AIGA DC is the local chapter of the professional association for design. From 2012 to 2018, I served on the Board of Directors—and those last two years, as president. AIGA DC advances design as a professional craft, strategic advantage and vital cultural force. We bring together practitioners, enthusiasts and patrons to amplify the voice of design and create the vision for a collective future. We define global standards and ethical practices, guide design education, enhance professional development and make powerful tools and resources accessible to all.
Fun Facts
- AIGA DC is a 501(c)(3) organization with ~1,200 members. We are the 3rd largest chapter of the professional association for design and serve the DC Creative Community.
- During my presidency (2016 – 2018), my kickass team consisted of 27 Board Members, 4 Advisory Board Members and a number of community volunteers.
- In 2018, our chapter established an endowment for our Design Continuum Fund, an annual merit-based scholarship program that supports local design-minded students by offering them financial assistance to pursue their design education.
- AIGA DC produces 60+ events, including DC Design Week, in a single programming year (September – May) and partners with other community organizations such as Creative Mornings DC, DCFemTech and ColorCoded to elevate DC as a design and tech city.
- AIGA DC’s local programming and initiatives such as the SHINE Mentoring Program and Design Scholarship Fund have scaled to other chapters across the country.
The Backstory
In the summer of 2007, I decided I needed a change of scenery. I had my sights set on moving to New York City because that’s the thing to do as a newbie creative. Right? Right. I quit my first design job, sold most of my stuff and moved across the country with two suitcases. However, I randomly found myself in Washington, DC instead…
The first couple of years in DC were really tough. I missed California and to top it all off, I had no design friends. My boss at the time was a fellow designer, but he traveled so much I was basically running solo. I remembered my undergrad design professor say something about AIGA, so I decided to look into it. My first few AIGA experiences weren’t great. It seemed like people already knew each other and since I’m not one to put myself out there in social settings, (yes, I realize this a me problem) I decided to volunteer as a member of the AIGA 50 Committee.
Next thing I knew, I was an official Boardie and eventually became President. I served on the Board of Directors from 2012 to 2018. As cheeseball as it sounds, AIGA changed my life. I found my people. I found my tribe. I’m so grateful for these awesome humans I’ve befriended and it’s been an honor to serve my profession and the creative community—especially in DC ❤️
Rica Rosario 