This is a conversation about how relationships trump resumes, why Terry’s face ended up on the AOL homepage for impotence when he was 30, and what it means to build community when applying to 14 jobs gets you exactly one response. Also: how Brien built an entire staffing firm (Haystack Creative) on AIGA connections, and why the answer to “are you busy?” is always the wrong question.

Key Takeaways

• Relationships are the lingua franca of everything: Jobs, clients, careers—all of it comes down to who knows you and how much they care.
• AIGA was the only channel before online: National conferences and leadership retreats were how you met people and built your network across the country.
• Forge ahead (literally): Sometimes getting someone into the parties requires a trip to Kinko’s and some creative Photoshop work.
• Imposter syndrome is universal: Even self-taught designers who end up speaking across the country started out thinking they didn't belong.
• Volunteering is networking: If you’re looking for work, volunteer at events—you'll meet people and get in free.
• The job market is brutal, but it’s not you: Applying to hundreds of jobs with no response isn’t about your portfolio, it’s about the market.

Key Moments in This Episode

06:00 – The forged badge story: How Terry got Brien into Vegas AIGA parties via Kinko’s and Photoshop
10:00 – Meeting Michael Bierut with laryngitis: When Terry couldn’t talk and didn’t recognize one of the Michaels
14:00 – Taking turns on the board: How Terry and Brien have never served at the same time, and why that might have saved Terry’s marriage
22:00 – Erik and Brien’s origin story: How Brien’s dad—a pastor in Shelton—connected them
29:00 – Terry’s Photodisc fame: How a $40 photo shoot led to his face appearing on everything from Apple to AOL
33:00 – Relationships as business model: How Brien built Haystack Creative entirely on AIGA connections
42:00 – Solving the award book crisis: How Terry got 10,000 copies of a 350-page book printed when the deal fell through
46:00 – The job search black hole: Applying to 14 jobs, getting one “not filling this position” response, and the futility of AI-driven hiring
52:00 – How to actually get a job: Skip the portal, build relationships, find a recruiting firm, get face-to-face time

About Our Guests

Terry Marks is principal at TMarks Design, where he builds living brand systems that help teams move faster. A self-taught designer who co-founded Seattle's LINK program, he got his start in AIGA without even being a member—recruited by Jesse Doquillo to be the LINK liaison. He’s spoken across the country, appeared on more stock photography than he’d like to remember, and is currently back on the AIGA Seattle board.

Brien Thompson is founder of Haystack Creative, a recruitment and development expert specializing in design, UX, product, marketing, and creative industries. He’s been a connector in the Seattle design community for decades, serving on the AIGA Seattle Board as Sponsorship Director from 2002-2009. His career started accidentally—attending a Vegas AIGA conference with a forged badge, and discovering that relationship-based recruiting was his calling. He’s never served on the board at the same time as Terry—they take turns.

Featuring

Guest Terry Marks, connect on LinkedIn

Guest Brien Thompson, connect on LinkedIn

Host Erik Cargill, connect on LinkedIn

Host Rachel Elnar, connect on LinkedIn 

Support the Show

• Theme music: Loose Ends by Silver Ships Plastic Oceans
• Produced by Chapter 2 Media
• Subscribe to the Together by Design newsletter for more community-building and podcast episode updates

Sponsored by: Able Made, The Original Off Pitch Soccer Style: shop now
Sponsored by: Draplin Design Company, check us out!
Sponsored by: The People's Graphic Design Archive: browse, contribute, and research

This is a conversation about framing Soviet posters when the USSR fell, following Bennett on an epic Toronto restaurant walk where people dropped like flies, and why Terry Marks couldn’t get a date. It’s about saving a chapter post-COVID with one email (not a single person said no), winning a World Design Capital bid during a pandemic, and the direct line from AIGA leadership to starting charter schools. Also: why you should never, ever suggest auctioning lawn chairs at a board meeting.

Key Takeaways

• Fearlessness becomes culture: When your chapter starts by importing Soviet posters during the fall of the USSR, you set a precedent for taking on big challenges.
• Remove money from the equation first: The Y Conference was born when someone said “take money off the table—what would you want to do?”
• Sell sponsorships to cover costs, sell tickets for profit: This funding model sustained Y Conference for 26 years.
• Leadership retreats create lifelong bonds: AIGA friendships lead to weddings, godparenthoods, and collaborations that last decades.
• What you give comes back tenfold: Ron Muriello's advice proved true—AIGA leadership builds confidence and opens doors you never imagined.
• Chapters need to pass the torch: The generation that built these programs is getting tired of schlepping water bottles—new leaders need to step up.

Key Moments in This Episode

03:20 – Framing Soviet posters: How MaeLin got recruited to work shoulder-to-shoulder with San Diego’s design who’s who

06:00 – The posters that wouldn't leave: When the Soviet Union fell, there was nowhere to send them back to—so the chapter kept them for 25 years

14:00 – Bennett’s epic restaurant walk: When 40 people started following Bennett in Toronto and only 6 made it to the end

17:00 – Terry Marks and the STD billboards: Why Seattle’s gorilla suit guy couldn’t figure out why no one would date him

19:00 – That one intimidating retreat: When MaeLin walked into a room with all the Michaels and Jennifers—and felt like the only normal person there

21:00 – Following Jesse and Terry to start LINK: How a leadership retreat conversation led to 30+ years of San Diego’s mentorship program

24:00 – The backyard that birthed Y Conference: Guy’s challenge to dream big when the chapter only had $500 in the bank

26:00 – We are NOT auctioning lawn chairs: MaeLin’s breaking point that redirected the chapter’s energy

31:00 – 26 years of Y Conference: How San Diego became the first chapter outside New York to run a major design conference

32:00 – The email that saved the chapter: When MaeLin asked former board members to help save AIGA post-COVID, not one person said no

35:00 – World Design Capital bid: How AIGA experience gave MaeLin the confidence to chair a world-class designation—during a pandemic

45:00 – What AIGA gave back: From Harvard Business School programs to starting charter schools—the direct line from leadership to life-changing opportunities

About Our Guests

Amy Jo Levine is co-founder of Visual Asylum, past president of AIGA San Diego-Tijuana, and former Y Conference chair. A typography expert who teaches advanced typography and wayfinding, she spent 17 years on the AIGA board—about 15 of which involved moving, reinstalling, or shipping those Soviet posters. She specializes in environmental design and making spaces actually communicate with people.

MaeLin Levine is co-founder of Visual Asylum, an AIGA Fellow, and incoming President’s Council Chair for AIGA National. She helped San Diego Tijuana win the World Design Capital 2024 designation, co-founded the Y Conference, and started Urban Discovery Academy, a K-8 charter school in San Diego. She’s been proving that designers can lead anything since she walked into a room to frame Soviet posters in 1987.

Featuring

Guest Amy Jo Levine, connect on LinkedIn

Guest MaeLin Levine, connect on LinkedIn

Host Erik Cargill, connect on LinkedIn

Host Rachel Elnar, connect on LinkedIn 

Support the Show

• Theme music: Loose Ends by Silver Ships Plastic Oceans
• Produced by Chapter 2 Media
• Subscribe to the Together by Design newsletter for more community-building and podcast episode updates

Sponsored by: Able Made, The Original Off Pitch Soccer Style: shop now
Sponsored by: Draplin Design Company, check us out!
Sponsored by: The People's Graphic Design Archive: browse, contribute, and research

In 2016, they traveled to Raleigh expecting to feel behind. Instead, they found chapters in Colorado facing the exact same challenges. This is a conversation about building hubs when you can’t be in one place, using Zoom before it was cool, and why that random student email deserves a reply. Also: the story of a very crowded glass room that Rebecca may or may not remember.

Key Takeaways

• Geographic challenges are universal: Upstate chapters aren’t behind—they’re dealing with the same hub-building problems as other large-state chapters.
• Networking compounds over time: The person you meet at a portfolio review might help you land a job a decade later.
• Virtual events were necessary before they were normal: Upstate New York was doing multi-location FaceTime meetups years before COVID made it standard.
• Faculty relationships sustain chapters: Students come and go, but faculty stay—and they bring new students into the community year after year.
• AI is a tool, not a designer: Use it for spreadsheets and color palettes, not for the creative work that makes you human.
• Accessibility isn’t optional anymore: WCAG compliance deadlines are real, and design thinking can lead the way.

Key Moments in This Episode

07:40 – Nine cocktails, simultaneously: How upstate New York activated hubs across Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo, Albany, and beyond
09:30 – The human pyramid moment: When Doug realized this retreat was going to push him way outside his comfort zone
12:20 – “We’re not that bad”: Meeting other geographic chapters at Raleigh and realizing upstate wasn’t behind after all
16:45 – Staying connected through students: Why recruiting students into chapter roles keeps the community alive
20:10 – The Get Out the Vote posters: How a Raleigh conversation led to exhibitions at the Women’s Rights National Historic Park
24:40 – AI isn’t going to replace designers: It’s CorelDRAW all over again—a tool, not a threat
27:00 – Designing for accessibility: Why WCAG deadlines matter and how color-blind designers use AI for palettes
30:50 – Paying it forward: Why answering that random LinkedIn message matters more than you think

About Our Guests

Rebecca Mushtare is Deputy Dean of Graduate Studies and Professor of Interaction Design at SUNY Oswego, specializing in accessibility and data visualization. As Education Director for AIGA Upstate New York, she organized student conferences, educator dialogues, and portfolio reviews across the state.

