See images from this event on Flickr.

Event Review by Aggie Toppins

The most prestigious event of AIGA Chicago’s year, the Annual Members Meeting, took place on May 20 at Salvage One, an eclectic antique shop on Hubbard Street. Nearly 300 attendees mingled amid the curious displays and cozy nooks before taking their seats for the evening presentation.

Outgoing chapter president, Steven Ryan, gave opening remarks. He shared some of his critical (and to some, controversial) views on the relevance of AIGA to young and emerging designers. He mentioned that he used to believe the organization was one that only served the careers of people who were already famous. “When we get too caught up in those who are in the spotlight,” said Steve, “We forget about what we can achieve ourselves.”

Pointing out that the mission of AIGA has not changed — to advance design as a professional craft and a cultural force, Steve acknowledged this year in Chicago as one that dared to try things never before attempted. “We gave ourselves permission to fail,” said Steve about the Board’s attempt to reach new audiences. However, the chapter successfully found ways to facilitate collaboration, partner with other design-focused organizations, elevate emerging talent, engage non-members in the creative community and it launched a mentorship program. Steve thanked AIGA’s sustaining sponsors for making the past year possible. He also thanked the audience for his opportunity to serve. Then he turned the floor to Claire Williams Martinez, incoming president.

Claire, inspired by the recent Mandate 2014 (a directive launched by AIGA at the national level), discussed her wish to partner with more international design communities. “This is communication in the digital age. Why are we only talking to American designers?” questioned the new president. She told a humorous anecdote about buying a pair of earrings with gift money from her confirmation. She chose earrings made of coins with Arabic writing on them. She later came to find out that the writing said, “There is only one God and Allah is his name.” This experience impressed upon her, early in life, that the intertwining of many cultures is valuable and interesting.

Following Claire’s acceptance speech and many thanks, came the three AIGA Chicago awards. First, the Student Enrichment Scholarship was given to Brittany Skwierczynski from Indiana University. Skwierczynski plans to use her award funds to make an impact in her community through nonprofit design work. “Now is a great time to be a designer because we can make change,” said Skwierczynski as she accepted her award. Hussain Almossawi from the University of Illinois –Urbana Champaign and Nate Baltikas from the University of Illinois were honorable mentions.

Susan Bennett, partner and creative director at Simple Truth, presented the AIGA Chicago Fellow Award to her longtime mentor, the late Arnold Goodwin. Arnie was a self-taught designer who “considered himself lucky to do this kind of work,” said Bennett.

Susan shared five things she learned from Arnie over the years. First, design is important to any meaningful enterprise. Second, never underestimate the power of emotion — and for Arnie that included both laughter and profanity. Third, never turn down an opportunity that you have no business taking on. Fourth, to be a mentor, you have to be a student. Fifth, she remembered him saying, “Golf, design and life are all things that you play, not things that you win.”

Zach and Erica Goodwin, Arnie’s children, accepted the award on his behalf. Zach offered his thanks as well as some levity, since many audience members knew Arnie well and were in tears. “Growing up,” said Zach, “I always believed design was the most important thing you could ever do with your life. Designers were the peak of the pyramid.” He said he was thankful that his father had found design as his calling. “If he wasn’t a designer, he would have been homeless,” he said to the laughing audience, “Really, he would have been completely unemployable.”

Steve Ryan returned to the stage to present the Corporate Design Leadership award to Morningstar, an investment firm that helps people make better financial decisions by presenting complex data in easily understandable ways. After reading A Designer’s Art by Paul Rand, CEO Joe Mansueto pursued the legendary designer to craft Morningstar’s logo.  This was the beginning of the company’s relationship with good design.

Morningstar’s dedication to design is evident through their beautiful annual reports, smart approach to information graphics and their offices filled with historically significant furniture and fixtures. Their design department is staffed with exceptional talent such as Philip Burton, a protégé of Rand and professor of graphic design at University of Illinois.

In Joe Mansueto’s acceptance speech, he told the story of how the Morningstar logo came to be. Impressed by Paul Rand’s book, Mansueto sought out the designer. After many a cold shoulder, Mansueto was able to meet Rand at his home, where he asked Rand to promise him “his best work ever.” Rand, always a bit of a stinker, did give him a great mark, although it took months to receive. It was mailed to Mansueto, accompanied by a note, “Dear Joe. Here is your logo. It’s my best work ever.” To this day, Mansueto believes his experience with Rand was well worth the pursuit and a wise investment in his business.

