Engage: AIGA Leadership Retreat

June 3–5, 2010

Agenda

Wednesday, June 2 Location

6:00–10:00 p.m. Pre-retreat event, hosted by AIGA Chattanooga Easy Bistro & Bar
Join AIGA Chattanooga at Easy Bistro & Bar for great food and 203 Broad Street
conversation in delightful company. Stay to enjoy Easy’s original Chattanooga, TN 37402
house cocktails, great wines and fabulous bistro fare. Come as www.easybistro.com
you are, when you like—Easy is a short ride on Chattanooga’s
free electric shuttle, or a pleasant 1.1 mile stroll from the hotel.

Thursday, June 3
8:30 a.m. Registration desk opens The Chattanoogan
Pick up your name badge, registration packet, buttons and a gift Ballroom foyer
from Adobe, our presenting sponsor. Sign up for Friday and
Saturday lunches or office hours and get your picture taken.

Chapters and communities may set up display tables, starting at

8:00 a.m. This is a great way to share outstanding materials you
have developed throughout the year. The display tables are set
up in the Ballroom and marked with your chapter name.

12:30 p.m. Welcome and opening Ballroom

Mira Azarm and James Hobbs, our M.C.s, welcome everyone to
Chattanooga and lay out what’s to come over the next few days.

AIGA President Debbie Millman addresses the group.

AIGA Chattanooga President Grant Little introduces us to the

city and chapter.

A brief presentation from our Presenting Sponsor, Adobe,

represented by Jane Brady, senior partner marketing manager.

AIGA executive director, Richard Grefé, describes the state of

the association.

Inspiration stories:

• Shifting from a sponsor-supported model to an event-

supported model, AIGA New York
• Addressing the creative needs of younger artist-designers
through programming, AIGA Chicago

2:30–3:00 p.m. Break Refreshments available

in the Ballroom foyer

AIGA | the professional association for design www.aiga.org

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3:00–4:30 p.m. Breakout sessions. Please select one.
Moderators focus on specific steps or tools that audience
members can implement in their own chapters, with heavy
audience participation.

AIGA > $300 Roberts

Growing your chapter’s membership can be as simple as
showing how much more value there is in AIGA than the $300
price of entry. Together we’ll break it down, tipping the scale
toward AIGA with every tangible and intangible benefit. We’ll
discuss growing a new chapter, keeping an established
membership strong and creating value at the local level.

Moderators: Patrick Carter, Jacksonville and Mike Gorman,

West Michigan

Developing smart programming Kelley

Discussion will focus on providing value-driven, relevant
programs to increase awareness of local and regional design
and to inspire and educate members while working with
limited chapter resources. Moderators will facilitate an idea
exchange and open forum for chapters to consider recent
successes and learn from missteps.

Moderators: Tyler Darden, Richmond and Chad Reichert,

Detroit

Chapter finances: lessons on managing, building and Crabtree

saving money
While most of us don’t have a lot of experience or passion for
numbers, smart, proactive management of the finances can
make or break a chapter’s success. In this session, we’ll briefly
review the important work of the chapter treasurer and the
ways this role can work with the board and chapter resources to
achieve success. We’ll share best practices, lessons learned and
success stories. Bring your chapter’s stories and accomplishments
to discuss in this valuable peer-counseling session!

Moderators: Christina Jackson, Minnesota and Don Savoie,

San Francisco

Utilizing social media Amphitheater

We all are aware of the power of social media but few of us really
know how to go about integrating it into our chapter’s
communications. In this session we’ll discuss how AIGA Seattle
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and AIGA Cleveland have integrated social media into their
chapters and try to steer you clear of the same pitfalls we’ve
experienced along the way. We’re also going to be sharing a few
examples of how we’ve integrated social media into events
themselves. And last but not least, in keeping with the topic,
we’re going to be expecting input from all of you as well.

Moderators: Kevin Berger, Seattle and Dawn Zidonis,

Cleveland

A fulfilling and rewarding board experience in 10 easy steps Walker

If only it were that easy: 10 steps to being the ultimate board
member of your chapter! Well, it can be, if you prepare
effectively. In this session we will discuss what it means to be a
leader in AIGA, how to help set the direction of your chapter,
ensure resources, get yourself (and others) motivated and how
to structure and organize your board so it’s running at an
optimal level.

Moderators: Kevin Perry, Salt Lake City and Jill Spaeth, DC

Competitions basics for chapters Chambliss

In this session we will discuss the logistics of starting and
running a competition, from judge selection, soliciting entries,
facilitating the judging process and then finding ways to
celebrate and showcase the competition winners. We will
discuss varied experiences and best practices from chapters
around the country, and we also want to hear from you! Bring
your chapter’s experiences, stories, challenges and
accomplishments to share with other attendees.

