth. They develop soft skills to better influence, persuade, and negotiate with colleagues and clients. In addition, they learn how to lead change as well as learn accounting and finance basics to better communicate with their financial teams.

            Participants have come from some of the most highly regarded firms in the industry, including Google, Adobe, Microsoft, Nickelodeon, and MTV. Learners leave connected to a creative network of professionals who share a passion for leadership and innovation.
             

              AIGA Awards

              The AIGA Awards recognize outstanding contributions in the field of design, honoring individuals who have made significant impacts through their work and advocacy. Established in 1920, the AIGA Medal is the highest honor in the profession, celebrating designers whose careers reflect exceptional dedication and influence across design, technology, culture, and society.

              In 2017, the AIGA introduced the Steven Heller Prize for Cultural Commentary to highlight critical insights into design and foster new voices in the field. Awards are typically presented annually at the AIGA Design Conference, with nominations accepted year-round from the community. 

              However, in 2023, the awards were not presented as AIGA is currently undergoing a restructuring process. As a result, the nomination and selection process for these prestigious awards is on hold until further notice. This pause aims to enhance the organization’s ability to support and celebrate the design community more effectively in the future.


              AIGA 50 Books | 50 Covers Competition

              In June 2022, AIGA announced the results of the AIGA 50 Books | 50 Covers of 2021 competition. With 605 book and cover design entries from 29 countries, this year’s competition recognizes and showcases excellence in book design from around the world.

              The 50 Books | 50 Covers of 2021 winners can be viewed in the AIGA winner gallery.

              AIGA thanks the panel of esteemed jurors: Silas Munro (Jury Chair), Laura Coombs, Brian Johnson, and Kimberly Varella. The jurors evaluated each work’s integrated design approach, including concept, innovation, and visual elements such as typography, illustration, and/or information design. 


              365: AIGA Year in Design Competition

              In December 2022, AIGA announced the winners of 365: AIGA Year in Design, a 360-degree view of design over 365 days. The competition, rebooted in 2022, celebrates designers, design teams, and their clients for effectively working together to design creative solutions for business and organizational challenges presented during the calendar year. This competition recognizes excellence and innovation across all categories of communication design, from print to web to service to spaces—both physical and virtual.

              With 466 entries from countries around the globe, including the U.S., United Kingdom, Hungary, Philippines, Brazil, Canada, Croatia, Italy, Singapore, Turkey, and more, this year’s jurors selected 51 entries that represent excellence in design. Work selected by jurors chronicled the contributions of design and designers to business value and visual culture.

              Selections from this year’s jurors of the 2021 competition can be viewed in the Winners Gallery.

              AIGA thanks this year’s jury panel: Ken Fox (Jury Chair), Rafael Esquer, Min Lew, Clement Mok, Nakita Pope, and Jan Wilker. 

                AIGA Sponsors + Partners

                In 2023, these generous sponsors supported the AIGA Design Conference in New York City: 

                • Aktiga
                • Amazon Design
                • Cella
                • Google
                • Hemlock Printers
                • Microsoft
                • Parsons School of Design
                • Pentagram 
                • Pepsi Design + Innovation
                • School of Visual Arts