AIGA encourages the formation of student groups at colleges and universities and is committed to developing these groups as a way of encouraging students to take the first step in demonstrating a commitment to their professional interest and assisting them in understanding the profession.
AIGA student groups are a way of encouraging students to take the first step in demonstrating a commitment to their professional interest and assisting them in understanding the graphic design field. AIGA feels strongly that student groups should, as much as possible, be involved in programming their own events. This activity provides an opportunity for training future chapter officers and instills a sense of responsibility towards the needs of the group.
In Los Angeles, student groups are a fairly recent development. There are currently eight student groups in the greater Los Angeles area, each consisting of ten or more AIGA student members. A faculty advisor on campus is designated as coordinator for the group. He/she should be recognized as an asset of the chapter, assisting in involving the students in AIGA/LA and in programming for their own interests, in distributing materials and in keeping student records (particularly email addresses) current.
Each student group runs their own programs, from juried exhibitions to social events to lectures, adding to the rich schedule of design-related activities throughout Los Angeles. Check out individual sites for highlights of the 2004 school year.
For a complete list of student groups in the U.S., AIGA maintains
this list.
Be sure to also check-out Transitions. It is an e-newsletter created for AIGA student members to help in their education and eventual transition to the workplace as a professional designer. It includes a rich archive of articles from some of the best designers in our field.
The AIGA student group at Art Institute of California-Los Angeles mission is to connect students to the professional realm of graphic design, both locally and nationally. The group also serves as a means to creating community within the graphic design department. There are regular meetings of the members who create activities such as design lectures, competitions and discussions.
Founded in the Fall of 2001, the Art Center student group currently has 20 members meeting once a term. Events are held in a small auditorium at the school and open to all students. The group has hosted a variety of events under the title "3x3" (3 designers, 3 times a year) including: 3 Different Type Guys (Doyald Young, Jayme Odgers and Douglas Oliver), Emerging Designers in Los Angeles (Stefan Bucher, Lawrence Azerrad, and Edoardo Chavarin), a discussion on design firm principals who teach (John Clark, Clive Piercy, and Ania Borysiewicz), and the relevance of style (Margo Chase, Sean Adams, and Tamar Rosenthal). Under development are a few casual social events, such an evening at a local coffeehouse (to just hang out), an internet chat room (for the group to get tips of the best way to get the most out of the program), and a community service project. Each year the group helps send 6 students to the San Diego Chapter's Y Conference.
TO CREATE A VOICE FOR STUDENT DESIGNERS
We feel we can make important contributions to the field of design
TO DISCUSS AND DEBATE
A critical dialogue concerning contemporary design issues is integral to our growth as designers
TO ACTIVATE AND MAKE
Making design is exciting, we should take time to enjoy and share that excitement
TO PROMOTE COLLABORATION
One of our most valuable resources is each other
The CalArts AIGA student group was formed in November 2002. There are approximately 20-25 student members. We have member meetings once a month and board meetings (the board being student officers and faculty advisors) once every 3-4 weeks. Meetings are held on Fridays in the CalArts cafe from noon-1pm. Dates vary depending on the month. To get involved, please contact any of the primary contacts listed above or call Olivia at 714.624.6263.
One of our 2002/2003 year events included a bonfire at Dockweiler State Beach that we hosted in February. We invited a number of other student AIGA groups to this event where we became acquainted with one another and discussed the design profession as seen from a student's perspective. In April we had the first annual CalArts AIGA t-shirt show entitled "The World Needs More T-shirts." We printed and sold over 180 silk-screened t-shirts designed by student AIGA members and some of the faculty. This event served as a very successful fundraiser and mixer for our AIGA group, our alumni and our school as a whole. Other planned events include guest speakers at member meetings. We are also maintaining e-mail correspondence with other AIGA student groups with the hopes of initiating a collaborative project for sometime in the near future.
The AIGA student group is known as AIGA SAGA (Student Advertising Graphics Association). The group has group meetings every other week during the fall and spring semesters. Officers are elected in the fall and work with members on special semester and annual events. Some of those events include: Alumni Panel Discussions every semester, Gallery exhibitions on graphic design work, guest speakers from the industry, the Annual Spring Portfolio Day, workshops and much more. The group has developed a co-op through which the students are getting real world experiences with real design problems. This co-op does graphic design for the university and the community at a competitive rate. The students designed the cover for the University's Catalog; the University's President's holiday card; and a poster for the University's May Music Festival. Every year AIGA SAGA works on the invitation and program for an event called, the Convocation of Eagles for the CSUN Center for Disabilities Resources. In the community, the group designed projects for the Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles Fire Department, and the Porter Ranch Northridge Chamber of Commerce.
Founded in the Fall of 2005, the student group at Cal State L.A. has chosen the acronym GAUGE-Graphic Artist Union of Golden Eagles. The Golden Eagle is the university mascot. The group meets bi-weekly to discuss matters of design, and to plan events. A tour of Anderson Litho was conducted, with the Cal State Long Beach student group. The group is currently planning a Design Lecture Series for 2006-2007, as well another printing company tour. The group is actively participating in local AIGA Los Angeles chapter events.
The AIGA CSULB University student group represents the VisCom program at Long Beach State. The group has currently 21 members. The group organizes 3 events each semester (one guest lecture, one studio tour and one workshop). The main goal is to organize career-oriented events that will give students the opportunity to network within the design community and aid in the transition from the classroom into the workplace.
The Cal Poly Pomona AIGA student group is an organization aiming to improve the general quality of the educational experience for graphic design students by broadening creative and professional discourse and experiences.
UCLA Extension's AIGA student group was formed in 2001.
Our goal as a student group is to create an additional network outside the classroom by providing support,
awareness and exposure of the communication arts and graphics design industry.
Upon becoming a Design Communication Arts Certificate student at UCLA Extension,
students receive a one-year complimentary membership to AIGA,
enabling them to get involved in the discipline, practice and culture of designing.
The UCLA Extension AIGA Student Group hosts a variety of events including guest speakers, portfolio reviews,
workshops, studio and museum tours as well as group attendance at events hosted by the Los Angeles Chapter.
For the most current campus events please visit our student's group website www.aigax.org
The student chapter at the University of Southern California’s Roski School of Fine Arts began in the spring of 2006. One of the many goals of our student group is to elevate the creative skills of our students and diversify our knowledge relating to the field of graphic design and communication arts. AIGA USC intends to foster a sense of community amongst the student designers, and the fine art department, defining our presence on campus. Creating an active forum in which students can network, build peer connections and mentoring relationships are a key part of our purpose to create a more interconnected sense of community at USC and in the greater Los Angeles industry. Through communication and active interest, the AIGA USC student chapter will become a powerful platform for advancing our students’ education and ability to participate in the competitive and exciting world of design.
For the most current campus events please visit the chapter’s blog at aigausc.blogspot.com.
The Woodbury University group just elected new officers
as their semester finished. When school begins again in August they will have
group meetings every other week and officer meetings every other week.
They have approximately 25 student members. They regularly attend AIGA/LA
functions and also host Woodbury fuctions including campus gallery
exhibitions and speakers. In April they hosted an April Greiman lecture.
Student Members: Got a new website, or other project, you want share? Let the world know via Quickpost.
Does your school have an AIGA student group? Contact us to get it listed here, or to update the description.
