AIGA Design + Business Conference
Fueling growth, delivering brand loyalty, and creating cultural impact and meaningful social change—design is at the heart of every successful business. Join us virtually at the AIGA Design + Business Conference to see firsthand how design is impacting businesses in measurable ways.
May 4–6, 2022
Virtual
Running a design business isn't easy. AIGA is here to help.
Join us for the AIGA Design + Business Conference, a virtual conference that brings together freelance designers, agency owners, business leaders, and subject matter experts to help you thrive. From legal and HR to client communication, we want to provide accessible information to current and aspiring Design + Business leaders. We’re interested in the “how” and “why” behind the “what" of creativity.
Explore the Conference
Last year we talked with Creative Directors, CMOs, designers, and studio owners to better understand their approach and process culminating in top design work of 2020. Get a sneak peek of what the AIGA Design + Business Conference is all about below.
Registration
Join us virtually May 4–6, 2022!
Registration rates begin at $199 for AIGA members. Discounts are available for students and educators.
Schedule Overview
Wednesday, May 4
Fireside Chat with Katrina Alcorn, General Manager of Design, IBM
11:00-11:45 a.m. ET / 8:00 a.m.-8:45 a.m. PT
General Session
12:00-3:00 p.m. ET / 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. PT
Salon
4:00-5:00 p.m. ET / 1:00-2:00 p.m. PT
*Schedule subject to change
Thursday, May 5
Fireside Chat: Michael Bierut, Partner, Pentagram
11:00-11:45 a.m. ET / 8:00-8:45 a.m. PT
Workshops
12:00-2:00 p.m. ET / 9:00-11:00 a.m. PT
3:00-5:00 p.m. ET / 12:00-2:00 p.m. PT
Mixer
5:30-6:30 p.m. ET / 2:30-3:30 p.m. PT
*Schedule subject to change
Friday, May 6
Fireside Chat with Lynda Decker, President and Creative Director, Decker Design, Inc
11:00-11:45 a.m. ET / 8:00-8:45 a.m. PT
General Session
12:00-3:00 p.m. ET / 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. PT
Salon
4:00-5:00 p.m. ET / 1:00-2:00 p.m. PT
*Schedule subject to change
All Fireside Chats, Workshops, and General Session presentations will be recorded and shared with attendees post-event. Salons and Mixers are live-only and will not be recorded.
Conference Schedule Now Live
Browse schedule, speakers, and more on our conference platform.
2022 Conference Chairs
George Garrastegui, Jr.
George Garrastegui, Jr. is an educator, designer, advocate, and curator looking to elevate the creative process by shifting the focus to how we work over what we produce.
George has over 20+ years of experience in publishing, marketing, and strategy, and has crafted solutions for brands such as Esquire, Ford, Cadillac, and Popular Mechanics. George also teaches strategic problem-solving and design research at CUNY’s NYC College of Technology (City Tech) and hosts an award-winning podcast, Works in Process.
Nakita Pope
Nakita M. Pope is the Chief Chick and Principal Brand Strategist of Branding Chicks, a boutique branding agency in Atlanta, GA with clients all over the United States. Nakita helps clients narrow their focus, gives their brands a voice, slingshots their confidence, and clarifies their message so that it resonates directly with their audiences. She also helps businesses large and small to brand or re-brand to attract and grow customer bases for new products and professional services through custom, creative, relevant brand-promoting strategies.
Over the past 20 years, she has worked as a strategist, graphic designer, creative director and brand manager which has given her experiences that inform how she works with her clients. Her passion for brand strategy is also evident through her teaching of advertising strategy, branding and design at the Creative Circus for the past 12 years. In 2019 she also took on an additional role there as their Diversity & Inclusion Advisor.
Featured Workshops
AMA: Intellectual Property + Web 3.0
Join an interactive workshop with JoAnn Holmes, an IP and digital asset attorney and host of the "Your Business Ally" podcast. Jo helps creators develop smart Web3 strategies to monetize intellectual property. Her expertise helps clients navigate a range of IP and Web3 topics, including , NFTs, blockchain tech, regulations, taxes, and contracts.
AMA: Copyright + Trademark
Also joining the Design + Business Conference lineup is Matthew S. Johnston, a small business attorney and founder of the Johnston Business Law Group in Frederick, MD with expertise in creative firms, contracts, and starting up a business. Gain a deeper legal understanding of copyright and trademark to sub-contracting and independent contracting.
FAQs
We offer a discounted rate to active members at the Educator level. Click here to learn more about membership.
We offer a discounted rate to active members at the Student level. Click here to learn more about membership.
Groups of 4 or more registering together will receive 15% off of each registration. Group discounts do not apply to registrations at our already subsidized student or educator rate. Cancellations of one or more registrations are subject to AIGA’s cancellation policy. Group discounts are available only to groups of four or more. If a cancellation brings the total group size to fewer than four attendees, remaining registrants will be charged at the full registration rate.
For students and educators, A discounted rate is available for a group from the same institution registering together:
For $500, register up to 10 attendees.
For $1,000, register up to 25 attendees.
All registrants must have the same institutional affiliation. For more information or to purchase the educational institution package, please email aiga_registrar@aiga.org or call 212-710-3133.
If you prefer to register by mail or fax, a PDF form is available by request: please email AIGA_registrar@aiga.org; a $25 per-person processing fee applies.
AIGA will refund 50 percent of conference fees paid for cancellations made before March 22, 2022, and 20 percent of conference fees paid for cancellations between March 23 and April 15. No refunds will be available after April 15.
Virtual events take place using our event platform and via Zoom. One week prior to the conference, registrants will receive a login, which will allow them access to Zoom links for Fireside Chats, general sessions, salons, and workshops.
Conference Attendees Save on 12-month Learning Series
Design + Business Conference attendees save 50% on The Bottom Line, a twelve-month virtual salon series dedicated to running a successful business. Register for the conference and check your email for instructions on redeeming the savings.
Learn more about The Bottom Line
Explore all AIGA Conferences
Join us in 2022 for a new year, new conferences, and new opportunities to convene with designers across the world.
