communication design
Communication design is a mixed discipline between design and information-development which is concerned with how media communicate with people. A communication design approach is not only concerned with developing the message in addition to the ...
, including
graphic design
Graphic design is a profession, academic discipline and applied art whose activity consists in projecting visual communications intended to transmit specific messages to social groups, with specific objectives. Graphic design is an interdiscipli ...
interaction design
Interaction design, often abbreviated as IxD, is "the practice of designing interactive digital products, environments, systems, and services." Beyond the digital aspect, interaction design is also useful when creating physical (non-digital) produ ...
, user experience, branding and identity. The organization's aim is to be the standard bearer for professional ethics and practices for the design profession. There are currently over 25,000 members and 72 chapters, and more than 200 student groups around the United States. In 2005, AIGA changed its name to “AIGA, the professional association for design,” dropping the "American Institute of Graphic Arts" to welcome all design disciplines. AIGA aims to further design disciplines as professions, as well as cultural assets. As a whole, AIGA offers opportunities in exchange for creative new ideas, scholarly research, critical analysis, and education advancement.
Alfred Stieglitz
Alfred Stieglitz (January 1, 1864 – July 13, 1946) was an American photographer and modern art promoter who was instrumental over his 50-year career in making photography an accepted art form. In addition to his photography, Stieglitz was kno ...
, and W. A. Dwiggins came together to discuss the creation of an organization that was committed to individuals passionate about communication design. In 1913, president of the
National Arts Club
The National Arts Club is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and members club on Gramercy Park, Manhattan, New York City. It was founded in 1898 by Charles DeKay, an art and literary critic of the ''New York Times'' to "stimulate, foster, and promote public ...
, John G. Agar, announced the formation of The American Institute of Graphic Arts during the eighth annual exhibition of “The Books of the Year.” The National Arts Club was instrumental in the formation of AIGA in that they helped to form the committee to plan to organize the organization. The committee formed included
Charles DeKay
Charles Augustus de Kay (July 25, 1848 – May 23, 1935) was a linguist, poet, critic, and fencer. He was a son of George Coleman De Kay, a naval officer.
He graduated from Yale College in 1868.
He was best known for founding the National Sculp ...
and
William B. Howland
William Bailey Howland (1849–1917), was the editor of '' The Outlook'', publisher of ''The Independent'' and ''The Countryside Magazine'', and president of the Independent Corporation. He was a member of the American Peace Centenary Committee.
H ...
and officially formed the American Institute of Graphic Arts in 1914. Howland, publisher and editor of ''The Outlook'', was elected president. The goal of the group was to promote excellence in the graphic design profession through its network of local chapters throughout the country.
In 1920, AIGA began awarding medals to "individuals who have set standards of excellence over a lifetime of work or have made individual contributions to innovation within the practice of design." Winners have been recognized for design, teaching, writing or leadership of the profession and may honor individuals posthumously.
In 1982, the New York Chapter was formed and the organization began creating local chapters to decentralize leadership.
Represented by Washington, D.C., arts advocate and attorney, James Lorin Silverberg, Esq., the Washington, D.C., Chapter of AIGA, was organized as the American Institute of Graphic Arts, Incorporated, Washington, D.C., on September 6, 1984.
Symbol sign project
The AIGA, in collaboration with the US Department of Transportation, produced 50 standard symbols to be used on signs "in airports and other transportation hubs and at large international events". The first 34 symbols were published in 1974, receiving a Presidential Design Award. The remaining 16 designs were added in 1979.
Annual competitions
Cased
In 2012, AIGA replaced all its competitions with a single competition called "Cased" (formerly called "Justified"). The stated aim of the competition is to demonstrate "the collective success and impact of the design profession by celebrating the best in contemporary design through case studies".
50 Books/50 Covers
Between 1941 and 2011 AIGA sponsored a juried contest for the 50 best designed books published in the previous year, entitled "50 Books/50 Covers". Jurors included booksellers, book publishers, and designers such as George Salter.
On February 17, 2012, AIGA announced that it would cease organizing the contest and that future contests would be organized by Design Observer. This move has been criticized.
