Michele Cooper

Design leadership with heart—and a healthy dose of activism. Michele Cooper and Kelly Holohan dive into how they transformed AIGA Philadelphia from nearly invisible to a powerhouse of community, mentorship, and thoughtful fun. Expect stories of financial discoveries, grassroots programming, and leadership that’s as thoughtful as it is rebellious.Key TakeawaysHow two Philly designers turned a chapter with little visibility into a thriving creative hubWhy uncovering hidden membership funds changed everything for programmingThe origin story of the Philadelphia Design Awards and how it elevated local workWhat really happened at the Miami retreat hot tub (and why Kelly thought, “I’m too old for this”)How chapter skits, stunts, and T-shirt performances built camaraderie across citiesThe leadership secret: motivating volunteers by tapping into their personal “why”How Philly grew its membership from the 500s to nearly 800 with bold, people-first strategiesEpisode Chapters00:46 – Meet Kelly Holohan: Designer‑activist, educator, former AIGA Philly president focused on LGBTQ+, women’s rights, and environmental justice.  01:15 – Meet Michele Cooper: AIGA stalwart since 1999, diversity champion, design director, and partner at Cooper Graphic Design.  02:59 – How they joined AIGA: Kelly joined via a committee invite post‑Manhattan; Michele got propelled into leadership just months after attending.  07:50 – Money moves: Amy Davis discovered where the membership revenue was hiding—suddenly, AIGA Philly finally had funds.  09:27 – Programming boom: New funds launched student tours, “New to You” series, sustainability talks, community‑selected speakers like Saul Bass’s designer and Michael Bierut.  11:48 – Philadelphia Design Awards born: Post‑presidency, Michele teamed up with Alan Espiritu to launch PDA—the first of its kind.  24:51 – Retreat life: Leadership retreats were highlighted as “fun college days” compared to the seriousness of conferences.  25:52 – Miami magic: Kelly remembers an epic hot‑tub night so wild even she thought, “I’m too old for this.”  28:31 – Chapter playtime: From performance skits to recreating the “Love” statue with chapter T-shirts—the Philly room was the place to be.  36:17 – Leadership lessons: Kelly discovered how to motivate volunteers by understanding their “why”—a skill that leveled up her teaching leadership.  47:40 – Membership surge: Through their energetic recruiting and programming, Philly soared from the 500s to nearly 800 members.  About Our GuestsKelly Holohan – Designer-activist, educator (Tyler School of Art), and founder of movements like We the Women and Sisters in Solidarity. Her design work spans exhibitions and collections—from LGBTQ+ advocacy to global exhibits. As AIGA Philadelphia’s president (2007–2009), she melded activism with community.  Michele Cooper – Longtime AIGA Philly leader (since 1999), past president, founder of the Philly Design Awards, and 2019 Fellow Award recipient. Co-founder of Cooper Graphic Design, Michele champions social justice through projects like Sisters in Solidarity and postcard campaigns for change. FeaturingGuest Michele Cooper, connect on LinkedInGuest Kelly Holohan, connect on LinkedInHost Erik Cargill, connect on LinkedInHost Rachel Elnar, connect on LinkedInSupport 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 updates