south beach retreat

I just got back from South Beach in Miami where i attended the AIGA National Leadership Retreat. It was amazing! Miami is a diverse cultural melting pot and a hotbed of contemporary art and historic architecture–a perfect place for the AIGA national leadership to address issues such as cultural diversity, community outreach and the value of design.

The retreat consisted of members from each of AIGA National’s 57 chapters across the country to discuss some of the national organization’s initiatives as well as to improve the methods used by each local chapter to manage events and membership. It’s also great to get together with other designers in the field to discuss different solutions to the many challenges we face. As the incoming Communications Chair of the San Diego Chapter, I have definitely come away from the weekend with some new ideas about where we are as an organization and what we might want to focus on to get us to the next level.

Some of the issues that were discussed at the retreat were: sustainability, voting ballot design/legibility standards, the value of design and the design profession, development of a viable design field in China, youth outreach programs, diversity within the design field and within emerging market demographics.

AIGA is the professional association for design. It’s mission is to advance designing as a professional craft, strategic tool and vital cultural force.

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