Doug Bartow is Design Director for the New York State Design System at NYS Office of Information Technology Services. He served as President of AIGA Upstate New York and has been running portfolio reviews in the Albany area for 17 years—including helping coordinate nine simultaneous cocktail meetups across New York State.

Featuring

Guest Rebecca Mushtare, connect on LinkedIn

Guest Doug Bartow, connect on LinkedIn

Host Erik Cargill, connect on LinkedIn

Host Rachel Elnar, connect on LinkedIn 

Support the Show

• Theme music: Loose Ends by Silver Ships Plastic Oceans
• Produced by Chapter 2 Media
• Subscribe to the Together by Design newsletter for more community-building and podcast episode updates

Sponsored by: Able Made, The Original Off Pitch Soccer Style: shop now
Sponsored by: Draplin Design Company, check us out!
Sponsored by: The People's Graphic Design Archive: browse, contribute, and research

From parties that made the fire marshal nervous to retreats that sparked systemic change, they share lessons in leadership, legacy, and letting your weird ideas fly. Also: ghost tours, secret code names, and what happens when a national leader shows up and gets mistaken for security.

Key Takeaways

• Design is never neutral: Jay and Amy challenged who AIGA was for—and designed toward that
• Let the vision be weird: AIGA SF’s best programming came from instinct, not consensus
• Strategy that looked like a party: San Francisco’s signature move.
• Lead with impact, not polish: Jay reminds us that systems work beats showmanship
• Make your own template: They both pushed back on “default AIGA” in favor of community-first design

Key Moments in This Episode

01:05 – The earliest memories: student chapters, ghost tours, and blurry lines between volunteer and friend

03:40 – Amy’s presidency: events, vibes, and pushing the SF board into its weird era

06:00 – Jay’s turn: building a chapter brand that challenged national assumptions

08:25 – The party as strategy: from venues that smelled like cat pee to community as curation

12:40 – Fires, fire marshals, and the time Jay was mistaken for security

15:50 – Retreats and realignment: translating vibes into systems

18:30 – Leadership friction: why resisting default settings is part of the job

21:15 – After the presidency: when impact shows up in unexpected places

24:00 – Advice for future board members: don’t wait for permission

About Our Guests

Amy Gustincic is a designer and strategist based in the Bay Area, leading Studio Bellwether for over 15 years. She works with creative teams and organizations to articulate vision, align stakeholders, and turn possibility into reality. She also served as a past AIGA SF president, helping shape the chapter’s legacy of design-forward leadership.

Jay Ganaden is an experience strategy leader and creative executive, currently at Adobe. His career spans tech, finance, and design sectors—bringing a human-centered lens to complex systems and brand experiences. A former AIGA SF president, he believes deeply in “build it yourself” community-making, and using design as a mechanism for belonging.

Featuring

Guest Amy Gustincic, connect on LinkedIn

Guest Jay Ganaden, connect on LinkedIn

Host Erik Cargill, connect on LinkedIn

Host Rachel Elnar, connect on LinkedIn 

Support the Show

• Theme music: Loose Ends by Silver Ships Plastic Oceans
• Produced by Chapter 2 Media
• Subscribe to the Together by Design newsletter for more community-building and podcast episode updates

Sponsored by: Able Made, The Original Off Pitch Soccer Style: shop now
Sponsored by: Draplin Design Company, check us out!
Sponsored by: The People's Graphic Design Archive: browse, contribute, and research

Key Takeaways

• Say yes, then figure it out: Nick’s “yes-man” energy led to leadership, chaos, and deep connection
• Joy is strategy: Allan led with fun and intention—not formality—and it worked
• Improv leadership works: The Philly board thrived on a “yes, and” model
• Make the rules you want to follow: Their chapter challenged AIGA norms and still pulled off a national retreat
•  Design community is real: Lifelong friendships, national networks, and a bar under the bathroom sink prove it

Key Moments in This Episode

00:55 – First AIGA impressions: From Manhattan design to mutual funds and velvet curtains

03:10 – Allan’s big goal: Build community, make Philly matter nationally

08:30 – Building a gallery, a vibe, and a keg-fueled design hangout

16:40 – Spody, sponsorships, and mystery wine in milk bottles

21:50 – The bathroom bar: Allan’s secret stash under the sink

28:40 – Salt Lake City retreat: colonial costumes and on-stage panic

35:40 – After-after-parties: A ruined mattress and a disassembled sink

42:10 – Leading by vibes: how Allan brought out the best in everyone

46:30 – The “yes, and” board: fun first, excellence followed

About Our Guests

Allan Espiritu is a designer, educator, and founder of GDLOFT PHL. He served as President of AIGA Philadelphia and is Chair of Graphic Design at Rutgers–Camden. Known for blending creative rigor with rebellious energy, Allan helped put Philly’s design scene—and its parties—on the map.

Nick Prestileo is a creative operations leader, design educator, and former AIGA Philadelphia President. Known for his spreadsheet skills, mascot costumes, and unstoppable yes-saying, Nick helped build one of AIGA’s most memorable chapter cultures.

Featuring

Guest Allan Espiritu, connect on LinkedIn

Guest Nick Prestileo, connect on LinkedIn

Host Erik Cargill, connect on LinkedIn

Host Rachel Elnar, connect on LinkedIn 

Support the Show

• Theme music: Loose Ends by Silver Ships Plastic Oceans
• Produced by Chapter 2 Media
• Subscribe to the Together by Design newsletter for more community-building and podcast episode updates

Sponsored by: Able Made, The Original Off Pitch Soccer Style: shop now
Sponsored by: Draplin Design Company, check us out!
Sponsored by: The People's Graphic Design Archive: browse, contribute, and research

In the late 1990s, before you could connect with designers online, AIGA was the only game in town. And getting seated next to the right person at a leadership dinner could change everything.

This is the story of how two people who didn’t quite fit in helped transform AIGA from an exclusive club into something more like a real community—one email, one dinner, one “yes” at a time.

Key Takeaways

• AIGA retreats were the only channel: Before digital, sitting next to the right person at dinner could change your career.
• Both sides felt excluded: Too experimental and too commercial designers have been shut out by AIGA—sometimes at the same time
• Getting kicked out taught inclusion: Being told her work was too commercial shaped how Debbie led as president.
• Leadership means making space: Especially for people who feel like outsiders.
• Saying yes builds community: To emails, invitations, and people who aren’t in the club.
• AIGA survived by embracing change: Desktop publishing, the internet, social media—every threat became an evolution.

Key Moments in This Episode

03:08 – The dinner that changed everything: Debbie sits next to Michael at the Baltimore leadership retreat
11:06 – Why that first dinner mattered: AIGA felt elitist, and the warmth of one conversation shifted everything
12:33 – The evolution question: Milton Glaser voices what democratizing AIGA will mean for the organization's identity
18:46 – Getting kicked out: Debbie is removed from the brand experience group for being too commercial
27:59 – AIGA’s impact on career: Both credit the organization as essential to their success
30:12 – Before digital connection existed: AIGA was the only way designers could meet each other
49:23 – Leadership advice: When in doubt, say yes
52:58 – Making people feel seen: Why Michael still answers every email he receives

About Our Guests

Debbie Millman is one of the most influential voices in contemporary design. Her podcast Design Matters is celebrating 20 years of documenting design culture with over 500 episodes, while her leadership at AIGA and SVA has helped democratize access to design education and community. A prolific author, brand consultant, and artist, she's built a career on the belief that design should be inclusive, intellectually rigorous, and deeply human.

Michael Bierut is a designer's designer—a Pentagram partner for 35 years (now semi-retired) whose client work is matched by his contributions to design discourse and education. From co-founding Design Observer to serving as AIGA President during a pivotal era of digital transformation, he's helped shape how designers think about their profession. For over three decades, he's taught at Yale School of Art, where his influence extends far beyond any single project or logo.

Featuring

Guest Debbie Millman, connect on LinkedIn

Guest Michael Beirut, connect on LinkedIn

Host Erik Cargill, connect on LinkedIn

Host Rachel Elnar, connect on LinkedIn 

Support the Show

• Theme music: Loose Ends by Silver Ships Plastic Oceans
• Produced by Chapter 2 Media
• Subscribe to the Together by Design newsletter for more community-building and podcast episode updates

Sponsored by: Able Made, The Original Off Pitch Soccer Style: shop now
Sponsored by: Draplin Design Company, check us out!
Sponsored by: The People's Graphic Design Archive: browse, contribute, and research

From barstool pivots to back-to-back retreats, they unpack what it really means to lead with purpose, listen with humility, and make the design world feel a little less lonely. 

Key Takeaways

• Mentorship multiplies: Both Oen and Carlos credit student connections as their reason for staying in AIGA for the long haul.
• Listening matters: Some of the best leadership moments come from pausing, not pushing.
• Lead from the middle: Being on the team doesn’t always mean being in the spotlight.
• Keep the ladder down: They’ve both benefitted from people making space—and now they do the same.
• Representation matters: Seeing someone like you can shift an entire career path.

