015: Kristine Johnson of AIGA Seattle
S1 #15

015: Kristine Johnson of AIGA Seattle

Meet a powerhouse of clarity, creativity, and community: Kristine Johnson—AIGA chapter ally, brilliant in visual cognition, and master at translating complexity into clarity. In this episode, she shares how she turned $350 into $85,000 in chapter funding, revived legacy programs like Into the Woods, and built youth‑focused impact through the LINC program—all fueled by coffee chats, mentorship, and a network of collaborators.

Key Takeaways
  • From empty coffers to capital: Kristine’s bold fundraising turned $350 into $85K—through systems and community trust.
  • Mentorship matters: Her success was propelled by energy from the board, mock interviews, and collaborative resilience.
  • Retreats made real: Into the Woods connected minds and disciplines via place-based, unplugged creative exploration.
  • Impact beyond design: The LINC program reshapes lives—connecting youth in need with arts, scholarships, and hopeful futures.
  • Networks as two-way streets: AIGA taught her—as a designer and leader—that giving and receiving in networks is where they thrive.
  • Culture happens in hallways: Human pyramids are more than stunts—they’re trust-building team rituals in motion.

Episode Chapters
  1. 00:02 – Meet Kristine Johnson: With a background in biocommunications and visual cognition, she yields design strategy with precision—and a champion for equitable storytelling.  
  2. 01:17 – Sponsorship transformation: From $350 in the bank to over $85,000—Kristine details how she built a reliable, value-driven funding model.  
  3. 03:20 – Mentors & momentum: Her initial fear of fundraising was quelled by smart mentors who leveraged mock interviews and strategy to guide her.  
  4. 06:17 – Most memorable retreat: Minneapolis: A jam‑packed content-driven retreat where bonds, frameworks, and inspiration were forged over hallway conversations.  
  5. 08:09 – Cross‑chapter collaboration: Seattle and Boston shared programming systems—Business Basics series and email workflows made smarter through shared notes.  
  6. 10:37 – Into the Woods: A rustic, unplugged program (formerly Design Camp) that fused disciplines; Kristine helped keep it alive at Sleeping Lady.  
  7. 13:44 – Creative unplugged magic: With no screens allowed, Into the Woods featured craft-based learning, intimate talk sessions, and cross-discipline inspiration.  
  8. 17:30 – The LINQ program: Kristine’s leadership in the LINC initiative, now in its third year, brings creative workshops and scholarships to underserved youth in Seattle.  
  9. 23:27 – The power of networking & contribution: She reflects on how AIGA taught her that giving and receiving in a network are equally vital.  
  10. 31:53 – Spontaneous human pyramids: AIGA culture captured in hallway pyramids—impromptu, team-driven, and filmed as instant memories.  
About Our Guest

Kristine Johnson – With an academic foundation in biocommunications and visual cognition, Kristine brings clarity to complexity as a strategist, lecturer, and AIGA board veteran. In Seattle, she served as Sponsorship Director (2009–2014) and chaired the national selection committee. She revitalized chapter funding, collaborated cross-chapter on programming, preserved creative rituals like Into the Woods, and leads the impactful LINC program for youth arts access. 

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