Moderators: Amanda Otter, New Mexico

Geographically widespread programming: chapters that serve Frierson

multiple cities or whole states/regions
Join us as we share best practices for regional events, our trials
and triumphs. We will take a look at how low-budget events can
help bring members together, and how a board can be
effective even when everyone is far apart. We will also discuss
how student groups, near or far, can get the most from the
chapter experience, and tips on learning how far members will
go to attend an event. Bring your questions and your advice, and
be prepared to learn new ways to bring your chapter together,
even when they are far apart!

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 Moderators: Amy Decker, Wisconsin and Doug Logan,
Central Pennsylvania

Partnership models for sponsorship Rose

Times are tough and it is harder than ever to find sponsors for
chapter events. This breakout session will focus on utilizing your
existing business connections, and determining what services
they can provide in return for sponsorship of events. We will
also be eager to take questions from attendees as well as hear
your successes.

Moderators: Brandon Bird, Boston and Jessica Dean, Blue

Ridge

4:30–5:30 p.m. Daily chapter debriefing Hotel-wide

Meet with your board members to discuss what you each
learned today and how you can share it with board members
back home, as presidents meet.

4:45–6:00 p.m. Presidents meeting Walker

All presidents meet to review essentials and prepare for critical
discussions at this year’s retreat.

6:00–8:00 p.m. Opening reception and ice-breaker Ballroom

To introduce yourself to fellow attendees, bring your chapter’s
buttons to trade with other chapters over conversation and
drinks. Further instructions will be given at the reception.
Remember to bring the two drink tickets in your name badge
pouch, each good for a free beverage.

Friday, June 4
7:30–9:00 a.m. Continental breakfast available Ballroom foyer

7:30–8:30 a.m. Office hours with Richard Grefé, Denise Wood and Mike Joosse Ballroom foyer,
Meet with Richard Grefé, executive director, Denise Wood, near Ballroom 3
chief operating officer or Mike Joosse, director of chapter
development, one-on-one to raise specific, questions, requests
and comments you may need addressed. Sign up at the
registration desk for an open slot.

8:00–8:45 a.m. Adobe CS5 presentation Ballroom

See the new features of Adobe® Creative Suite® 5 Design
Premium and hear about some exciting new technology in the

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 works. Jane Brady, Senior Product Marketing Manager, will talk
briefly about Adobe’s vision and what that will mean for
designers. Then, April Clark, Adobe Certified Trainer, will
deliver a short demo of Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and
new Flash Catalyst. All attendees must sign a nondisclosure
agreement at registration in relation to this session.

9:00–10:35 a.m. General session Ballroom

Inspiration stories:

• Focus on interactive design and social media, AIGA Arizona

• Focus on sustainability, AIGA Portland
• Y-Conference, AIGA San Diego

Engage: The Mandate for 2014 and AIGA’s future, Richard

Grefé

AIGA, design and solving social problems, Doug Powell and

Sam Shelton

Q&A

10:35–11:00 a.m. Break Refreshments available

in the Ballroom foyer
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Breakout sessions. Please select one.
Each presenter shares a case study and walks the audience
through it step by step, for a detailed analysis on that particular
event or initiative.

Regional chapter collaboration: competitions, programming, Rose

retreats
How do you reach across borders? AIGA Austin, Dallas and
Houston collaborated to create a statewide design competition
and traveling exhibit, The Texas Show. Find out how they
navigated uncharted territory with virtual voting, exhibit
logistics, regional conference calls and a shared budget, and
learn the end results in this session. AIGA Rhode Island and
AIGA Maine are the first in New England to collaborate for a
speaker event. The chapters in New England started the
regional collaboration conversation and are sharing the process
that led to a successful shared experience. Learn more about
these trajectories and how they might apply to your chapter.

Moderators: Jennifer Idol, Austin and Val Sloan, Rhode Island

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Student members and student groups: providing Roberts
comprehensive programming for students
AIGA is proud to be a professional organization that actively
includes students in nearly every capacity. In this session, you’ll
learn how to engage student members, from recruitment and
communication to programming and sustained membership.
Leslie Jensen-Inman, AIGA Chattanooga, will speak to the
challenges of forming student groups and motivating young
people to become interested, active and organized. Seth
Johnson, AIGA Minnesota, will share how to recruit student
members and how to provide programming, inter-collegiate
and leadership opportunities once students are on board. No
matter what the size of your chapter, students are critical to your
growth and sustainability; learn innovative ideas and strategies
to ensure that students are dynamic members of your chapter.

