When I accepted the offer to become executive director of AIGA, the professional association for design, my mandate was to bring change. Less than 90 days into the job, the pandemic hit, and we faced decisions that would impact our staff, our programming, and our association. In that moment, we had to evolve, be dynamic, and work in concert with the community that was also evolving around us.
My goal was, and is, to be proactive, envision what’s around the corner and build a more contemporary association to be responsive to the needs of the community. We looked at the nexus of our greatest needs and the biggest opportunities and ideas so that we could inform, equip, and empower our staff, our volunteers, and our members. It was critical to develop an adaptable and fluid leadership style that could ebb and flow through the challenges 2020 presented.
I have always believed that change—more importantly, purposeful change—is what helps us see what is truly essential. I view our mission as a lens of change: to advance design as a professional craft, strategic advantage, and vital cultural force. That’s why AIGA spent the last 18 months spearheading a comprehensive research initiative to better understand the design profession.
Please select this link to read the complete article from ASAE's Center for Association Leadership.