This industry perspective is by Sarah Williams, co-CEO of Beardwood&Co and the president of AIGA NY.
I started my design career by landing an internship at a top agency in New York City. It felt a lot like winning the lottery. I studied design in my home state of Michigan, but that first gig was my first real exposure to the world of branding.
Still, I was the very definition of a fish out of water. That is why I joined the AIGA NY chapter–I wanted to be a part of something bigger. I wanted community. Not only was it a way for me to meet new folks after landing in what was the polar opposite of small-town life in Michigan, but it also helped expand my knowledge in the design industry and gave me more confidence in my skills. But what it primarily taught me was that being in close proximity to a local chapter was a lifeline, and I could interact with a large pool of professionals–this is critical for anyone in design and is why AIGA’s chapters throughout the US have thrived.
At the end of the day, this is a trade professional organization, but it’s one whose members have sought to make it more welcoming and really back up its central tenet of “design for all.” That ethos guides everything we do, and one of the organization’s longstanding goals is to empower our members to help build the AIGA chapter of their dreams.
That means improving and expanding existing programs under AIGA NY’s purview. Through our events, community surveys, and open conversations, we actively listen to topics that are top of mind for our community and aim to create a platform and space for those dialogues.
For starters, we’ve made enormous inroads with some of our younger members, and the value of mentorship programs cannot be overstated enough, but it remains one of our chief calling cards. We currently have over 400 people engaged in our New York mentorship program, supporting career development and advancing equity in our field. In the future, we hope to scale this program to serve 1,000 annually. AIGA NY already has a proven framework to make these connections a reality, and they carefully match mentors and mentees in 1:1 relationships where they meet every month for at least six months. In addition to these valuable networking opportunities, there’s also an active online community with connections to useful resources and opportunities. By fostering these connections that may have otherwise not been accessible, we can help designers of all stripes access career advice that’s directly applicable to the industry they are currently working in or a new role and field of design they are looking to transition toward by hearing from their mentor’s real-life experience of their mentor.
Career development is also vital to membership because no matter where designers are in their careers, there will always be a need to create new and viable pathways, whether you’re a student or a 30-year veteran. We recently hosted a “Boardie Life Lessons” event that created an open dialogue about career planning and staying hirable in the current job market in addition to initiatives like our annual Fresh Grad event, Student Warm-Ups, and the annual Job Fair (which serves upwards of 400 folks annually while engaging 10-20 companies per year). AIGA NY also held its first portfolio review in 15 years, giving nearly 150 designers insightful feedback and advice on how to level up.
Educational programs are also the backbone of the organization. At a national level, multiple certificate programs are available for professional development. I was fortunate enough to experience the AIGA Business Perspectives for Design Leaders Program several years back and still use those lessons today. Through the NY chapter, we’ve had design leaders come and talk to members about their journey, like Alex Center of the branding agency CENTER, or curated programs on the history of design and hip hop with creative executives and art directors like Michelle Willems, Julian Alexander, and Amaechi Uzoigwe.
Another significant measure the NY chapter has taken on is educating the membership about the pros and cons of AI. Of course, AI is an expansive topic that evokes a wide range of responses in our community, from embracing it as a tool to hesitation and concern. AIGA NY recognizes that it needs to support designers through the many challenges and opportunities these new technologies present as they are adopted across the industry. We’ve hosted an event with a panel of lawyers who frequently work with design firms to share insights, best practices, and how people can protect themselves and their work.
Whether it’s mentorship or offering designers tools to help further their careers, AIGA exists to serve a community thirsty for knowledge and connection. It’s the one thing that members repeatedly cite: the need to help navigate their careers and communion.
Perspectives from New York AIGA
What has AIGA NY meant to you throughout your career?
AIGA NY is dear to my heart because it has opened many doors to opportunities in my career. It’s also been a great source of community and connection for me in ways I could not have gained anywhere else, and I’ve made lifelong friends there. What has impacted me most is the mission behind AIGA NY and the people driving the mission that genuinely make it what it is. Stacey Panousopoulos, in particular, has greatly influenced me. When I met her, I immediately felt supported and safe. I don’t feel safe in every space that I’m in, but I’ve always felt safe with her. She shows such a deep commitment to AIGA NY as an organization while supporting its boardies and members, which is not easy. And she does it all with great integrity and thoughtfulness for everyone. That human element empowers AIGA NY; I don’t just think about events or resources; it’s about the people behind it who are working hard to push this industry and mission forward.
