AIGA is an association of American design professionals. At over 90 years old, it’s the largest and most established such association in the country. A combination of national activities and local programs advocate design as a cultural asset as well as assist AIGA’s members with professional development. AIGA’s mission is to advance design as a craft, tool and cultural force. To this end, AIGA publishes a journal, awards prizes for excellence in design, and hosts a biennial conference.

AIGA – An Overview of National Programs:

As the leader in design organizations, AIGA publishes a wealth of information on the design industry, providing insight on trends, new ideas, and professional standards. AIGA is the primary source of data on the design industry as an economic sector, and conducts an annual survey of its members to build a picture of the salaries earned in the field. The organization is also deeply invested in improving the quality of American design, and has published ethical and professional standards to help guide designers towards a reputation of integrity and respect. AIGA’s regular publications include ‘Voice’, an online journal of design, the ‘AIGA Design:Business’ Newsletter, and ’365′, an annual showcase of the year’s best in the field.

Becoming a successful designer requires both practical and creative support, and AIGA aims to provide its members with both. More tangible benefits to members include health insurance discounts (essential for the self-employed), inclusion in the AIGA designer directory, access to the National Design Center library, and savings on business expenses. The association also seeks to stimulate its members with conferences and events, as well as the incalculable advantage of becoming part of a community of similarly motivated members.

AIGA – an Overview of Chapter Activities

The power of AIGA really resides in its chapters, where members can network and build a local support system. The AIGA Dallas/Fort Worth chapter is a great example of one style of design leadership. AIGA DFW has a strong focus on the business aspects of professional design, and offers its members a series of lunch talks focused on various aspects of life as a graphic design entrepreneur. They’re also forging ahead into the technology of the new millenium, with regular podcast feeds available through iTunes.

Each AIGA chapter is able to tailor its activities to the needs of its members. The Miama chapter hosts an annual studio tour, which busses design students to the area’s top studios to meet professionals and find inspiration. Members can also publish online portfolios on the chapter’s site, which features a searchable job database.

In addition to working for its members, AIGA strives to be an asset to the greater community. Socially conscious initiatives have included a poster series on income disparity, the Urban Forest Project exhibited at Times Square in 2006, and CarbonCool, a program which allows design studios to offset their environmental impact. AIGA also works towards election design reform, with the goal of using good design to make voting easier and less confusing for the American electorate. Efforts such as these promote one of the basic purposes of AIGA, that of educating the general public about the value of design as an art for and practical tool.