Chapter Spotlight: AIGA Idaho

July 06, 2010 Filed Under: AIGA Chapter Spotlight 0 Comments

AIGA Idaho
Number of Members: 89
Year Founded: 2007

1. Tell us about AIGA Idaho’s Mentor program.
Our mentor program is called “Mix / Mentor” and is currently finishing it’s sixth semester with our AIGA Boise State University student group. These events have always been a great experience! The student group develops a game or system for how our professional members are paired with a student member. We ask that each mentor spend at least one hour per month with their mentee. It might be a coffee meeting, studio tour, press check, or review of current projects. We leave it up to the student to drive the topic and schedule of each session.

The program has been a great success and has given students a solid benefit to becoming a member. It has been a rewarding experience, and a way for our professional members to give back. We have heard many success stories from students and are proud to be a part of the program at Boise State University, where we have our strongest student group.

2. How does AIGA Idaho use the Internet and social media to communicate and connect with members?
A few months ago, we formed a special committee called the “AIGA Idaho Department of Interactive Communications.” This committee was headed by one of our board members, Ryan Lascano, and was a collaboration between a few other board members, a couple of our members, and a Boise-based agency named Creative Soapbox that stepped up to provide the technology work. This enthusiastic group of designers, planners, and programmers have put a ton of energy into a new web presence launching this fall. Our new website will allow for comments that will encourage conversation and debate on our website. We will also be working to launch a Member Directory to allow our members, businesses, and organizations to connect through our website. In addition, we will eventually launch a Resources Directory that will allow members to find printers, programmers, freelancers, and other resources that help our members to connect.

3. Tell us about the best event AIGA Idaho has put on this year.
We’ve had many influential guests this year including Ken Barber of House Industries, Idaho Stew, Jeff Fisher of LogoMotives, and many more. All were amazing highlights on our events calendar and blow-away speakers. We are honored to have had these visitors. Our best events were the ones focused around local speakers and networking. As we are a fairly new chapter, building our community and bringing designers together is an important focus. We’ve had a successful learning lunch series, called “Learnch,” and a well-attended social event series called “Drink for Design.” Boise has a strong Advertising Federation chapter in this market that also brings in wonderful guests (many of our members are also Boise Ad Fed members). We’ve had the most impact with getting our members to interact and provide education on specific topics.

4. What would people be surprised to learn about AIGA Idaho?
Idaho is a vibrant, and extremely creative place. There are an amazing amount of talented designers, illustrators, and agencies in this great state. The state is made up of three distinct regions: North, Southwest, and East. We have some geographic challenges as a chapter. Our Eastern members typically participate in events with the Salt Lake City Chapter, as it is closer in miles than Boise (our chapters’ home office). We also have some members in the North, but many designers participate in the Spokane area’s creative community. As a region, we have a lot of out-of-state designers who have chosen Idaho for the lifestyle. Access to the outdoors, safe communities, a strong tech industry, and easy living make Idaho an attractive place. This wonderful work/life balance makes Idaho a truly unique place.

5. If we were to visit Idaho what are three must-sees for a visiting designer?
1. Classic Design Studio: Started by original “Letterhead” Noel Weber in 1979, this sign studio has created incredible typographic and iconic signs and murals around Boise, Idaho, and the region. The location in Downtown Boise is a 12,000 square foot creative studio space shared with Boise Art Glass (a glass studio and gallery), and Rocket Neon (a neon sign studio).

2. The Modern Hotel: This hotel and bar is where creative people in Boise gather. Located in Boise’s Linen District, this is the place to stay when in town (and where we host our visiting guests). The Modern Bar offers classic cocktails with a history lesson, if requested. You are guaranteed to run into local creatives in this bar any night of the week. Also, don’t miss the Modern Art event, where each room in the hotel is transformed into a work of art or performance.

3. Freak Alley Gallery: Freak Alley Gallery is a place where people can paint what they want on the walls of the buildings and not have to worry about vandalism charges. The start to the Freak Alley Gallery can be found mid-block on 8th Street between Bannock and Idaho.

Artwork by: Ryan Lascano

Written by: Paul Carew, Founding President, AIGA Idaho