This year’s keynote speaker was Kevin Lyons from Anomaly in New York. Kevin has served as the creative director for Urban Outfitters and has his own line of clothing called Natural Born. Kevin spoke about what the future of design means to him.

“In reality, I run an ad agency. So, the future of design is whatever comes across my desk everyday,” said Kevin. “I say ‘facebook’ 20 times a day. I say ‘tweet’ a hundred times a day and I promise somebody an online community like everyday.” Lyons then shared a quote by one of his inspirations, Rei Kawabuko, which pointed to a truth for him, “Information is overflowing and it’s harder and harder to be excited by anything.” In essence, nothing is new in the digital age.

Kevin spent the majority of his talk showing the work of other designers and artists who inspire him. Lyons is attracted to those, “…who live and work on their own terms instead of being provocative for the sake of it.” Themes like aggressive corruption, disruption and “the cult of the ugly,” emerged. Lyons showcased the work of Bless, Maison Martin Margiela, DFA, David Adjaye, TV books, Dot Dot Dot, Zieves, Kai Regan and Krink —  graffiti artists, architects, fashion designers and niche publications that represent a kind of Zeitgeist for Lyons. His parting words were “be true to who you are.”

Closing words came from Pete Douglas from Lake County Press, the event sponsor. The reception afterwards included a delicious buffet as well as music by DJ Jeff DA Illest.

Event Overview:
Join us at our 2010 Annual Members Meeting for a night of reflection and inspiration. We will be presenting our second annual AIGA Chicago Corporate Design Leadership Award to Morningstar, the Fellow Award to Arnold Goodwin and the 2010 Student Enrichment Scholarship Awards. Kevin Lyons, Design Director of Anomaly, will share his insights on the future of design. Selections from Monday night's Peer Proof show will also be on display while we listen to the sounds of DJ Jeff DA Illest. Share in the celebration.

Kevin Lyons, Keynote Speaker
Prior to joining Anomaly, Kevin served as Creative Director for Urban Outfitters (NAS: URBN), one of the most successful urban/youth retailers in the United States and Europe. In a 7-year tenure, Kevin helped shape the brand holistically, including: exterior signage, retail environment, digital design, packaging, posters & promotions, book and catalog design, labeling, and products (t-shirts, apparel, and lifestyle product graphics). Kevin also led the acclaimed music program, oversaw the brand’s PR and marketing and the Corporate Design for the umbrella company Urban Outfitters, Inc. (Anthropologie, Free People and Urban Outfitters).

Prior to Urban Outfitters, Kevin served in a variety of diverse roles including, Design Director at Stussy Worldwide, Art Director for filmmaker Spike Jonze's Girl Skateboard Company, US Art Director for TOKION Magazine and Senior Designer for Nike Inc., where he was responsible for branding several big-time college and pro sports franchises.

In 2001, Kevin was named to “The Top Forty Designers Under Thirty” by ID Magazine.

He has written articles for the AIGA Journal, as well as addressing the AIGA on two occasions including once as a published recipient of its Fresh Dialogues Series. He has held teaching assistant positions at both RISD and CalArts, and has been a visiting critic at the Yale Graduate School of Design. He was an Assistant Professor at the Pratt Institute, teaching Typography from 2000-2002.

Kevin produces two clothing lines, one for 2K called Atlantis and the other under his personal namesake, NATURAL BORN. Both are distributed globally. He maintains his own small experimental graphic project, also under the namesake, Natural Born. His own work has been published worldwide from Thrasher to The Face to Lowdown to Anthem and Refill. He has shown worldwide including solo shows in Philadelphia, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Tokyo.

Kevin Lyons is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design where he received a degree in film and is has a Masters Degree from Cal Arts.

Jeff DA Illest, DJ
Jeff DA Illest has been spinning records in clubs and at private events in the Chicagoland area since 1995.  Jeff has accumulated experience in spinning Hip-Hop, House, Soul, Neo-Soul, R&B, Rare Grooves, Jazz, Disco, and Rap. However, he has music knowledge that spreads well beyond these genres. Jeff DA Illest has hopes of showcasing his musical talents on a national level.

In Kind Donation from All on the Road Catering.