Because of AIGA » Los Angeles

AIGA changed my world

mydarndest — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 17:20:17 +0000

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Six years ago, I attended AIGA / LA chapter’s gathering, when they invited Dawn Ahmed of Scion to give a talk on how Scion brand was launched. It dramatically changed how I saw brands. Six years later, I’m working with fortune 500 companies to shape their brand experiences and always inspired by how a straight company like Toyota can give birth to a fun and flexible brand like Scion.

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Thanks to AIGA / LA, the impact you brought to a young designer is now reflecting on how some of the world’s most influential brands interact with their customers.

Renewed my connection to “great”

mydarndest — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 12:54:07 +0000

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After seeing the latest film from design great Milton Glaser at the “open air” theatre with AIGA in LA, I reconnected up with what is great in those who design and believe in quality art, and, I returned to my studio and reconnected with Glaser’s “list” of which I have always tried to model my work and partnerships.

Reminded me of working with Milton Glaser while in the East and adopting his “List of 10″ things that Glaser had learned and shared during his career. The number ONE thing that he lists is “You can only work with people you like”. This is true in how you and your art are both working to solve a client’s issues…you can produce quality design solutions really only if you enjoy working with the partners you are helping or collaborating. Simple, do you like the people you are working with?

The AIGA is full of this type of collaboration. I hope to always be involved with, work with, and learn with the folks that LOVE their art or path in life.

A part of, not from

mydarndest — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 20:19:55 +0000

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I feel a part “of” rather than apart from…

Because Community Builds Character

mydarndest — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 00:02:06 +0000

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The barrier of entry to be a designer these days is quite shallow. Essentially buy a computer and software and bingo-bang-go there you go! Now for designers who place themselves in a community like AIGA, it becomes quickly apparent that design is much much more then that ability to manipulate vector or raster pixels on a computer screen with a computer mouse. As a member of AIGA since college at Colorado State University, I got the opportunity to meet new colleagues and see the advantage of networking and being around like minded professionals. About two years ago I moved to Los Angeles to attend the Art Center College of Design now in the graduate program, Media Design. Moving is challenging and even with the friends I made through school I realized that AIGA was a great alternative to meet designers outside my college and social circle. At Art Center I helped lead the college chapter and have won a scholarship through the local chapter. I also organized and drove a 31 foot RV with 7 other students from Art Center to the AIGA conference in Denver. Community makes life more fun and the statement its all about who you know become really pertinent in creative fields. Plus AIGA makes living in LA a little more tolerable which is nice.

Awareness in the design community.

mydarndest — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 23:34:32 +0000

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As a freelancer, I work pretty much alone; it is good to have an organization where one can meet fellow designers, network, share new ideas, and find valuable business resources where it would be more difficult for me to find on my own.

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Before I became a freelancer, like most designers who work for somebody else, I never thought much about the business aspect of running a design studio. Reality hits hard when I went solo. I am glad AIGA has so many resources that talked about business in the design industry. The local AIGA chapters (I’ve joined both Chicago and Los Angeles chapters in the past) have also brought awareness on important business issues that is very helpful.

Community, Networking, Internship, Awareness

mydarndest — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 21:04:13 +0000

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I joined the AIGA so that my school’s chapter could become a recognized AIGA student group. I wanted to become involved and this was my way to do that. I have volunteered for various AIGA events. I participated in the local AIGA Portfolio Review. This lead to me getting an internship. When I later transferred to art school. The contacts I had made through the AIGA helped me in my transition.

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I have been an AIGA member for 2 years. My membership has been very valuable to me. I am always trying to get my classmates to join the group and to get involved. Most of them can’t understand how this organization can beneficial to them. Fortunately for me this gives me a leg up on my competition.