I had the amazing opportunity to attend the AIGA Leadership Retreat 2019 in which design leaders in the AIGA gather to discuss how we can grow our respective creative communities. For three days in Atlanta, we shared ways that AIGA chapters grew communities, promoted design, educated emerging designers, expanded design definitions, focused on ethics, diversity, inclusion, access, creativity, and communicated the value of design.
Parts of it were about the nuts and bolts of growing membership, holding effective events, and managing a chapter. And parts were about the challenges we all face in the industry:
- Spec work and companies/clients unwilling to pay for design
- Articulating value
- The ever-changing design field and practice
- The focus on inclusion, access and diversity at every level
- How to reach designers and connect them with resources and each other
I felt grateful to represent AIGA MN, the fifth largest chapter in the U.S. and one of the longest-running. I accompanied 5 other members of our board and we came back inspired and excited to strengthen the creative community in Minnesota and beyond.
The importance of design leadership didn’t escape any of us in these days of fake news, disinformation, corporate distrust, and community fragmentation. Minnesota has always been a creative center and a strong AIGA chapter will help that continue.
photo courtesy of Katrin Loss
Drone photo Gabriel Swinney
