The American Institute of Graphic Art (AIGA) is one of those campus organizations that students may be aware of, but have no idea what they actually do. This organization is responsible for much of the advertisement that we see around campus.
For senior graphic design major Maria Stewart, AIGA is more than just something to be involved in on campus. She has been able to use her time working in AIGA to gain real life experience in the graphic design field. Stewart has already used this experience in the running of her own business, Tiny Owl Studios.
One of the major AIGA events is the annual Valentine’s Day sale. During this sale, students can buy anything from cards and stationary to homemade gifts. Stewart is helping organize the event this year, as well as designing framed prints that will be in the sale. She tells me that they are building a lot on how the sale has been organized in the past, but they are trying to think more outside the box. They are attempting to come up with more things that they can do with design in order to bring in as many people as possible.
“The sale gives me the opportunity to experiment with things I normally wouldn’t have, as well as provide real life insight on running a business and using this skill set after college,” Stewart said.
Stewart designed the poster advertisement for the Valentine’s Day sale and also designs the layout for the Cardinal & Cream magazine.
Helping Stewart organize this event is AIGA president, Giovanna de Souza, who is a junior graphic design major.
“The Valentine’s Day sale is a good opportunity to get our work out,” de Souza said. “The AIGA isn’t just a club. It’s also an ad agency, and we’re trying to get that point across this year.”
The Valentine’s Day sale will take place on Friday, Feb. 8, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the SUB hallway.
Some proceeds will go to Union’s AIGA chapter for field trips, and remaining proceeds will go to the students as profit.