Moderators: Seth Johnson, Minnesota and Leslie Jensen-

Inman, Chattanooga

Creating digital content Ballroom

Our members are our audience, and we like to leave them
wanting more! Trailers build buzz for upcoming events and
screen at every gathering. Electronic media reach out to
members, sponsors and like-minded organizations. Roy Levitt,
Metro North vice-president, will explain how they have built a
library of event documentation online for members and
nonmembers alike. And using the chapter’s SEED Awards as a
case study, Doug Grimmett, Atlanta president, will show how an
event begins long before the doors open. And how it lives on,
digitally, for all audiences.

Moderators: Roy Levitt, Metro North and Doug Grimmett,

Atlanta

Better board management doesn’t have to be boring (well, not Walker

all of it)
Wonder if there’s a better way to manage your board, with so
many things to manage, including people, paperwork,
programming and more? Join us as we discuss ways to make
sure people stay motivated, things get done and your board
operates in a way that keeps your chapter energized and
organized.

Moderators: Amy Jo Levine, San Diego and Andrew Twigg,

Pittsburgh
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Documenting your chapter’s history Chambliss
Every city has a legacy and its people their individual stories. In
this session will be presented two case studies in the taking,
archiving and sharing of chapter histories and how these
histories may be accomplished:

Case study #1. Kansas City Chapter History

Case study #2. History of Graphic Design in South Louisiana
Oral History Project

Moderators: Nancy Sharon Collins, New Orleans and Robb

Smigielski, Kansas City

Successful event branding Amphitheater

Without a solid brand, even a great product is hard to sell. The
same holds true for your chapter’s events (unless it’s Stefan
Sagmeister). This session will focus on how to brand your events
to get the word out and reach your target audience. Elysia Syriac,
AIGA Colorado, will highlight how they utilized branding for a
fundraising event to engage a community of non-joiners into
participating, uniting different types of artists in our community
and generating excitement about design. Taylor Nall, AIGA
Charlotte, will share the process and benefits of developing
event series for consistent branding and how it has helped the
chapter streamline communications and planning for events.

Moderators: Taylor Nall, Charlotte and Elysia Syriac, Colorado

Design for social change Kelley

Designers are being called upon to engage in complex and
important social problems by using design methodology as a
working process. In this session Doug Powell and Sam Shelton
will use the 2009 Aspen Design Summit as a model for how
AIGA members as individuals, small groups and chapters can
participate in this effort in a meaningful way. We will be eager
to incorporate your ideas and experiences as we develop the
AIGA Design for Social Change program that will roll out over
the course of the next year.

Moderators: Doug Powell and Sam Shelton

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12:30–2:30 p.m. Lunch, on your own Sign up and meet with
Reservations made for groups to meet over lunch. Sign up for your lunch group at
open slots in lunches at the registration desk. First come, first registration desk
served.

2:30–4:00 p.m. Breakout sessions. Please select one.

These sessions focus on larger topics that incorporate
perspectives and approaches from across multiple chapters.
Panelists will share their experiences and respond to
audience-submitted questions; the audience will gain
knowledge and insights to develop or enhance their own
programs.

Planning a local Design Week Walker

An increasing number of chapters are planning and executing
Design Weeks in their communities. Hear from a variety of
panelists on the challenges and successes Design Weeks of all
shapes and sizes created in their communities. Learn the pros
and cons, what impact they had on chapter boards, what the
results were and what your chapter can expect if you decide to
host one.

Moderator: Jamie Koval

Panelists: Jim Nissen, Arizona; Maribeth Kradel-Weitzel,
Philadelphia; Kathy Kelley, Kansas City; Rachel McClung,
Iowa; Kristen Bouvier, San Francisco

Pursuing non-dues revenue Ballroom

How does your chapter make money outside of membership?
As the economy forces sponsorship models to change, chapters
need to seek new revenue streams from a variety of sources.
Hear from panelists that have found success through
development programs, merchandising opportunities, Felt
and Wire Shop and other unique ways and learn how your
chapter can increase revenue through new methods.

Moderator: Laura Shore

Panelists: Thy Doan, Salt Lake City; Craig Hughes, Nebraska;
Varick Rosete, Jacksonville; Christina Jackson, Minnesota

Sustainability Kelley
As more designers embrace sustainability at a wider level, so
too are chapters creating more comprehensive plans to address
sustainable ideas in more meaningful ways for members.

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Panelists will discuss ways to develop green programming at all
levels, from single events to multi-year initiatives, and how to
educate your members and community about sustainable
practices.