Key Moments in This Episode

00:55 – First AIGA impressions: A bar conversation that leads to decades of service

03:20 – From Puerto Rico to Detroit: Carlos finds design and identity at work

05:10 – Sorority house, party of one: Oen’s student housing surprises

07:40 – Finding community at AIGA Austin and AIGA Detroit

09:30 – Retreats that reveal real leadership: especially the awkward ones

12:20 – Letting others lead: why stepping back is a power move

16:45 – Students, stories, and staying connected

20:10 – The task force that changed everything

24:40 – Designing inclusion vs. checking boxes

27:00 – How local culture shaped each chapter’s evolution

30:50 – Advice for future leaders: Make space, then hold it

34:10 – The quiet confidence that builds belonging

About Our Guests

Carlos Estrada is a Creative Director and Information Architect with two decades of experience in print and digital design. He specializes in typography, interaction, and brand strategy—using design as a tool for communication and problem-solving. He’s worked with clients from Herman Miller to grassroots nonprofits and serves in AIGA leadership as Equity Chair and Detroit President. He also mentors through multiple community programs, championing inclusive design and meaningful impact.

Oen Michael Hammonds is a Senior Design Director who works at the intersection of design and business, guiding the strategy and delivery of experiences that support clear goals and real user needs. He partners across teams to build scalable, human-centered solutions. He also teaches globally and mentors early- and mid-career designers, sharing honest stories about the challenges and victories that shape a design career.

Featuring

Guest Carlos Estrada, connect on LinkedIn

Guest Oen Michael Hammonds, connect on LinkedIn

Host Erik Cargill, connect on LinkedIn

Host Rachel Elnar, connect on LinkedIn 

Support the Show

• Theme music: Loose Ends by Silver Ships Plastic Oceans
• Produced by Chapter 2 Media
• Subscribe to the Together by Design newsletter for more community-building and podcast episode updates

Sponsored by: Able Made, The Original Off Pitch Soccer Style: shop now
Sponsored by: Draplin Design Company, check us out!
Sponsored by: The People's Graphic Design Archive: browse, contribute, and research

They talk about the unexpected ways they found AIGA, what it means to lead with trust instead of ego, and why showing up with openness (and a well-placed DM) can create real change. There’s a quiet kind of bravery in simply showing up—and these two prove it matters.

Key Takeaways

• Don’t wait for permission: Carolyn stepped into the presidency during a leadership gap—without a plan, but with purpose.
• Cold DMs work: Taylor reached out to AIGA before he even graduated, and ended up president.
• Trust is everything: Both leaders focused on vulnerability and connection, not titles.
• Design solves everything: Even event engagement—just ask the Mullet Meter.
• Leave it better: Good leaders set others up to thrive after they’re gone.

Key Moments in This Episode

• 00:40 – Carolyn’s accidental presidency: stepping up during a leadership gap
• 03:20 – Taylor’s cold DM: reaching out to AIGA before graduating
• 06:05 – From college volunteer to board president: Taylor’s rise
• 08:10 – Leading with trust: Carolyn’s core approach
• 10:40 – Building the next team: why mentorship mattered
• 13:00 – Bridging leadership styles: collaborative handoffs and honest reflection
• 15:10 – The Mullet Meter: a playful way to track event vibes
• 16:30 – What future leaders need: permission, support, and follow-through

About Our Guests

Carolyn Colonna is a designer and creative leader based in Boston, MA. Her early career was spent in North Carolina where she helped steer AIGA Charlotte through a leadership gap with a human-centered, trust-first approach. Today she continues to create experiences and environments where creativity and connection thrive. 

Taylor Nall is the VP of Technology for carbonhouse, a digital agency based in Charlotte, North Carolina and was AIGA Charlotte’s youngest chapter president. He brought a fresh take on leadership, proving that initiative, authenticity, and a good sense of humor can take you far.

Featuring

Guest Carolyn Colonna, connect on LinkedIn

Guest Taylor Nall, connect on LinkedIn

Host Erik Cargill, connect on LinkedIn

Host Rachel Elnar, connect on LinkedIn 

Support the Show

• Theme music: Loose Ends by Silver Ships Plastic Oceans
• Produced by Chapter 2 Media
• Subscribe to the Together by Design newsletter for more community-building and podcast episode updates

Sponsored by: Able Made, The Original Off Pitch Soccer Style: shop now
Sponsored by: Draplin Design Company, check us out!
Sponsored by: The People's Graphic Design Archive: browse, contribute, and research

Key Takeaways

• You had to earn it: Retreats weren’t perks—they were rewards for doing the work.
• Brave questions open doors: Jenn’s habit of speaking up led to a lifelong friendship.
• Design for Good made waves: Local efforts grew into national campaigns with real impact.
• Relationships were the pipeline: Conferences led to collaborations, career moves—and family vacations.
• Small chapters mattered: Big ideas came from all corners, not just the coasts.
• You don’t need to pyramid: Even the cautious (hi Jenn) found their place—and their people.

Key Moments in This Episode

1. 00:45 – Meeting at Austin: Jenn and Justin cross paths at a leadership retreat and bond over a big design question
2. 04:15 – Chapter to national: How local board service led to the AIGA national stage
3. 06:40 – Design family: Retreats became the annual reunion neither of them wanted to miss
4. 08:40 – Commitment check: Rachel skips a cousin’s wedding to attend the Denver retreat
5. 10:00 – Heroes, humanized: From Debbie Millman karaoke to airport pickups with Kit Hinrichs
6. 12:20 – One brave question: Jenn speaks up, Justin notices—and a friendship begins
7. 17:55 – Chaos and costumes: Pizza suits, pyramid photos, and how scale gave projects life
8. 23:45 – Real-world prep: AIGA board service trained them for academic and agency leadership
9. 30:45 – What’s “good” now?: Memes, AI, and the missing design role models
10. 44:50 – Path to Impact: How one national initiative started with 200 members in Cleveland

About Our Guests

Jenn Visocky O’Grady  Jenn is Associate Dean and full professor at Cleveland State University, co-founder of AIGA Cleveland’s student chapter, and co-author of The Information Design Handbook (and three other books) with her husband Ken. Her design work has appeared in How, Print, and Communication Arts. These days she leads a massive academic department and still finds time for pyramid photos, family vacations, and community impact. Also known as “Safety Jen.”

Justin Ahrens  Justin is Chief Creative Officer of Rule29, a Certified B Corp focused on using design to create positive impact. He’s a TEDx speaker, podcast host (Design Of, Creative Shit Show), and co-creator of initiatives like Wheels for Water, which helped bring clean water access to over 20,000 people. He believes in community, vulnerability, and big swings—and credits AIGA for the most meaningful friendships in his life.

Featuring

• Guest Jenn Visocky O’Grady, connect on LinkedIn
• Guest Justin Ahrens, connect on LinkedIn
• Host Erik Cargill, connect on LinkedIn
• Host Rachel Elnar, connect on LinkedIn

Support the Show

• Theme music: Loose Ends by Silver Ships Plastic Oceans
• Produced by Chapter 2 Media
• Subscribe to the Together by Design newsletter for more community-building and podcast episode updates

Sponsored by: Able Made, The Original Off Pitch Soccer Style: shop now
Sponsored by: Draplin Design Company, check us out!
Sponsored by: The People's Graphic Design Archive: browse, contribute, and research

Key Takeaways

• Small chapters, big impact: Even under 100 members, Blue Ridge launched programs like Flux and Mock Up that went national.
• Jumping in works: Both Laurel and Jamey stepped into leadership without a roadmap and kept their chapter alive.
• Retreats change everything: Omaha, Denver, Grand Rapids, and Raleigh weren’t just meetings—they were accelerators for ideas and friendships.
• Traditions matter: Human pyramids, beer swaps, and the “6 a.m. club” became part of AIGA lore.
• Design for Good lives on: Early AIGA initiatives continue to guide their purpose-driven client work.
• Core values lead the way: Defining principles helped them align business, life, and leadership.

Key Moments in This Episode

1. 00:45 – Meeting at Pivot: Laurel and Jamey cross paths in Phoenix over a Design for Good panel and one unforgettable question.
2. 03:40 – Long-distance beginnings: Flying between West Virginia and California before deciding to make it official.
3. 06:15 – From treasurer to president: Jamey’s reluctant start in Blue Ridge leadership.
4. 07:40 – Jumping into the deep end: Laurel volunteers to be chapter president just months after moving cross-country.
5. 09:10 – Small but mighty: How Blue Ridge grew student programming and turned Flux into an international competition.
6. 13:25 – Retreat icebreakers: Jamey’s first encounter with Debbie Millman—and Omaha’s unforgettable Embassy Suites jungle.
7. 16:20 – Pyramid initiation: Laurel’s first glimpse of the human pyramid tradition at Grand Rapids.
8. 18:50 – Beer swaps and rooftop hangs: Why retreat room parties built lasting connections.
9. 20:30 – Finding belonging: When retreats transformed AIGA from cliquish to “these are my people.”
10. 25:20 – Lessons that stick: How facilitation, mentorship, and collaboration still shape their client work today.
11. 27:40 – From design to place: Current projects helping Alabama communities connect history, heritage, and future growth.
12. 34:40 – Core values in the air: A plane ride that pushed them to define personal and business principles.
13. 36:10 – Power of intimacy: Why small chapters created trust, agency, and innovation.
14. 40:00 – Punching above their weight: Blue Ridge’s Mock Up, mentoring tours, and even high school outreach.

