Happy Fall! Our board is back and excited to meet you this season, which is shaping up to be an action-packed one.
We wrapped up the last fiscal year with 30 events—an impressive 150% increase over the previous year—and welcomed over 2,000 attendees (a 233% rise!). If you came out to support us, thank you! We’re over the moon with your engagement.
During our summer retreat (check out our recap reel!), the board planned a vibrant fall season for 2024, with 33 events and four major public-facing initiatives. We’re excited to connect with you and the broader design community in impactful ways.
Advanced Figma Workshop First up, we’re hosting an Advanced Techniques in Figma workshop featuring guest speaker Jarvis Moore. Our basics class last spring was a hit, and we’re expecting the same this time around. There are only 35 spots available, so grab your seat while you can!
AIGA National Conference Viewing Party Next, we’ll be hosting a watch party for the AIGA National Conference on October 10. This year’s theme is “In the Margins.” The conference is virtual, but we’ll gather in person (location TBD) for beer, wine, light refreshments, and networking. Plus, we’re raffling off a ticket for one lucky attendee to enjoy the full conference experience from home.
Alina Wheeler Exhibition To honor the legacy of AIGA Philly’s matriarch, we’re hosting an exhibition celebrating the life and work of Alina Wheeler at the Philadelphia Design Center, starting October 25. The opening night will feature a panel discussion with people who knew Alina best, including Rob Meyerson, her co-author of Designing Brand Identity: A Comprehensive Guide to the World of Brands and Branding. This night will also shine a spotlight on students, one of Alina’s great passions. Our scholarship winners will be in attendance, showcasing their work and sharing their insights.
Student Engagement Workshop Speaking of students, our Student Engagement Director is organizing an all-day workshop in November designed to help design students fine-tune their interview skills, polish their resumes, and get professional headshots for their LinkedIn profiles.
Locally Sourced Issue 3 We’ll wrap up the season with the third edition of Locally Sourced, a juried competition offering students an opportunity to see their work published. This is a huge opportunity for new designers to gain visibility. We’ll cap it all off with an end-of-year celebration to honor these budding designers.
Donation Drive
But here’s the thing—we can’t do this without you. As I’ve mentioned in previous letters, the way we fund our programming has changed, and we need your help. Even a $20 donation can go a long way in helping us achieve more together.
I’m entering my final year as president, and I’m determined to take our community to new heights. We may not win them all, but we’re going to give it everything we’ve got! Our board, myself, and you; together, we’ve revitalized the Philly design community since the challenging days of COVID, and I’m so proud of what we’ve accomplished. Let’s keep moving forward, together.
