I owe my career success to AIGA St. Louis

Commemorative Poster for AIGA St. Louis by Creativille. It glows in the dark. Printed by Handprints in St. Louis.

AIGA St. Louis turns 20 this year.

I wouldn’t be the designer I am today without my experiences as a member of AIGA. Without AIGA I would just be a this guy designing from a small town. With AIGA I’m a nationally known designer.

This valued career confidence came from many hours of volunteerism as a committee member, chapter board president, regional organizer, national leadership facilitator and national board member. In this case study of organizational involvement, I definitely received the value of my membership in AIGA.

Some designers wonder what are the benefits of joining AIGA. Well, just by joining, there are benefits listed on the AIGA Website. But, nothing listed compares to the benefits that come from being active in AIGA:

• I don’t think that HOW Magazine would have written an article on my first year in business without AIGA, plus subsequent contributions.
• I wouldn’t have been invited to judge HOW’s International Design Competition (along with AIGA chapter competitions in Washington DC, Cleveland, Richmond, Wichita, and Omaha–still waiting Honolulu).
• I wouldn’t have been invited to attend the first AIGA/Harvard (now Yale) Business Perspectives for Creative Leaders program.
• I wouldn’t have been able to drop into cities around the country and gather other AIGA members for a last minute happy hour like those times in San Diego, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Omaha, Des Moine and Minneapolis.
• I wouldn’t have been invited to Omaha for Reflex Blue Show podcasts and design workshops in Omaha, and lectures in South Dakota.
• And, I wouldn’t have an honest ability to drop names of rock star designers and the lattes we’ve sipped together over the years.

AIGA has blessed my career. And I owe it all to my friends in St. Louis. Happy Birthday AIGA St. Louis. Here’s to 20 more years. (I wonder if I could be President again?)

If you are interested in the ROI (return on involvment) of joining AIGA, you should seriously consider getting involved in your local AIGA chapter.

Filed under: 02 Be Passionate. (Inspirations), AIGA, AIGA St. Louis, HOW Magazine

Thanks for the nod.

Creativille has projects honored at the Fourteenth Annual AIGA St. Louis Design Competition.

Creativille has three projects that were honored at the April 3rd opening of the Fourteenth Annual AIGA St. Louis design competition at the Mad Art Gallery in St Louis, Mo. Work for the Edwardsville Arts Center, The Market at Busch’s Grove, and The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation were chosen by a panel of judges to be hung in the show.

Taking home a Judge’s Choice Award

The high honor of Judge’s Pick by juror Lisa Kitschenberg of Pentagram Partners, was awarded to The Edwardsville Arts Center’s Get Out the Vote Interactive Poster Exhibition, on their gallery wall at Sacred Ground’s Cafe in Edwardsville, IL.

This community exhibit included posters  taken from the AIGA Get Out The Vote campaigns of 2008 and 2004. The exhibit was held during election season on the gallery wall in a popular coffee shop, maintained by the Edwardsville Arts Center. The orientation of the posters predominately white spell out “VOTE.” Each poster was printed, padded in packets of 6 before hung, so that patrons could take their favorite to post elsewhere.
6 each of 132 designs were hung for an initial offering of 792 posters. During election season, all of the posters were taken and replaced one at a time. An estimated 1,188 posters were eventually hung, removed, and, then distributed by patrons of the coffee shop.

The Market at Busch’s Grove Brand Identity

Also, Included in the show is the complete integrated identity campaign for The Market at Busch’s Grove. The new high-end gourmet grocery in Ladue, MO contracted with Creativille, Inc. to produce a complete identity package from logo to advertising to Website to signage to introduce its brand to the St. Louis market. Creativille continues to assist The Market in telling its story through online social media, continued advertising and Website support. A complete document showing the branding package can be downloaded here. (Adobe Acrobat Required)

Thanks to the Judges for taking the time to fly in and judge the work of the St. Louis designer. Thanks to the organizers of the event. Each year, its a treat to see the best in design in the St. Louis area. And, thanks for the nod.

Filed under: Awards, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, AIGA St. Louis, Design Awards, Edwardsville Arts Center, Sacred Grounds Coffee Shop, The Market at Busch's Grove