About Our Guests

Laurel Webster is Principal and Creative Director of Hersick+Webster Creative Partners, the brand marketing agency she co-founded with her husband, James. Their award-winning work helps purpose-driven organizations create meaningful solutions for people and places, earning recognition from GDUSA, Print, and the Art Director’s Club. A California native now based in West Virginia, Laurel also serves on local nonprofit boards, teaches yoga, and stays busy with long-distance running, two sons, and three dogs.

James Hersick is Principal and Director of Strategy and Design Impact at Hersick+Webster Creative Partners, where he draws on more than 20 years of experience to help organizations build thriving, purpose-driven communities. His work spans five continents and has been honored by GDUSA, Print, and the Art Director’s Club. Active in his local community as a board member and organizer, James is also a writer, artist, and outdoorsman—when he’s not busy being Dad to two boys and three dogs.

Featuring

• Guest Laurel Webster, connect on LinkedIn
• Guest James Hersick, connect on LinkedIn
• Host Erik Cargill, connect on LinkedIn
• Host Rachel Elnar, connect on LinkedIn

Support the Show

• Theme music: Loose Ends by Silver Ships Plastic Oceans
• Produced by Chapter 2 Media
• Subscribe to the Together by Design newsletter for more community-building and podcast episode updates

Sponsored by: Able Made, The Original Off Pitch Soccer Style: shop now
Sponsored by: Draplin Design Company, check us out!
Sponsored by: The People's Graphic Design Archive: browse, contribute, and research

Key Takeaways

• Run chapters like businesses: Sustainable structure beats constant one-off burnout.
• Financial stewardship matters: Turning deficits into reserves made big programs possible.
• Retreats are culture accelerators: They forged instant friendships and solved common challenges across chapters.
• Traditions build bonds: Pyramids, karaoke, and late-night hot dog runs made retreats unforgettable.
• Mentorship pays forward: Early AIGA leaders inspired Kevin and Aaron to support the next generation.
• Leadership translates: Board lessons built confidence, shaped careers, and even extended into new adventures beyond design.

Key Moments in This Episode

1. 00:21 – From students to presidents: Kevin and Aaron trace their paths into AIGA Seattle leadership, from board interviews to co-leading the chapter.  
2. 05:46 – Building structure like a business: How they shifted Seattle’s chapter from burnout one-offs to sustainable programs like Schmooze.  
3. 10:33 – Turning red into black: Facing down a negative budget, they created financial sustainability and rebuilt the chapter’s reserves.  
4. 14:20 – Into the Woods: The origin of Seattle’s beloved design camp, and the struggle to make big conferences both meaningful and solvent.  
5. 20:52 – Connections that matter: Kevin recalls how early mentors like Terry Marks and Jesse Duquillo inspired him to pay it forward to young designers.  
6. 29:14 – Retreat revelations: Why leadership retreats felt like “college on steroids,” with instant connections and problem-solving across chapters.  
7. 36:40 – Hot dog diplomacy: The unforgettable 3 a.m. Denver street-corner memory—bonding quietly over hot dogs amid city chaos.  
8. 42:12 – Pyramid time: How spontaneous human pyramids became the unofficial leadership-retreat tradition (yes, even in elevators).  
9. 48:29 – Swim-off showdown: Aaron’s hilarious “race” against Raleigh president Matt Enios—complete with sabotage.  
10. 55:18 – Karaoke choreography: Aaron’s Proud Mary performance—with full backup dancers—cemented his legend at retreat karaoke.  
11. 1:05:42 – Beyond AIGA: Life after board service—Kevin focused on agency leadership, while Aaron became a certified charter captain leading fishing trips.  

About Our Guests

Kevin Berger is Executive Creative Director and Partner at Graphiti, where he’s led creative strategy for Amazon, Starbucks, Tableau, and more. He served as Programming Director, VP, and President of AIGA Seattle, helping stabilize its programs and finances.

Aaron Shurts is Founder and Principal of Mentor Creative Group, a Seattle-based design and technology agency. With over two decades of experience, he’s held leadership roles at Deloitte Digital, taught at the Art Institutes, and served as AIGA Seattle Vice President and President. Outside design, Aaron is a certified charter captain leading marine adventures in the Pacific Northwest.

Featuring

• Guest Kevin Berger, connect on LinkedIn
• Guest Aaron Shurts, connect on LinkedIn
• Host Erik Cargill, connect on LinkedIn
• Host Rachel Elnar, connect on LinkedIn

Support the Show

• Theme music: Loose Ends by Silver Ships Plastic Oceans
• Produced by Chapter 2 Media
• Subscribe to the Together by Design newsletter for more community-building and podcast episode updates

Sponsored by: Able Made, The Original Off Pitch Soccer Style: shop now
Sponsored by: Draplin Design Company, check us out!
Sponsored by: The People's Graphic Design Archive: browse, contribute, and research

Key Takeaways:

• How a bag of Pringles sparked a legendary retreat icebreaker 
• Why Miami might actually be the birthplace of the pyramid (sorry, Omaha)
• The mysterious origins of the 6 a.m. Club and why it still lives on
• Behind the scenes of Jacksonville’s epic “room parties” (and why they weren’t really in Jacksonville’s room)
• Building lasting community impact—from high school mentorship programs to 70+ chapter events a year

It’s a trip down memory lane that shows how design leadership is equal parts planning, partying, and people-first community building.

Key Moments in This Episode

1. 00:16 – Meet the Jacksonville duo: Karen “CMYKaren” Kurycki and Varick Rosete, design leaders known for blending creativity, leadership, and community.
2. 02:21 – Karen’s AIGA journey: From volunteer chair to chapter president to launching the Discover Design mentorship program.
3. 05:19 – Varick’s fast track: How a love for connecting people turned into a leap from membership to VP to president.
4. 06:45 – Miami retreat memories: Poolside beers, Pringles trivia, and the surprising birthplace of the pyramid.
5. 10:14 – Pyramid engineering: Napkin sketches, five-tier ambitions, and why security guards weren’t amused.
6. 12:00 – Masked introductions: Jacksonville’s Michael Jackson masks made a memorable (and sweaty) first impression.
7. 13:41 – Crashing retreats: How Varick became known for sneaking into leadership gatherings without a badge.
8. 19:14 – Designing for good: Karen shares how social design talks inspired a decade-long mentorship program in Jacksonville.
9. 26:40 – The Jacksonville party myth: Why their chapter became legendary for gatherings—even when they weren’t technically the hosts.
10. 29:54 – The 6 a.m. Club: The origin story of an all-night tradition that stretched across multiple retreats.
11. 37:23 – 76 events in one year: The ambitious streak that energized (and nearly exhausted) AIGA Jacksonville.
12. 40:16 – Beyond AIGA: How both leaders continue to shape community after their official chapter roles.

About our guests

Karen Kurycki – Designer, illustrator, and socially engaged creative known for her watercolor work and civic design projects. Former AIGA Jacksonville president and creator of Discover Design, a mentorship program for students.

Varick Rosete – Chief Design Officer at TigerLily, longtime Jacksonville design leader, and former AIGA Jacksonville president. Known for connecting cultural resonance with design and building community through events like One Spark Festival.

Featuring

• Guest Karen Kurycki, connect on LinkedIn
• Guest Varick Rosete, connect on LinkedIn
• Host Erik Cargill, connect on LinkedIn
• Host Rachel Elnar, connect on LinkedIn

Support the Show

• Theme music: Loose Ends by Silver Ships Plastic Oceans
• Produced by Chapter 2 Media
• Subscribe to the Together by Design newsletter for more community-building and podcast episode updates

Sponsored by: Able Made, The Original Off Pitch Soccer Style: shop now
Sponsored by: Draplin Design Company, check us out!
Sponsored by: The People's Graphic Design Archive: browse, contribute, and research

Key Takeaways

• How two Philly designers turned a chapter with little visibility into a thriving creative hub
• Why uncovering hidden membership funds changed everything for programming
• The origin story of the Philadelphia Design Awards and how it elevated local work
• What really happened at the Miami retreat hot tub (and why Kelly thought, “I’m too old for this”)
• How chapter skits, stunts, and T-shirt performances built camaraderie across cities
• The leadership secret: motivating volunteers by tapping into their personal “why”
• How Philly grew its membership from the 500s to nearly 800 with bold, people-first strategies

Episode Chapters

1. 00:46 – Meet Kelly Holohan: Designer‑activist, educator, former AIGA Philly president focused on LGBTQ+, women’s rights, and environmental justice.  
2. 01:15 – Meet Michele Cooper: AIGA stalwart since 1999, diversity champion, design director, and partner at Cooper Graphic Design.  
3. 02:59 – How they joined AIGA: Kelly joined via a committee invite post‑Manhattan; Michele got propelled into leadership just months after attending.  
4. 07:50 – Money moves: Amy Davis discovered where the membership revenue was hiding—suddenly, AIGA Philly finally had funds.  
5. 09:27 – Programming boom: New funds launched student tours, “New to You” series, sustainability talks, community‑selected speakers like Saul Bass’s designer and Michael Bierut.  
6. 11:48 – Philadelphia Design Awards born: Post‑presidency, Michele teamed up with Alan Espiritu to launch PDA—the first of its kind.  
7. 24:51 – Retreat life: Leadership retreats were highlighted as “fun college days” compared to the seriousness of conferences.  
8. 25:52 – Miami magic: Kelly remembers an epic hot‑tub night so wild even she thought, “I’m too old for this.”  
9. 28:31 – Chapter playtime: From performance skits to recreating the “Love” statue with chapter T-shirts—the Philly room was the place to be.  
10. 36:17 – Leadership lessons: Kelly discovered how to motivate volunteers by understanding their “why”—a skill that leveled up her teaching leadership.  
11. 47:40 – Membership surge: Through their energetic recruiting and programming, Philly soared from the 500s to nearly 800 members.  