What is the AIGA of your dreams? What are some things you wish AIGA could do better, and what are your hopes for the organization?
AIGA NY has had an incredible impact on the design community, and many design agencies are thriving because of what they have provided for our industry. If I had the AIGA NY of my dreams, I would have an organization that amplifies and circulates the industry’s standards. One that broadens its educational scope to businesses that are on the client side. One of the most significant problems in our field comes from client miseducation, which leads to low pay, unrealistic expectations, and free pitching. Design is often seen as “optional” or a “nice to have” instead of serving as an indispensable element and even foundational to one’s business. A mindset shift is necessary, and AIGA NY has the power to drive that change. This is a rough example, but a public-facing campaign similar to the Ad Council could feature ads on platforms like LinkedIn to effectively confront traditional hiring methods so they can impact business leaders directly, or AIGA NY could create an annual business report analyzing the ROI of design and the value of the investment making the argument for it as a business advantage. If executed effectively and distributed well, this could drive our industry forward. We have so many talented creatives working in design and advertising spaces that building this would be within our reach.
Shar Biggers, creative director and founder of Saleah
What has AIGA meant to you throughout your career?
When I moved to New York at the start of my career, I primarily looked to AIGA for guidance: Who or what should I be paying attention to? What should I be doing or not doing to advance in the industry? What are effective ways to hone my creative process?
Years later, as an established art / creative director, the organization became a primary source of inspiration, and my relationship felt more familial. It was sort of a sounding board for my own ideas. At that time, I worked a few blocks from the AIGA gallery on 5th Avenue, and I used to stop by once or twice a month to simply vibe with the space and listen to the work inside.
Mentally bouncing off ideas, popping by the space, and checking in with the organization was like visiting an old friend who occasionally challenged my points of view.
Later in my career, as I assumed a more integral role with AIGA NY as a mentor, board member, and now as an Emeritus board member, AIGA NY has been a platform that’s allowed me to authentically support, influence, inspire, and advocate for others. It’s also been a wonderful way for me to collaborate with those who share my values while doing what I can to help strengthen a New York design community built on the diversity of its voices.
What is the AIGA of your dreams?
I’ve never considered an “AIGA of my dreams.” However, much like other organizations I choose to be a part of, the best version I can imagine is one where my “20-year-old self” feels comfortable and confident in all the ways I might show up as a member of that organization and its community.
What are some of the things you wish AIGA could do better?
AIGA NY, through its leadership, members, and constituents, has a storied history of being a change agent within the design and communication world. The impact has been chronicled, but it’s not widely known, especially in the work of the last 5 -10 years. If there’s one opportunity the organization could take advantage of is owning the spotlight a bit more to amplify the ways they champion opportunities for all voices within New York’s design community.
What are your hopes for the organization in the future?
I hope that AIGA and AIGA NY remain gathering places that welcome culture-led creativity and honor all who choose to center it, as well as the pursuit of excellence in their craft—whether one is (design) school-educated, self-taught, or somewhere in between.
Archie Bell II, creative director at the Ford Foundation
A friend once told me that they felt AIGA was a lot like a gated community and they weren’t sure if they were good enough to belong. Mind you, this was a highly accomplished designer and a person I have a lot of admiration for. The one thing I’ve found as president of the NY chapter is that as I progress through my tenure on the board – in addition to some of the other folks who have held the same position and many of the people we have currently have on the board – we want to ensure that every designer and design-curious person feels welcome at our events and in our organization. Prior board members and leaders have worked overtime to foster that feeling and sentiment toward a community-minded approach and inspire new, younger designers to get involved and help build these spaces.
I plan to keep pushing that forward. Celebrating our work and the truly outstanding creativity across our field is critical. But it’s even more meaningful when everyone feels invited to the party.
After all, it should be the community of your dreams, too.
Sarah Williams is the co-CEO and creative leader for Beardwood&Co, an independent, woman and queer-owned branding agency based in New York City. In addition, she serves as the president of AIGA NY, where she supports the mission of “Championing the Future of Design for All” through organizing and hosting community-based events.
The post Finding My Design Community: How AIGA NY Became a Lifeline appeared first on PRINT Magazine.