Moderator: Phil Hamlett

Panelists: Amy Fidler, Toledo; Lisa Holmes, Portland;
Gaby Brink

Effective communications strategies Amphitheater

Communicating with your members and attracting new ones is
increasingly important for all chapters. Chapters will discuss
utilizing PR tools and techniques, using Emma and email
programs to reach members more effectively and creating
strategies to communicate successfully with your community.

Moderator: Pam Williams

Panelists: Jane Naillon, Idaho; Matt Muñoz, Raleigh; Alison
Davis, Nashville; Charles Carpenter, Colorado

Innovative education and outreach programs Rose

This panel will discuss mentorship programs, K-12 and
college-level outreach and partnerships with educators and
universities to create innovative educational outreach programs
and initiatives. Learn how these issues affect your membership
and your community.

Moderator: Louise Sandhaus

Panelists: Dian Holton, DC; Rich Hollant, Connecticut; Karen
Kurycki, Jacksonville; Seth Johnson, Minnesota

Membership: engaging different disciplines Roberts

Diversity of membership means engaging different disciplines
outside the traditional models. Hear from chapter leaders on
how chapters can engage a variety of professionals in new and
meaningful ways, including in-house designers, freelancers,
interactive designers, motion designers, artists and more.

Moderator: Kenna Kay

Panelists: Andy Epstein, in-house evangelist; Michael Guthrie,
Memphis; Steve Ryan, Chicago; Dave Weinberg, Maine;
Andrew Twigg, Pittsburgh

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 4:00–4:30 p.m. Break Refreshments available
in Ballroom foyer
4:30–6:00 p.m. General session Ballroom
Designing Place-Based Change, Helen Johnson, CreateHere

Inspiration stories:

• Vegas Valley Book Festival, AIGA Las Vegas

• Annual student conference, AIGA St. Louis
• Center for Design, AIGA Cincinnati

Q&A

6:00–7:00 p.m. Daily chapter debriefing Hotel-wide

CONCURRENT WITH

Office hours with Richard Grefé, Denise Wood and Mike Joosse Ballroom foyer, near
Ballroom 3
8:00–10:00 p.m. North Chattanooga gallery crawl Frazier Avenue,
Explore Chattanooga’s thriving art scene on Frazier Avenue in North Chattanooga
North Chattanooga. Dinner is on your own.

Transportation
Shuttle transportation between the hotel and the start of the
gallery crawl will begin at 7:45 p.m. in front of the hotel.

Saturday, June 5
8:00–9:00 a.m. Office hours with Richard Grefé, Denise Wood and Mike Joosse Ballroom foyer,
near Ballroom 3
8:00–9:30 a.m. Continental breakfast available Ballroom foyer

9:30–10:55 a.m. General session Ballroom

Inspirational stories:

• Context design competition and exhibition, AIGA Pittsburgh

• Revinylize, AIGA Salt Lake City

Engage: Designers and their communities, Richard Grefé

Social engagement presentations:

• “Gain: AIGA Design and Business Conference”, Kenna Kay

and Stanley Hainsworth

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 • Living Principles, Gaby Brink and Phil Hamlett
• In-house engagement, Andy Epstein

10:55–11:15 a.m. Break Refreshments available

in the Ballroom foyer
11:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m. General session Ballroom
Community engagement presentations:

• Taproot Foundation, Jamie Hartman

• Chapter opportunities for community problem solving, Doug
Powell and Sam Shelton

Summary, and instructions for afternoon session on small group

discussions

12:15–2:15 p.m. Lunch, on your own Sign up and meet with

Reservations made for groups to meet over lunch your lunch group at
registration desk
2:15–3:45 p.m. Action plans and tactics for engaging communities Ballroom / Roberts
Choose among eight areas that would benefit from community
engagement and—applying everything you’ve learned so far
during the retreat—work with your group to develop specific
ideas for programs, initiatives or strategies that can be
implemented next week, in the next six months and next year.

3:45–4:15 p.m. Break Refreshments available

in the Ballroom foyer
4:15–5:45 p.m. General session Ballroom
Reporting of group ideas

Final Q&A

Synthesis and wrap-up

5:45–7:00 p.m. Daily chapter debriefing

6:00–7:00 p.m. Office hours with Richard Grefé, Denise Wood and Mike Joosse To be announced

8:00–10:00 p.m. Closing party presented by AIGA and AIGA Minnesota, host Waterhouse Pavilion
of the 2011 AIGA Leadership Retreat 850 Market St
The closing party will be at the Waterhouse Pavilion, a short Chattanooga, TN 37402
four-block walk or shuttle ride from the hotel. Food, drink and
music will be provided.

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Continuous motor coach service between the hotel and the
Waterhouse Pavilion will begin at 7:45 p.m. and end at
10:30 p.m.

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