About Our Guests

Kelly Holohan – Designer-activist, educator (Tyler School of Art), and founder of movements like We the Women and Sisters in Solidarity. Her design work spans exhibitions and collections—from LGBTQ+ advocacy to global exhibits. As AIGA Philadelphia’s president (2007–2009), she melded activism with community.  

Michele Cooper – Longtime AIGA Philly leader (since 1999), past president, founder of the Philly Design Awards, and 2019 Fellow Award recipient. Co-founder of Cooper Graphic Design, Michele champions social justice through projects like Sisters in Solidarity and postcard campaigns for change. 

Featuring

• Guest Michele Cooper, connect on LinkedIn
• Guest Kelly Holohan, connect on LinkedIn
• Host Erik Cargill, connect on LinkedIn
• Host Rachel Elnar, connect on LinkedIn

Support the Show

• Theme music: Loose Ends by Silver Ships Plastic Oceans
• Produced by Chapter 2 Media
• Subscribe to the Together by Design newsletter for more community-building and podcast episode updates

Sponsored by: Able Made, The Original Off Pitch Soccer Style: shop now
Sponsored by: Draplin Design Company, check us out!
Sponsored by: The People's Graphic Design Archive: browse, contribute, and research

Key Takeaways

• A cold email changed everything: how Jenny’s outreach to a connector unlocked career-long leadership in AIGA and beyond.
• Mentorship in motion: Doug Powell introduced them, their partnership flourished, and he later reunited them professionally at IBM.
• Volunteer leadership is scalable leadership: Seth’s AIGA experience taught him how to structure repeatable systems—a key skill at IBM.
• Some habits stick: from human pyramid diagrams to impromptu arm-wrestles and Denny’s storylines, design community rituals are unforgettable.
• Retreats are more than meetings—they’re cultural boot camps: from security profiles to nighttime antics and shared rituals, those moments formed their leadership DNA.

Episode Chapters

1. 00:43 – Meet Seth Johnson: Design Director at IBM, educator, and former AIGA Chapter President.   
2. 01:31 – Meet Jenny Price: Global Design Lead Producer at GM, architect of IBM’s first DesignOps community and playbook.  
3. 02:41 – Jenny’s cold email to Doug Powell: The spark that lit her AIGA involvement.  
4. 03:07 – First shared AIGA event: Seth and Jenny both at the same W Hotel event—though hadn’t yet met.  
5. 04:14 – The pivotal introduction: At GAIN 2010, Doug introduced them—setting a path that changed both their careers.  
6. 05:00 – Jenny launches board leadership: Her first AIGA board role—Co‑Director of Education—while still new to Minneapolis.  
7. 07:46 – Seth’s parallel path: Introduced to AIGA through local connections and mentors, moving quickly into chapter leadership.  
8. 11:20 – Seamless partnership: Their roles visually aligned—Jenny succeeding Seth on education, then VP after his presidency.  
9. 15:56 – Reunited at IBM: Doug invites Jenny to help build IBM’s DesignOps community—the AIGA playbook going corporate.  
10. 21:57 – AIGA lessons at scale: Seth reflects how AIGA taught him how to make initiatives repeatable and scalable—critical to his work at IBM.  
11. 34:18 – Leadership retreats get real: Designers are profiled for their habits by hotel security—ugh, wearing human pyramids like a badge of honor.  
12. 36:00 – Human pyramid training: From diagrams in Illustrator to napkin-coded six-tier team builds—a Minnesota tradition.  
13. 43:38 – Denny’s arm wrestle moment: Jenny accidentally flips David out of his chair mid-arm-wrestle; legendary snapshot captured.  

About Our Guests

• Seth Johnson – Design Director at IBM’s Chief Data Office, educator at Parsons and Art Center, former AIGA Minnesota president. Seth’s journey from local volunteer to corporate design leader showcases how leadership in community scales to global impact.  
• Jenny Price – Global Design Lead Producer at General Motors (Craft & Interface), pioneer of DesignOps at IBM (built its community and internal playbook). Her volunteer roots in AIGA helped her architect new systems of design leadership in enterprise contexts.

Featuring

• Guest Jenny Price, connect on LinkedIn
• Guest Seth Johnson, connect on LinkedIn
• Host Erik Cargill, connect on LinkedIn
• Host Rachel Elnar, connect on LinkedIn

Support the Show

• Theme music: Loose Ends by Silver Ships Plastic Oceans
• Produced by Chapter 2 Media
• Subscribe to the Together by Design newsletter for more community-building and podcast episode updates

Sponsored by: Able Made, The Original Off Pitch Soccer Style: shop now
Sponsored by: Draplin Design Company, check us out!
Sponsored by: The People's Graphic Design Archive: browse, contribute, and research

Key Takeaways

• You don’t need to feel ready to start leading—action builds confidence.
• An ask is powerful—leadership often begins with someone saying, “Hey, we’d love you here.”
• Retreats shape us more than events do—they’re where people evolve into leaders.
• Small, messy actions matter—gracious leadership often happens offstage.
• People are our legacy—connections outlast work portfolios.
• Mentorship completes the circle—being invited and then inviting others is leadership in motion.
• Season 1 was the structural foundation—and it’s only getting stronger in Season 2.

Episode Chapters

1. 00:02 – Why this episode exists: Rachel shares how reviewing transcripts with GPT revealed stunning leadership insights hidden just below the retreat stories.  
2. 01:11 – Lesson 1: Leadership starts before you feel ready: Imposter vibes are universal, but leadership grows in the doing.  
3. 04:27 – Lesson 2: One invitation can change everything: A simple “Wanna join?” unlocked leadership paths for many guests.  
4. 09:18 – Lesson 3: Retreats aren’t events—they’re origin stories: From Grand Rapids energy to hot tub bonding, these aren’t just trips—they’re accelerators of belonging.  
5. 13:10 – Lesson 4: Real leadership is small, messy & generous: It’s not always the mic, but the unseen gestures—like greeting at the check-in table.  
6. 16:29 – Lesson 5: This community is the product: It’s the people that turn chapters into ecosystems—relationships matter more than portfolios.  
7. 21:05 – Lesson 6: Full-circle moments make it worth it: From mentee to mentor, the loop of giving back is the heartbeat of design community.  
8. 29:48 – Behind the scenes love: Erik and Rachel reflect on how much this podcast—Season 1—has meant to them personally.  
9. 33:22 – What’s next for Season 2: A teaser—returning by August with duo interviews, a bi-weekly rhythm, and subscriber exclusives.  

About the Hosts

Rachel Elnar & Erik Cargill continue their journey shaping Cheers & Tiers, curating design leadership stories with warmth, levity, and honesty. From pulling insights out of transcripts to building community one episode at a time—they lead by listening, storytelling, and lifting others.

Featuring

• Host Erik Cargill, connect on LinkedIn
• Host Rachel Elnar, connect on LinkedIn

Support the Show

• Theme music: Loose Ends by Silver Ships Plastic Oceans
• Produced by Chapter 2 Media
• Subscribe to the Together by Design newsletter for more community-building and podcast episode updates

Sponsored by: Able Made, The Original Off Pitch Soccer Style: shop now
Sponsored by: Draplin Design Company, check us out!
Sponsored by: The People's Graphic Design Archive: browse, contribute, and research

Key Takeaways

• From empty coffers to capital: Kristine’s bold fundraising turned $350 into $85K—through systems and community trust.
• Mentorship matters: Her success was propelled by energy from the board, mock interviews, and collaborative resilience.
• Retreats made real: Into the Woods connected minds and disciplines via place-based, unplugged creative exploration.
• Impact beyond design: The LINC program reshapes lives—connecting youth in need with arts, scholarships, and hopeful futures.
• Networks as two-way streets: AIGA taught her—as a designer and leader—that giving and receiving in networks is where they thrive.
• Culture happens in hallways: Human pyramids are more than stunts—they’re trust-building team rituals in motion.

