“The AIGA Centennial is a chance to look back at our roots as designers and look forward to our growing impact in society. But more than that, it’s an opportunity to capture the many reasons design matters.”

— Richard Grefé, AIGA Executive Director

It’s been one hundred years and it’s time to celebrate. Help us recognize exceptional design during the AIGA Centennial through local activities, online interactive activities or a local or national event, including:

• The launch of 100 Years of Design, an interactive exploration of design’s rich legacy and growing impact. Visitors to the site are encouraged to learn more about American communication design through significant works, interviews and profiles, and then contribute their own favorite examples

• Centennial Voices, an essay series that will be published on AIGA.org throughout 2014. We’re inviting industry leaders to contribute personal reflections on the past, present and future of design

• Dozens of events and activities throughout the year within AIGA’s 67 chapters across the United States. Highlights include exhibitions, networking receptions, parties and celebrations honoring AIGA Fellows

• The Fellow Award, which is the highest honor an AIGA chapter may bestow upon one of its members. This year, Wisconsin will honor Christine Mau, Amy Decker and Ken Hanson. Each have made significant contributions to raising the standards of excellence in practice and conduct within our design community, as well as in our Wisconsin chapter

• Several public exhibitions that highlight design’s impact and the history of AIGA. Facing Forward at the AIGA National Design Center will celebrate AIGA’s history when it opens on February 19, and Century: One Hundred Years of Typeface Design will follow in April

• Drawn to Action: Posters from the AIGA Design Archives at the Denver Art Museum invites visitors to discover how design can be an extraordinary tool for change. A Visual History of AIGA at the Museum of Design Atlanta will showcase work that was created for AIGA by the design industry’s greatest talents

 
We are deep in planning a year of centennial-themed programming, which will include a blend of curated conversations and interactive service-based events that will capture and showcase the power of design in action. Please stay tuned for ways to be a part of this unique opportunity to look back at our organization’s rich history and influence its future. I look forward to a year of celebrations and for all the ways we will work together to evolve AIGA over the next century.