Top 5 Contributions Made as an AIGA NM Board Director
The nonprofit AIGA is the professional association for design (formerly known as the American Institute of Graphic Arts)
AIGA members are from numerous creative fields.
A seven year journey...
I got roped into AIGA during college, and within one year I found myself as the president of my university’s student chapter. After graduation I moved to Albuquerque, NM and joined the state chapter. It was actually quite fun, and not too long after I was recruited to join the board. I learned so much being part of the great team that keeps the state’s AIGA ship a’ sailing. And with that…
5 of my favorite, smile-worthy contributions made along the way:
EVENTS DIRECTOR -----
Thus far, I’ve held 6 roles while part of AIGA, but Events Director has felt the most impactful by-far.
Events are the single most tangible offering of an AIGA chapter. Events are what flows the blood of inspiration and impact throughout the network of creatives in a community, state, and nation.
And that’s what AIGA is all about: spreading that ‘blood’ which in turn enables and empowers the creative community as a whole to advance design as a professional craft, strategic advantage, and vital cultural force.
Hashing out the year’s events during a semi-annual board retreat.
Our chapter has hosted countless fantastic events over the years, such as:
- Annual Student Portfolio Review
- Film Showings at a local theatre
- Hands-On Workshops
- Studio Open Houses
- Art Exhibitions
- Speaker Series
- Coffee Talks - morning meetups across Albuquerque and Santa Fe
- Happy Hours - across Albuquerque and Santa Fe
- Members-Only Holiday Party
- Gallery Crawl Social
But let me share one event that I absolutely glow with pride to tell people about, CreateAthon...
EVENT MANAGER -----
CreateAthon — The largest, highest-impact event we've put on.
I organized New Mexico’s first-ever CreateAthon event. This was a 24-hour hackathon-type event where creative and tech volunteers worked through the night to create customized communication packages (such as websites, apps, branding, marketing materials, ad campaigns, etc.) for 10 local nonprofits.
All in the name of Design For Good and Hack For Change.
The local brigade of Code for America (Code for ABQ) collaborated with us on this event and really upped the size and impact of this event!
Secured:
– Donated venue space
– 17 sponsors (including Shutterstock and GoDaddy)
– Over 100 volunteer participants (professionals and some students)
– 23 nonprofit applicants
– Media coverage (talk show appearance, news station coverage)
- Film company volunteered to create a documentary of the entire 24-hour extravaganza!
Local talk show appearance.
In addition to event organization, I created the event website, branding, and collateral.
ANNUAL REPORT -----
The president, Lori Patton O'Hara, and I worked together to compose and design the first infographic-style Annual Report for AIGA NM.
Cover of annual report
What I really like about the annual report is that through data visualizations, the chapter’s work over one year’s-time is nicely summarized (the accomplishments as well as the challenges). Here are a few highlights from this first report:
– Additional energetic and committed board members, and increased involvement from Albuquerque (previously the bulk of board members were from Santa Fe):
– Held a record-number of events; more than in the past 4 years:
– Membership spiked, almost doubling in one year:
– Still working to increase engagement and membership across the state:
– Increased communication with our subscribers and followers:
– The chapter didn’t let the money sit in the bank, we put it to use on awesome events and offerings for our members, but still hosted creative fundraising exhibitions to maintain a workable balance:
– Summary of accomplishments and challenges:
– A nice shout-out to our members (who doesn't want a “Look Mom, my name is in the report!" moment!):
– Concludes with Calls to Action and Contact Info:
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR -----
Before directing events, I was courted by the call of communications.
It was part design work, part eloquent writing, and mostly a creative mission to inspire action — across eBlasts/emails, the local website, and four social media accounts.
A little of what that looked like:
– An evolution of our email template over several years, with graphics by myself and other designers on the board:
– Created various graphics and took photos to accompany sections in the emails, social media posts, and the website:
– Designed at-a-glance grid of upcoming event which displayed at the bottom of emails:
– Utilized various email banners and website thumbnails at different sizes and resolutions (designed by myself or other board members) for the chapter's multiple digital platforms:
– For each event, an announcement graphic was needed at different sizes for the email banner, the local and national websites, and social media. An example from a speaker event:
An example from a student portfolio review:
– Designed graphics for the local and national websites to announce New Mexico events and other happenings, plus wrote and up-kept the content on the local website (the list of upcoming events, posts, list of directors):
MEMBER -----
Board positions aside, as a member there were a lot of fun opportunities to contribute to the cause using artistic talents.
I created and donated the following pieces to different AIGA NM art exhibitions where they were part of silent auctions to benefit the nonprofit:
– “GRIND” Skateboard Art Exhibition & Auction
Painted an all-glitter art nouveau mermaid on the deck of a skateboard.
Titled: “Glimmering Lure”
– “Birdhouse 14” Art Exhibition & Auction
Created a bark-roofed birdhouse, surrounded in stones, and dripping with copper.
Titled: “Witch’s Mansion”
– “Ornament Auction 14”
Painted a gold, copper, and silver mermaid on a small melted glass bottle.
Titled: “Mermaid in a Bottle, Glass of the Sea”
– “Birdhouse 15” Art Exhibition & Auction
Submitted 4 pieces of birdhouse art:
(1) “Seashell and Pearl Encrusted Lighthouse” – a white seashell lighthouse.
(2) “House of the Ocean Fairy” – a gazebo-shaped oceanic birdhouse.
(3) “Sea Angel’s Nest” – a feather-lined basket with a backdrop of oceanic encrustations.
(4) “Spring Uncaged” – a birdhouse painting on a melted magnum wine bottle.
– “Ornament Auction 15”
Submitted 3 creations:
(1) “Gold and Copper Shell Duo” – a set of 2-sided gold and copper shell compilations.
(2) “Winter Wondersea” – a silver and pearlescent oyster and clam shell ornament.
(3) “Copper Mermaid, Emerald Sea” – a gold and copper mermaid painted on a mini green wine bottle that was melted flat.
– “Facing Forward AIGA100” National Exhibition in New York
Co-created a chair design to submit on behalf of the New Mexico chapter of AIGA for the national art exhibition celebrating the centennial of AIGA nationally. The exhibition was held in New York City and displayed one chair from each state’s chapter.
Titled: “New Mexico”
Thanks for reading!