Episode Chapters

1. 00:02 – Meet Kristine Johnson: With a background in biocommunications and visual cognition, she yields design strategy with precision—and a champion for equitable storytelling.  
2. 01:17 – Sponsorship transformation: From $350 in the bank to over $85,000—Kristine details how she built a reliable, value-driven funding model.  
3. 03:20 – Mentors & momentum: Her initial fear of fundraising was quelled by smart mentors who leveraged mock interviews and strategy to guide her.  
4. 06:17 – Most memorable retreat: Minneapolis: A jam‑packed content-driven retreat where bonds, frameworks, and inspiration were forged over hallway conversations.  
5. 08:09 – Cross‑chapter collaboration: Seattle and Boston shared programming systems—Business Basics series and email workflows made smarter through shared notes.  
6. 10:37 – Into the Woods: A rustic, unplugged program (formerly Design Camp) that fused disciplines; Kristine helped keep it alive at Sleeping Lady.  
7. 13:44 – Creative unplugged magic: With no screens allowed, Into the Woods featured craft-based learning, intimate talk sessions, and cross-discipline inspiration.  
8. 17:30 – The LINQ program: Kristine’s leadership in the LINC initiative, now in its third year, brings creative workshops and scholarships to underserved youth in Seattle.  
9. 23:27 – The power of networking & contribution: She reflects on how AIGA taught her that giving and receiving in a network are equally vital.  
10. 31:53 – Spontaneous human pyramids: AIGA culture captured in hallway pyramids—impromptu, team-driven, and filmed as instant memories.  

About Our Guest

Kristine Johnson – With an academic foundation in biocommunications and visual cognition, Kristine brings clarity to complexity as a strategist, lecturer, and AIGA board veteran. In Seattle, she served as Sponsorship Director (2009–2014) and chaired the national selection committee. She revitalized chapter funding, collaborated cross-chapter on programming, preserved creative rituals like Into the Woods, and leads the impactful LINC program for youth arts access. 

Featuring

• Guest Kristine Johnson, connect on LinkedIn
• Host Erik Cargill, connect on LinkedIn
• Host Rachel Elnar, connect on LinkedIn

Support the Show

• Theme music: Loose Ends by Silver Ships Plastic Oceans
• Produced by Chapter 2 Media
• Subscribe to the Together by Design newsletter for more community-building and podcast episode updates

Sponsored by: Able Made, The Original Off Pitch Soccer Style: shop now
Sponsored by: Draplin Design Company, check us out!
Sponsored by: The People's Graphic Design Archive: browse, contribute, and research

Key Takeaways

• The best learning happens when you’re thrown in—Bernardo hit the ground running as Sponsorship Chair the week before graduation.
• Failing forward is real: his first sponsorship and fundraising experiments taught him through trial, error, and unexpected wins.
• Rituals matter—a retreat’s pool, hot tub, and Sharpie-fueled room parties are as formative as any workshop.
• AIGA isn’t just volunteering—it’s a network powerful enough to land jobs, schools, and show up at pivotal career moments.
• Real leadership is about creating space—not owning every answer, but asking the right questions and empowering others.
• Coming full circle: from mentee to mentor, Bernardo embodies the continuing ripple of design community giving back.

Episode Chapters

1. 02:04 – The first AIGA chapter – Bernardo reveals that AIGA Philadelphia was established in 1981, making it the first official chapter—sorry, New York.  
2. 03:18 – Calling in fresh – Just before graduation, Bernardo is tapped as Sponsorship Chair—totally unprepared and totally ready.  
3. 07:25 – First fundraiser experiments – Paper show was fading. After apologizing to vendors, he schemes tiered sponsorships: Gold, Silver, Bronze.  
4. 12:58 – Trials and pivots – Experimented with a resource fair instead of a paper show. Though it lost money the first year, success arrived in venue partnerships.  
5. 15:02 – Birthplace of pyramids – Forget Miami—human pyramid legends began in Omaha, not glamorous but wildly memorable.  
6. 19:27 – Retreat learning 101 – At his national board retreat in Miami, he absorbs hundreds of ideas and finds belonging across generations.  
7. 22:13 – Post-conference ritual – Pool > hot tub > late-night sea submerge. No formal room parties, but magic still happened.  
8. 23:48 – Sharpie tactics for room parties – Security kicked them out, so they Sharpied room numbers on wrists and kept the party alive.  
9. 28:21 – AIGA connection networks – A conversation in a Miami cab led to job leads, grad school recommendations, and mentors lining the way.  
10. 29:44 – Leadership with data – Partnering with his VP, he analyzed decade-long board data to reshape recruitment and board participation.  
11. 31:53 – Leadership as facilitation – Bernardo reframed his role as enabling board conversations and experimentation—not doing everything himself.  
12. 37:14 – Mentor turn – Once a mentee, now a mentor in Philly’s mentorship program—full-circle moment.  

About Our Guest

Bernardo Marguils is a creative-leadership chameleon—equally at home in code or composition. Currently the Director of Marketing at Penn Medicine Doylestown Health, he previously engineered at Amazon and served multiple terms on AIGA Philadelphia’s board. From innovating fundraising systems to reshaping how the chapter recruits and leads through data, his background in design, computer science, and strategic facilitation makes him a standout leader. 

Featuring

• Guest Bernardo Margulis, connect on LinkedIn
• Host Erik Cargill, connect on LinkedIn
• Host Rachel Elnar, connect on LinkedIn

Support the Show

• Theme music: Loose Ends by Silver Ships Plastic Oceans
• Produced by Chapter 2 Media
• Subscribe to the Together by Design newsletter for more community-building and podcast episode updates

Sponsored by: Able Made, The Original Off Pitch Soccer Style: shop now
Sponsored by: Draplin Design Company, check us out!
Sponsored by: The People's Graphic Design Archive: browse, contribute, and research

Key Takeaways

• Leadership is built by doing: Gage founded or revived multiple AIGA chapters—from his college years onward.
• Rituals spark connection: Human pyramids, 6 a.m. club farewells, and cowboy-themed retreat skits formed strong creative bonds.
• Theory falls flat without practice: He turned abstract sustainability frameworks into tangible tools people can use.
• Design with impact works best when it’s co-created: Changemakers proved design + community = real solutions.
• Start small, scale smart: To restart Seattle, he began simply—with social meetups, delegating, and building momentum.
• Community-making is the finest leadership: Gage’s strength lies in planting ideas and letting the group water them.

Episode Chapters

1. 03:30 – Founding AIGA Fort Collins: Gage jumps into leadership by starting the student chapter mid-college—and becomes president by default.  
2. 09:24 – Saving AIGA Charlotte: Moves post-grad, finds a chapter on the brink of closing, and helps revive it with a new board and events like “Morning Buzz.”  
3. 12:22 – Building in Madison: After a travel hiatus, lands in Madison and steps up as the city rep, building community from scratch.  
4. 14:31 – Seattle board in weeks: Moves northwest, attends an AIGA event within weeks, and joins the Seattle board almost immediately.  
5. 14:42 – First leadership retreat: Recounts his intimidating first retreat—walking in to find hundreds of creatives who instantly felt like friends.  
6. 21:55 – Building the 6 a.m. club: How an early-morning farewell ritual for an ED became an AIGA folklore favorite.  
7. 28:25 – Design for Good gets real: Turning academic frameworks into accessible, practical discussions and workshops attendees can actually use.  
8. 30:29 – Birth of Path to Impact: How merging design, sustainability, inclusion, and good practice led to a chapter-ready workbook supported by a grant.  
9. 38:21 – Launching Changemakers: AIGA Seattle’s program pairing creatives with nonprofits to co-design solutions—real consulting, real change.  
10. 36:51 – Riding stage hobby horses: Leading retreat fun in Dallas: cowboy hats, hobby horses, and stage performances that embed memory and camaraderie.  
11. 45:19 – Restarting AIGA Seattle: Working through legal hurdles to bring the chapter back to life—one coffee meetup at a time.  
12. 47:49 – Pyramid mania: From hotel lobbies to ping-pong bars—structural, impromptu human pyramids served as creative bonding rituals.  

About Our Guest

Gage Mitchell – Founder of Modern Species, advocate for B Corp design ethics, and creative strategist based in Seattle. Gage has a storied history of chapter-building—from Colorado to Charlotte to Madison—and most recently, spearheading the rebirth of AIGA Seattle. He’s fused community energy into frameworks like Design for Good, Changemakers, and the Path to Impact Workbook, grounding activism in accessible design practices. 

Featuring

• Guest Gage Mitchell, connect on LinkedIn
• Host Erik Cargill, connect on LinkedIn
• Host Rachel Elnar, connect on LinkedIn

Support the Show

• Theme music: Loose Ends by Silver Ships Plastic Oceans
• Produced by Chapter 2 Media
• Subscribe to the Together by Design newsletter for more community-building and podcast episode updates

Sponsored by: Able Made, The Original Off Pitch Soccer Style: shop now
Sponsored by: Draplin Design Company, check us out!
Sponsored by: The People's Graphic Design Archive: browse, contribute, and research

Key Takeaways

• Serve to grow: Victor’s leadership isn’t altruism—AIGA shaped him as much as he shaped it.
• Belonging kicks ego: Whether in introverted rings or human pyramids, design retreats make leaders out of quiet people.
• Design heals: After Pulse, he helped transform grief into creative community care.
• Connection births movement: From AIGA Unidos to Changemakers, new ideas often start with a shared language or spark.
• Dare to assemble your tribe: When voices weren’t available, Victor created Giant Illustrators—a reminder that leadership is sometimes creative self-assembly.

