 AIGA logo | |
| Founded | 1914 (1914) |
|---|---|
| Type | Professional Association |
| Location |
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| Locations |
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Area served | United States |
| Members | Over 18,000[1] |
Official languages | English |
Key people | Ashleigh Axios, Board President[3] Bennie F. Johnson, Executive Director[4] |
| Employees | 18[4] |
| Website | aiga |
The American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) is aprofessional organization fordesign. Its members practice all forms ofcommunication design, includinggraphic design,typography,interaction design,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.[5] 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.
In 1911,Frederic Goudy,Alfred Stieglitz, andW. A. Dwiggins came together to discuss the creation of an organization that was committed to individuals passionate about communication design.[6] In 1913, president of theNational Arts Club,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.[7] The committee formed includedCharles DeKay andWilliam B. Howland and officially formed the American Institute of Graphic Arts in 1914.[8] Howland, publisher and editor ofThe Outlook, was elected president.[9] The goal of the group was to promote excellence in the graphic design profession through its network of local chapters throughout the country.[10]
In 1920, AIGA began awardingmedals 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.[11]
In 1982, the New York Chapter was formed and the organization began creating local chapters to decentralize leadership.[6]
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.[12]
The AIGA, in collaboration with theUS 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 aPresidential Design Award. The remaining 16 designs were added in 1979.[13]
In 2012, AIGA replaced all its competitions with a single competition called "Cased"[14] (formerly called "Justified"[15]). 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".[14]
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 asGeorge Salter.[16]
On February 17, 2012, AIGA announced that it would cease organizing the contest and that future contests would be organized byDesign Observer.[17] This move has been criticized.[18]
The 365 was an annual design competition for all graphic design other than book design.[18] The last original "365" competition was organized in 2011,[19] after which it was replaced by the "Cased" competition. Starting in 2022, AIGA reintroduced 365: AIGA Year in Design[20]
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. The first AIGA Design Conference took place in Boston, Massachusetts in 1985.[21] Beginning in 2016, the AIGA Design Conference will be held annually with the 2016 conference held in Las Vegas.[22] Since 2016, conferences have been hosted byRoman Mars.[23][3]
As of 2022, the national board consists of[24]
Between 2005 and 2009, AIGA was briefly a member of Icograda (now calledIco-D). In 2010, it withdrew from the international organization, citing financial reasons.[25]
AIGA opened up membership beyond local chapters in 2014, for creative professionals living and working outside of the US.[citation needed]
In 1947 AIGA started publishing theAIGA Journal of Graphic Design (ISSN 0736-5322),[26] which in 2000 was renamedTrace: AIGA Journal of Design (ISSN 1471-3497).[27] The journal ceased publication in 2003.[28]
Between 2000 and 2003, AIGA publishedLoop: AIGA Journal of Interaction Design Education, an “interactive, web-based” research journal on interaction and visual interface design co-sponsored byVirginia Commonwealth University’s Center for Design Studies.[29]
Between 2004 and 2011, AIGA publishedVoice: AIGA Journal of Design, “an online publication for the discussion of design matters” listingSteven Heller as its editor.[30][31] Although the journal was stated in “What AIGA is doing and why”[32] and had been cited in scholarly research,[33][34] after AIGA revamped its website in May 2011,[35] it was subsumed under AIGA’s main site and ceased to exist as a distinct entity.
As part of its strategy to “publish critical thinking about design and designing”, AIGA also “copublishes selected works by thought leaders in design”[36] under the imprint of “AIGA Design Press”.[32] Published titles include
AIGA has also published the periodically updatedAIGA professional practices in graphic design[38] including a translation to simplified Chinese.[39]
In 2014, AIGA's editorial director Perrin Drumm[40] created Eye on Design[41] as a source for new and emerging graphic designers. Founded first as an online blog, Eye on Design grew into a multimedia platform that included a tri-annual print magazine, conference, event series, weekly newsletter, and social media activations.[42]"
Name changed to Trace: AIGA Journal of Design after v.18 no.2 (2000)
Subtitled: AIGA Journal of Design. Publication ceased as of April 2003..
Consulting Editor Steven Heller.
Editor Steven Heller.
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