AIGA at 100

There’s a legend about the very first meetings, in 1914 in New York City, about a fledgling startup comprised of book binders, paper makers, typographers, and printers. There was no infrastructure to this new organization, so for their initial gatherings it was requested that everybody bring their own chairs.

A century later, that became inspiration for AIGA 100, a year-long celebration of that same organization.

In 2012, I was honored to receive a call from Doug Powell, then AIGA president, with the offer to co-chair the AIGA Centennial committee, along with Michael Lejeune (AIGA LA) and Ann Willoughby (AIGA Kansas City). It was an enormous honor, and likely the pinnacle of my AIGA involvement. The four of us devised a slate of programs that were scalable and easy to implement — whether the chapter was 100 or 1000 members or more. To represent the flavor of each community, each of 70 chapters selected a local leader to skin a Real Good chair, donated by Blu Dot.

Pictured below are scenes from the two-day strategy session where we mapped out these ideas. And from the opening night party in 2014 inside the Fifth Avenue gallery. In partnership with Blu Dot, Design Army, and more.