Episode Chapters

1. 01:28 – AIGA roots: Victor joined AIGA Orlando in 2011, stepping into roles from education chair to co-president and president.  
2. 03:08 – Leadership as learning: Through committee roles and retreats, he found AIGA to be a reciprocal growth engine.  
3. 05:04 – Retreat initiation: His first leadership retreat in Philadelphia was a crash course in connection—where introversion met creative community.  
4. 08:22 – Problems, meet purpose: Victor learned to lean outward—advocating for his community removed the glare from self-consciousness.  
5. 10:46 – A network in motion: Juggling boards for AIGA, DEC, Creative Mornings, and UCF, he insists it works when you surround yourself with teammates who catch the ball.  
6. 17:38 – Retreat rituals: Grand Rapids brought bar experiences in a church-turned-bar, human pyramids tall enough to make security sweat, and an unforgettable feeling of belonging.  
7. 21:16 – Designing after tragedy: In Raleigh, news of the Pulse shooting hit. Back home, the chapter organized Love by Design—a community healing event in real time.  
8. 23:45 – Sparks to movements: A Spanish-language moment at a board retreat ignited AIGA Unidos, a space for Spanish-speaking members to feel seen.  
9. 25:37 – Changemakers in action: Orlando adapted Seattle’s model to pair designers with nonprofits for branding sprints—real work, real impact.  
10. 38:16 – Build your tribe: Victor founded Giant Illustrators—a peer network born because he couldn’t find the others; a design family forged by passion.  

About Our Guest

Victor Davila is an Orlando-based illustrator, designer, and associate professor at UCF’s School of Visual Arts and Design. His creative reach spans editorial, animation, games, and children’s books—and his leadership extends across AIGA Orlando, the national board, Creative Mornings Orlando, Giant Illustrators, and design education.  

Featuring

• Guest Victor Davila, connect on LinkedIn
• Host Erik Cargill, connect on LinkedIn
• Host Rachel Elnar, connect on LinkedIn

Support the Show

• Theme music: Loose Ends by Silver Ships Plastic Oceans
• Produced by Chapter 2 Media
• Subscribe to the Together by Design newsletter for more community-building and podcast episode updates

Sponsored by: Able Made, The Original Off Pitch Soccer Style: shop now
Sponsored by: Draplin Design Company, check us out!
Sponsored by: The People's Graphic Design Archive: browse, contribute, and research

Key Takeaways

• Leadership often starts at the door—Wendy turned check-in duty into chapter presidency.
• Fewer events, more impact—the power of focused programming over quantity.
• Retreats build culture—beds as seats, quirky bar tales, and creative rituals stick forever.
• AIGA is a test lab—board roles let Wendy rehearse big ideas in a little sandbox.
• Connection heals—her “Happy Hour” created a judgment-free space for reconnection.
• Design community is worth the ride—even across borders (with Bloody Marys in tow).

Episode Chapters

1. 01:42 – From check-in desk to president: How volunteering at the door led Wendy to become Membership Chair (2002–2006) and eventually president of AIGA Seattle.  
2. 04:02 – Retreat theatrics: Her first leadership retreat in Las Vegas featured a hilarious Doctor Phil-style recap of the year.  
3. 05:05 – Letting go is hard: Her final retreat as president was in Miami—she stepped down before the Omaha retreat in 2008.  
4. 06:12 – Bottle service chaos: In Miami, the retreat scene included queen-size beds as seating and an awkward bottle-service fiasco that ended in “room parties.”  
5. 10:25 – Quality over quantity: Early in her presidency, Wendy trimmed the chapter’s event calendar in favor of fewer, more meaningful gatherings featuring luminaries like Stefan Sagmeister and Marty Neumeier.  
6. 12:14 – Hosting visiting design heroes: She’d chaperone guest speakers like Gail Anderson and Louise Fili—taking care of logistics, dinners, and even paying for parking.  
7. 16:35 – Starting her studio in a recession: Post-graduation, Wendy launched Q&A during a recession, slowly building a client list from freelancing into a full studio.  
8. 18:32 – AIGA as leadership sandbox: She used chapter board roles to experiment creatively and strategically—without risk to her studio.  
9. 19:22 – “Creative People Doing Happy Hour”: Born from pandemic-era longing for connection, this relaxed monthly meetup helped rebuild community energy in Seattle.  
10. 30:30 – AIGA road trip to Vancouver: Seattle designers rented buses to a conference in Vancouver, wore custom “AIG-EH” tees, and crossed the border quite tipsy. Legend.  

About Our Guest

Wendy Quesinberry is the Principal of Quesinberry & Associates (Q&A), a boutique branding firm in Seattle. With three decades of experience, she has guided major clients like Microsoft, Amazon, UPS, and the Gates Foundation. Wendy served as AIGA Seattle president (2006–2008), directed the 2015 Redesign Awards, and was honored as a 2019 AIGA Fellow. She’s also taught at Cornish College of the Arts and continues to cultivate design community through initiatives like her popular “Creative People Doing Happy Hour.”  

Featuring

• Guest Wendy Quesinberry, connect on LinkedIn
• Host Erik Cargill, connect on LinkedIn
• Host Rachel Elnar, connect on LinkedIn

Support the Show

• Theme music: Loose Ends by Silver Ships Plastic Oceans
• Produced by Chapter 2 Media
• Subscribe to the Together by Design newsletter for more community-building and podcast episode updates

Sponsored by: Able Made, The Original Off Pitch Soccer Style: shop now
Sponsored by: Draplin Design Company, check us out!
Sponsored by: The People's Graphic Design Archive: browse, contribute, and research

Key Takeaways

• Cold outreach can spark a decade of growth—Frances started with a simple “Can I help?” and ended creating a chapter-wide strategy.
• Leadership isn’t about titles—it’s connection, surveys to figure out hugging styles, and carrying bananas for fun.
• Retreat rituals make the chapter culture—whether it’s portable props or deconstructing plumbing, those are the memories that stick.
• You can’t fire volunteers—but you can empower them. Boards teach systems thinking and collaboration.
• Civic impact scales—Design for Democracy turned creative energy into change, from posters to get-out-the-vote campaigns.
• Volunteering builds access—AIGA introduced Frances to opportunities, mentors, and eventual design operations leadership.

Episode Chapters

1. 02:08 – From zero to communications chair: Frances cold-called AIGA DFW and landed the communications director role—then VP—all in one year.
2. 03:47 – Membership boost via programming: She and the president doubled events and tripsled control—membership jumped from 70 to 150.
3. 05:44 – Retreats change everything: Her first leadership retreat “opened the all-access pass”—introductions, inspiration, and belonging.
4. 10:19 – Huggers vs side-huggers survey: At the Philadelphia retreat, she collected field notes to see who was a big-bear hugger—and used it as an ice-breaker.
5. 12:21 – That inflated banana: A strange prop at a presidents panel turned into her signature retreat sidekick.
6. 14:46 – Sink disassembly saves the day: When a friend lost her ring in the bathroom, Frances disassembled the sink—no tools—found the ring in the trash. 
7. 18:09 – Leadership lessons: you can’t fire volunteers: AIGA taught her humility—collaboration matters more than control.
8. 20:23 – Stepping stones to design ops: Her board leadership paved a path to build systems and structures—naturally shifted into design operations.
9. 26:25 – Design for Democracy impact: She led “get-out-the-vote” poster campaigns and civic design projects that made voting accessible and inspiring.
10. 30:43 – AIGA opened new doors: A reference from AIGA leadership connected her to her current DesignOps role at Coforma—design, civic tech, operations, all in one.
11. 34:38 – AIGA is about belonging: Whether couch-hopping in new cities or inside jokes over mispronounced names, the AIGA network is home.

About Our Guest

Frances Yllana is a design and community strategist turned Principal Manager of Design Operations at Coforma, leading civic-tech design with empathy and structure. Her decade-long AIGA journey—from communicator to President’s Council Chair and co-chair of Design for Democracy—fuelled both personal growth and professional evolution. 

Featuring

• Guest Frances Yllana, connect on LinkedIn
• Host Erik Cargill, connect on LinkedIn
• Host Rachel Elnar, connect on LinkedIn

Support the Show

• Theme music: Loose Ends by Silver Ships Plastic Oceans
• Produced by Chapter 2 Media
• Subscribe to the Together by Design newsletter for more community-building and podcast episode updates

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Sponsored by: Draplin Design Company, check us out!
Sponsored by: The People's Graphic Design Archive: browse, contribute, and research

Key Takeaways

• Sometimes, complaining catalyzes change—it was merely asking why that got Brian invited to fix things from the inside.
• Art that makes people mad is doing something right—his Twit Spotting project provoked exactly the response it needed.
• Real leadership happens over beers and sleep-deprived elevator chats—not just boardroom mandates.
• Community building is messy—but unforgettable: tattoos, pyramids, and impulsive hangouts outlast polished presentations.
• Empowering volunteers doesn’t mean doing it all yourself—it means igniting purpose and letting others run with it.

