Rebecca Mushtare and Doug Bartow had a problem: how do you build design community across 5,000 square miles of upstate New York? The answer was equal parts strategic and scrappy—portfolio reviews in multiple cities, educator dialogues, and at one point, nine simultaneous “Cocktails for Creatives” meetups happening across the state on a Tuesday night.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 TakeawaysGeographic 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 Episode07:40 – Nine cocktails, simultaneously: How upstate New York activated hubs across Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo, Albany, and beyond09:30 – The human pyramid moment: When Doug realized this retreat was going to push him way outside his comfort zone12:20 – “We’re not that bad”: Meeting other geographic chapters at Raleigh and realizing upstate wasn’t behind after all16:45 – Staying connected through students: Why recruiting students into chapter roles keeps the community alive20:10 – The Get Out the Vote posters: How a Raleigh conversation led to exhibitions at the Women’s Rights National Historic Park24:40 – AI isn’t going to replace designers: It’s CorelDRAW all over again—a tool, not a threat27:00 – Designing for accessibility: Why WCAG deadlines matter and how color-blind designers use AI for palettes30:50 – Paying it forward: Why answering that random LinkedIn message matters more than you thinkAbout Our GuestsRebecca 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.FeaturingGuest Rebecca Mushtare, connect on LinkedInGuest Doug Bartow, connect on LinkedInHost Erik Cargill, connect on LinkedInHost Rachel Elnar, connect on LinkedIn Support the ShowTheme music: Loose Ends by Silver Ships Plastic OceansProduced by Chapter 2 MediaSubscribe to the Together by Design newsletter for more community-building and podcast episode updatesSponsored by: Able Made, The Original Off Pitch Soccer Style: shop nowSponsored by: Draplin Design Company, check us out!Sponsored by: The People's Graphic Design Archive: browse, contribute, and research

Amy Gustincic and Jay Ganaden both served as presidents of AIGA San Francisco—at different times, but with a shared passion for community, creativity, and experimentation. In this episode, they reflect on the wild ride of shaping SF’s chapter culture, from designing risk-friendly programming to redefining who AIGA is really for.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 TakeawaysDesign is never neutral: Jay and Amy challenged who AIGA was for—and designed toward thatLet the vision be weird: AIGA SF’s best programming came from instinct, not consensusStrategy that looked like a party: San Francisco’s signature move.Lead with impact, not polish: Jay reminds us that systems work beats showmanshipMake your own template: They both pushed back on “default AIGA” in favor of community-first designKey Moments in This Episode01:05 – The earliest memories: student chapters, ghost tours, and blurry lines between volunteer and friend03:40 – Amy’s presidency: events, vibes, and pushing the SF board into its weird era06:00 – Jay’s turn: building a chapter brand that challenged national assumptions08:25 – The party as strategy: from venues that smelled like cat pee to community as curation12:40 – Fires, fire marshals, and the time Jay was mistaken for security15:50 – Retreats and realignment: translating vibes into systems18:30 – Leadership friction: why resisting default settings is part of the job21:15 – After the presidency: when impact shows up in unexpected places24:00 – Advice for future board members: don’t wait for permissionAbout Our GuestsAmy 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.FeaturingGuest Amy Gustincic, connect on LinkedInGuest Jay Ganaden, connect on LinkedInHost Erik Cargill, connect on LinkedInHost Rachel Elnar, connect on LinkedIn Support the ShowTheme music: Loose Ends by Silver Ships Plastic OceansProduced by Chapter 2 MediaSubscribe to the Together by Design newsletter for more community-building and podcast episode updatesSponsored by: Able Made, The Original Off Pitch Soccer Style: shop nowSponsored by: Draplin Design Company, check us out!Sponsored by: The People's Graphic Design Archive: browse, contribute, and research

