AIGA national board welcomes new directors

NEW YORK—July 1, 2010. Beginning today, five newly elected members join the board of directors of AIGA, the professional association for design. In March, AIGA members elected the nominees to the 15-person national board, which plays a crucial role in ensuring that the organization continues to operate in the best interest of past, present and future members. The board also includes two ex officio members, the executive director and the chair of the chapter presidents council. As the new directors assume their roles, AIGA formally recognizes those completing their volunteer service to the board.

AIGA board members completing their service are:

• Shelley Evenson, Microsoft Startup Labs, AIGA Pittsburgh, explored a greater role for AIGA in the area of service design.
• Kenna Kay, TV Land/MTV Networks, AIGA New York, brought creativity and experience to AIGA’s recruitment and retention efforts by producing the engaging “Get Inspired” video; as co-chair of the 2010 “Gain: AIGA Design and Business Conference,” she has been instrumental in assembling a strong, intriguing line-up to appeal to designers as well as those in the business community.
• Vernon Lockhart, Art on the Loose, Inc., AIGA Chicago, ushered in a new generation of designers by helping more than 300 inner city students gain access and knowledge about career opportunities in design through Project Osmosis, a nonprofit arts-based education and mentoring initiative.
• Elva Rubio, Rubio Studio, AIGA Chicago, furthered AIGA’s strategic thinking on non-dues revenue.
• Laura Shore, Mohawk Fine Paper, AIGA New York, contributed greatly to AIGA’s sustainability efforts through her support of the AIGA Center For Sustainable Design, paving the way for the Living Principles for Design initiative.
• Lynda Weinman, lynda.com, AIGA Los Angeles, contributed to the preservation of AIGA’s legacy by producing a documentary which tells the story of an association that brings its community together to present and support its collective talents, while demonstrating to others the value of design.

Incoming AIGA board members
Five board members will begin three-year terms on July 1, 2010:

• Gaby Brink, founder and creative director, Tomorrow; AIGA San Francisco
• Phil Hamlett, graduate director, School of Graphic Design, Academy of Art University; AIGA San Francisco
• Deanna Kuhlmann-Leavitt, founder and principal designer, Kuhlmann Leavitt, Inc.; AIGA St. Louis
• Santiago Piedrafita, chair, Department of Graphic Design and Industrial Design, North Carolina State University; AIGA Raleigh
• Robin Tooms, principal, managing director and brand/web strategist, Savage, Inc.; AIGA Houston

Current members of the national board continuing their service are:

• Julie Beeler, co-founder/studio director, Second Story Interactive Studios; AIGA Portland
• Stanley Hainsworth, founder and chief creative officer, Tether, Inc.; AIGA Seattle
• Zia Khan (AIGA treasurer), president and creative director, Lucid Partners; AIGA Atlanta
• James Koval, president, VSA Partners, Inc.; AIGA Chicago
• Debbie Millman (AIGA president), president of the design division, Sterling Brands; AIGA New York
• Louise Sandhaus, professor of graphic design, California Institute of the Arts; AIGA Los Angeles
• Angela Shen-Hsieh, president and CEO, Visual i|o; AIGA Boston
• Brad Weed, partner group manager, Windows Live, Microsoft; AIGA Seattle
• Pam Williams, co-founder, creative director and partner, Williams and House; AIGA Connecticut

AIGA sincerely thanks those board members completing their service this year for their many extraordinary contributions, and welcomes the thoughtful insights of incoming board members for the 2010–2011 term. To learn more about each of the directors, please visit www.aiga.org/about-board-bios.

About AIGA

AIGA, the professional association for design, stimulates thinking about design, demonstrates the value of design and empowers the success of designers at each stage of their careers. AIGA’s mission is to advance designing as a professional craft, strategic tool and vital cultural force. Founded in 1914, AIGA remains the oldest and largest professional membership organization for design, and is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) educational institution.

For further information, please contact:
Jennifer Bender
AIGA | the professional association for design
Tel 212 710 3136   Fax 212 807 1799