365
The 365 was an annual design competition for all graphic design other than book design. The last original “365” competition was organized in 2011, after which it was replaced by the "Cased" competition. Starting in 2022, AIGA reintroduced 365: AIGA Year in Design
Conferences
AIGA organized two conferences, the AIGA Design Conference and GAIN: AIGA Design and Business Conference. Both conferences were held biennially and the two were held in alternating years. Beginning in 2016, the AIGA Design Conference will be held annually with the 2016 conference held in Las Vegas.
AIGA Design Conference
The first AIGA Design Conference took place in Boston, Massachusetts in 1985.
Past AIGA Design Conferences include:
*2022 - Seattle and Virtual
*2021 - Virtual
*2020 - Virtual (originally Pittsburgh)
*2019 - Pasadena
*2017 - Minneapolis
*2016 - Las Vegas
*2015 - New Orleans
*2014 - New York City
*2013 - Minneapolis
*2011 - Phoenix
*2009 - Memphis
*2007 - Denver
*2005 - Boston
*2003 - Vancouver
*2001 - Washington
*1999 - Las Vegas
*1997 - New Orleans
*1995 - Seattle
*1993 - Miami
*1991 - Chicago
*1989 - San Antonio
*1987 - San Francisco
*1985 - Boston
Since 2016, conferences have been hosted by Roman Mars.
National board members
As of 2022, the national board consists of
* Manuhuia Barcham (President)
* Frances Yllana (Secretary)
* Sherra Bell (President's Council Chair)
* Sheharazad Fleming
* Oen Hammonds
* Isaiah Steinfeld
* Xouchee Moua
* Eileen Prado
* Anna Thomsen
* Maribeth Kradel-Weitzel
* Cesar Rivera
* Elise Roy
* Art Taylor
* Victor Davila
Affiliations
Between 2005 and 2009, AIGA was briefly a member of Icograda (now called Ico-D). In 2010, it withdrew from the international organization, citing financial reasons.
International membership
AIGA opened up membership beyond local chapters in 2014, benefiting creative professionals living and working outside of the US.
Publications
Journals
In 1947 AIGA started publishing the ''AIGA Journal of Graphic Design'' (ISSN 0736-5322), which in 2000 was renamed ''Trace: AIGA Journal of Design'' (ISSN 1471-3497). The journal ceased publication in 2003.
Between 2000 and 2003 AIGA published ''Loop: AIGA Journal of Interaction Design Education'', an “interactive, web-based” research journal on interaction and visual interface design co-sponsored by Virginia Commonwealth University’s Center for Design Studies.
Between 2004 and 2011 AIGA published ''Voice: AIGA Journal of Design'', “an online publication for the discussion of design matters” listing Steven Heller as its editor. Although the journal was stated in “What AIGA is doing and why” and had been cited in scholarly research, after AIGA revamped its website in May 2011 it was subsumed under AIGA’s main site and ceased to exist as a distinct entity.
Books
As part of its strategy to “publish critical thinking about design and designing”, AIGA also “copublishes selected works by thought leaders in design” under the imprint of “AIGA Design Press”. Published titles include
* ''The Open Brand: When Push Comes to Pull in a Web-Made World'' (Kelly Mooney and Nita Rollins, 2008)
* ''Digital Foundations: Intro to Media Design with the Adobe Creative Suite'' (Xtine Burrough and Michael Mandiberg, 2008), which was released under a
Creative Commons
Creative Commons (CC) is an American non-profit organization and international network devoted to educational access and expanding the range of creative works available for others to build upon legally and to share. The organization has release ...
license
* ''Designing for Interaction: Creating Smart Applications and Clever Devices'' (Dan Saffer, 2006)
* ''Designing With Web Standards'' ( Jeffrey Zeldman, 2006)
* ''Inside/Outside: From the Basics to the Practice of Design'' (
Malcolm Grear
Malcolm Grear (June 12, 1931 – January 24, 2016) was an American graphic designer whose work encompassed visual identity programs, print publications, environmental design, packaging, and website design. He is best known for his visual identi ...
, 2006)
* ''ZAG: The Number-One Strategy of High-Performance Brands'' (
Marty Neumeier
Marty Neumeier (born October 10, 1947) is an American author and speaker who writes about brand, design, innovation and creativity. He is currently Director of CEO Branding for Liquid Agency, a branding agency in San Jose, California."