Allan Espiritu and Nick Prestileo didn’t set out to build a gallery, host legendary parties, or flip a mattress at an AIGA retreat—but somehow, they did all three. In this episode, the former AIGA Philadelphia presidents unpack a leadership era driven by joy, generosity, and a heavy dose of “why not?” They reflect on building a design community from the ground up, earning national credibility without losing their weirdness, and how trust, good vibes, and some tequila under the sink made Philly one of the most iconic chapters in AIGA history. Also: Art Chantry with a hammer, getting locked in a closet during an opening, and the power of just saying yes.Key TakeawaysSay yes, then figure it out: Nick’s “yes-man” energy led to leadership, chaos, and deep connectionJoy is strategy: Allan led with fun and intention—not formality—and it workedImprov leadership works: The Philly board thrived on a “yes, and” modelMake 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 itKey Moments in This Episode00:55 – First AIGA impressions: From Manhattan design to mutual funds and velvet curtains03:10 – Allan’s big goal: Build community, make Philly matter nationally08:30 – Building a gallery, a vibe, and a keg-fueled design hangout16:40 – Spody, sponsorships, and mystery wine in milk bottles21:50 – The bathroom bar: Allan’s secret stash under the sink28:40 – Salt Lake City retreat: colonial costumes and on-stage panic35:40 – After-after-parties: A ruined mattress and a disassembled sink42:10 – Leading by vibes: how Allan brought out the best in everyone46:30 – The “yes, and” board: fun first, excellence followedAbout Our GuestsAllan 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.FeaturingGuest Allan Espiritu, connect on LinkedInGuest Nick Prestileo, connect on LinkedInHost Erik Cargill, connect on LinkedInHost Rachel Elnar, connect on LinkedIn Support the ShowTheme music: Loose Ends by Silver Ships Plastic OceansProduced by Chapter 2 MediaSubscribe to the Together by Design newsletter for more community-building and podcast episode updatesSponsored by: Able Made, The Original Off Pitch Soccer Style: shop nowSponsored by: Draplin Design Company, check us out!Sponsored by: The People's Graphic Design Archive: browse, contribute, and research

Before they were design royalty, Debbie Millman and Michael Bierut both remember what it felt like to be on the outside. Debbie got kicked out of an AIGA special interest group for doing work that was “too commercial.” Michael, working at one of design’s most prestigious studios, felt like a dinosaur compared to the experimental West Coast crowd.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 TakeawaysAIGA 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 timeGetting 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 Episode03:08 – The dinner that changed everything: Debbie sits next to Michael at the Baltimore leadership retreat11:06 – Why that first dinner mattered: AIGA felt elitist, and the warmth of one conversation shifted everything12:33 – The evolution question: Milton Glaser voices what democratizing AIGA will mean for the organization's identity18:46 – Getting kicked out: Debbie is removed from the brand experience group for being too commercial27:59 – AIGA’s impact on career: Both credit the organization as essential to their success30:12 – Before digital connection existed: AIGA was the only way designers could meet each other49:23 – Leadership advice: When in doubt, say yes52:58 – Making people feel seen: Why Michael still answers every email he receivesAbout Our GuestsDebbie 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.FeaturingGuest Debbie Millman, connect on LinkedInGuest Michael Beirut, connect on LinkedInHost Erik Cargill, connect on LinkedInHost Rachel Elnar, connect on LinkedIn Support the ShowTheme music: Loose Ends by Silver Ships Plastic OceansProduced by Chapter 2 MediaSubscribe to the Together by Design newsletter for more community-building and podcast episode updatesSponsored by: Able Made, The Original Off Pitch Soccer Style: shop nowSponsored by: Draplin Design Company, check us out!Sponsored by: The People's Graphic Design Archive: browse, contribute, and research

Carlos Estrada and Oen Michael Hammonds have never worked in the same city, but they’ve long shared the same goal: making AIGA a more inclusive, welcoming space for everyone. In this episode, they reflect on decades of volunteer leadership across chapters, task forces, and national roles, while swapping stories about moments that changed them, students that inspired them, and the value of making space for others to shine.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 TakeawaysMentorship 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 Episode00:55 – First AIGA impressions: A bar conversation that leads to decades of service03:20 – From Puerto Rico to Detroit: Carlos finds design and identity at work05:10 – Sorority house, party of one: Oen’s student housing surprises07:40 – Finding community at AIGA Austin and AIGA Detroit09:30 – Retreats that reveal real leadership: especially the awkward ones12:20 – Letting others lead: why stepping back is a power move16:45 – Students, stories, and staying connected20:10 – The task force that changed everything24:40 – Designing inclusion vs. checking boxes27:00 – How local culture shaped each chapter’s evolution30:50 – Advice for future leaders: Make space, then hold it34:10 – The quiet confidence that builds belongingAbout Our GuestsCarlos 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.FeaturingGuest Carlos Estrada, connect on LinkedInGuest Oen Michael Hammonds, connect on LinkedInHost Erik Cargill, connect on LinkedInHost Rachel Elnar, connect on LinkedIn Support the ShowTheme music: Loose Ends by Silver Ships Plastic OceansProduced by Chapter 2 MediaSubscribe to the Together by Design newsletter for more community-building and podcast episode updatesSponsored by: Able Made, The Original Off Pitch Soccer Style: shop nowSponsored by: Draplin Design Company, check us out!Sponsored by: The People's Graphic Design Archive: browse, contribute, and research