Episode Chapters

1. 02:13 – First leadership retreat memories: Brian attends Omaha (2008) and recalls hallways, atriums, and security-chasing room hoppers.  
2. 02:59 – The great liquored-up bar incident: A bar emptied out by design leaders—left patrons and owners mystified.  
3. 03:50 – How he got involved: From relentless commenting to being asked to fix problems—his entry into AIGA leadership.  
4. 05:42 – AIGA welcome moment: Executive Director Amos Clausner’s warm reach-out helped Brian stop being the “wallflower at the bar.”  
5. 07:21 – National board intro: the ‘60-second video’: His unapologetically bold intro included death threats from Twit Spotting—set to German metal music.  
6. 08:55 – What was Twit Spotting?: A candid photo project showing people texting while driving, placed on billboards along their commute.  
7. 11:10 – When art goes viral: Media frenzy ensued—his phone buzzed with attention, even from AIGA offices and his mom.  
8. 15:29 – Leading from in the trenches: Brian refused to wall himself off when on the national board—he joined chapter leaders for pyramids and beers.  
9. 19:52 – After-program bonding beats workshops: Elevator hall chats at 5 a.m. matter more than structured sessions.  
10. 22:43 – Wrangling volunteer energy: “You can’t fire volunteers”—leadership means enabling passion in a 40 events‑a‑year board.  
11. 28:43 – Pyramids (and back pain): He played foundation in a human pyramid—and discovered the literal weight of community.  
12. 30:01 – Tattoos and creative play: San Francisco chapter’s retreat swag included custom tattoos—unleashing creativity across chapters.  

About Our Guest

Brian Singer is a San Francisco–based creative and community provocateur. His projects include the participatory global 1,000 Journals experiment and the provocative Twit Spotting initiative, displayed on San Francisco billboards. Formerly a design leader at Facebook and Pinterest, Brian now heads the creative team at Airtable and sits on the SFMoMA’s Seeka Council. He’s also an active AIGA leader on both chapter and national levels.  

Featuring

• Guest Brian Singer, connect on LinkedIn
• Host Erik Cargill, connect on LinkedIn
• Host Rachel Elnar, connect on LinkedIn

Support the Show

• Theme music: Loose Ends by Silver Ships Plastic Oceans
• Produced by Chapter 2 Media
• Subscribe to the Together by Design newsletter for more community-building and podcast episode updates

Sponsored by: Able Made, The Original Off Pitch Soccer Style: shop now
Sponsored by: Draplin Design Company, check us out!
Sponsored by: The People's Graphic Design Archive: browse, contribute, and research

More about AIGA DC's DotGov: https://dc.aiga.org/dotgovdesign/

Key Takeaways

• Volunteerism becomes actual leadership – Ashleigh’s first board roles led to designing policy, publications, and civic design systems.
• Retreats are revelation machines – informal rituals like sunset walks and pool-table dance-offs fuel deep connection.
• Community can deliver structural change – DotGov Design evolved from local meetups to seeding the US Web Design System.
• Boards build career skills – Leading volunteers can teach real leadership—from managing teams to purpose-driven strategy.
• Legacy is not about control – Great leaders plan for what follows—leave a system that evolves without you.
• Pyramids are alive (and literal) – Whether navigating the bottom or the middle, those human structures embody trust, fun, and design teamwork.

Episode Chapters

1. 00:19 – Leadership in Design
2. Ashleigh’s journey spans from local roles—programming coordinator and AIGA DC president—to national leadership, including leading the AIGA national board and the national conference.  
3. 01:20 – Volunteer to Visionary
4. She began by setting up chairs at AIGA DC events in 2009–2010, then quickly moved through branding, programming, sponsorship, conference leadership, and presidency.  
5. 03:53 – Retreat Revelation
6. Her first leadership retreat in Salt Lake City (2012) cemented her love for how chapter leaders connect—over ideas and community.  
7. 08:58 – Denver Bonding Moment
8. A mix of team walks at Red Rocks Amphitheater and dance-party afterparties revealed how retreat rituals form lifelong trust—and unforgettable memories.  
9. 10:17 – Dallas Dive-Bar Dance Party
10. A surprise night of pool‑table dancing in a dive bar turned into a shared creative celebration—chapter leaders, staff, and board all let loose together.   
11. 18:36 – DotGov Design Takes Off
12. Ashleigh identified a need to connect government designers across agencies and kicked off an initiative within AIGA DC that grew into a full conference.  
13. 22:49 – Birthplace of US Web Design System
14. A session at a DotGov conference sparked the first discussions around what became the US Web Design System—the government’s open design system.  
15. 25:57 – Leading with Management Skills
16. Her first people-management role came through AIGA—she supervised a team of 23, proving volunteer leadership can teach real career-ready skills.  
17. 29:27 – Succession as Design Strategy
18. Ashleigh emphasizes succession planning: leadership means leaving ladder rungs, not climbing alone—and ensuring teams thrive beyond your involvement.  
19. 31:02 – Pyramid Positioning
20. From bottom to steering-from-the-middle, Ashleigh’s pyramid stories capture both the literal and figurative dynamics of AIGA’s community-building rituals.   

About Our Guest

Ashleigh Axios has shaped how we understand design in both public service and community. As Creative Director in the Obama White House, she architected creative policy communication. As AIGA DC president and National Board President, she founded DotGov Design, elevating government design through community, conferences, and innovation. Today, she advises emerging leaders and drives inclusive civic design initiatives.  

Featuring

• Guest Ashleigh Axios, connect on LinkedIn
• Host Erik Cargill, connect on LinkedIn
• Host Rachel Elnar, connect on LinkedIn

Support the Show

• Theme music: Loose Ends by Silver Ships Plastic Oceans
• Produced by Chapter 2 Media
• Subscribe to the Together by Design newsletter for more community-building and podcast episode updates

Sponsored by: Able Made, The Original Off Pitch Soccer Style: shop now
Sponsored by: Draplin Design Company, check us out!
Sponsored by: The People's Graphic Design Archive: browse, contribute, and research

Key Takeaways

• Sometimes creativity starts with a skateboard—Bordo Bello started small and grew into a mentorship, fundraising, and advocacy powerhouse.
• Cool still funds community—Elysia’s cold calls to design superstars led to unforgettable boards and creative momentum.
• Artifacts matter—Photography, printed catalogues, and exhibits preserved the energy and legacy of the program.
• Retreats are leadership labs—Whether at the top of a human pyramid or a bar karaoke mic, community bonds are forged through shared absurdity.
• Design can heal and empower—Bordo Bello raised resources and skills for underserved designers—and built connection in the process.
• Legacy is built with systems—Elysia’s board leadership focused on retention, succession, and sustainable impact—not just performance.

Episode Chapters

1. 01:18 – First spark: Elysia’s start in AIGA came from a student‑run skateboard art show next to her studio, and she instantly volunteered to help create more.  
2. 02:00 – Bordo Bello born: She took over Bordo Bello, turn­ing skateboard design into a community-driven mentorship project.  
3. 04:42 – Art as democracy: Skateboards became a “democratic canvas” — vector files, LightBrites, robots, and more—from mentorship pairs to design heroes like Debbie Millman and Aaron Draplin.  
4. 06:11 – Auction for impact: Boards started at a bargain $50, were curated blindly (so your board might hang next to a design legend), and proceeds were split with VSA.  
5. 07:19 – $50K raised: Over her tenure, she helped raise over $50,000 to support design training for people with disabilities.  
6. 08:26 – National showcase: Bordo Bello reached new heights with a gallery exhibit at AIGA’s national New York office—a standout honor.  
7. 10:22 – Retreat rituals: From pyramid formations in bowling alleys to karaoke nights, retreats became core to connection and leadership identity.  
8. 20:07 – Designing unforgettable events: Elysia reflects on how momentum and creativity help craft experiences that linger beyond the moment.  
9. 28:07 – Community is everything: She underscores the magic of belonging, shared memories, and why leaving design history undocumented is a missed opportunity.  
10. 39:01 – Creativity as commitment: In her words: “Designers hold responsibility for how the world communicates.”  

About Our Guest

Elysia Syriac is a design strategist and experience designer with deep roots in community and operations. As Creative Programs Lead at Amazon Design, she spearheaded Conflux, revamped the Creative Jam model, and led events like Chaircuterie and Bordo Bello—the latter raising over $50,000 for disability mentorship through skateboard art. AIGA Colorado president (2011–13), President’s Council Chair, and national advisory board member, she built systems for succession, board retention, and creative program impact. 

Featuring

• Guest Elysia Syriac, connect on LinkedIn
• Host Erik Cargill, connect on LinkedIn
• Host Rachel Elnar, connect on LinkedIn

Support the Show

• Theme music: Loose Ends by Silver Ships Plastic Oceans
• Produced by Chapter 2 Media
• Subscribe to the Together by Design newsletter for more community-building and podcast episode updates

Sponsored by: Able Made, The Original Off Pitch Soccer Style: shop now
Sponsored by: Draplin Design Company, check us out!
Sponsored by: The People's Graphic Design Archive: browse, contribute, and research