Cheers & Tiers: Design Leadership Tales Retold Titelbild

Cheers & Tiers: Design Leadership Tales Retold

Cheers & Tiers: Design Leadership Tales Retold

Von: Chapter 2
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 Cheers & Tiers welcomes you into a circle of design leaders whose bonds were forged during iconic AIGA design leadership retreats and conferences. These gatherings were more than just strategic sessions with the nation’s chapter leaders—they were moments of shared growth, laughter, and camaraderie that shaped careers and lives, blending organizational development with celebratory toasts and even the occasional human pyramid. Fellow design leaders Erik and Rachel as they reconnect with friends about shared experiences, memorable lessons, and transformative moments gleaned that defined this extraordinary group. Join us as we honor the relationships and memories that continue to shape design and leadership today.© 2025 Chapter 2 Erfolg im Beruf Sozialwissenschaften Ökonomie
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  • 025: Debbie Millman & Michael Bierut of AIGA New York

    025: Debbie Millman & Michael Bierut of AIGA New York
    Dec 20 2025
    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
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    55 Min.
  • 024: Carlos Estrada of AIGA Detroit & Oen Michael Hammonds of AIGA Austin

    024: Carlos Estrada of AIGA Detroit & Oen Michael Hammonds of AIGA Austin
    Dec 6 2025
    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
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    56 Min.
  • 023: Carolyn Colonna & Taylor Nall of AIGA Charlotte

    023: Carolyn Colonna & Taylor Nall of AIGA Charlotte
    Nov 8 2025

    Two presidents of the same scrappy Charlotte chapter share what it’s like to step up without a roadmap. In this episode of Cheers & Tiers, we sit down with Carolyn Colonna and Taylor Nall, who each led AIGA Charlotte through very different moments of growth and experimentation.


    They talk about the unexpected ways they found AIGA, what it means to lead with trust instead of ego, and why showing up with openness (and a well-placed DM) can create real change. There’s a quiet kind of bravery in simply showing up—and these two prove it matters.

    Key Takeaways

    • Don’t wait for permission: Carolyn stepped into the presidency during a leadership gap—without a plan, but with purpose.
    • Cold DMs work: Taylor reached out to AIGA before he even graduated, and ended up president.
    • Trust is everything: Both leaders focused on vulnerability and connection, not titles.
    • Design solves everything: Even event engagement—just ask the Mullet Meter.
    • Leave it better: Good leaders set others up to thrive after they’re gone.


    Key Moments in This Episode

    • 00:40 – Carolyn’s accidental presidency: stepping up during a leadership gap
    • 03:20 – Taylor’s cold DM: reaching out to AIGA before graduating
    • 06:05 – From college volunteer to board president: Taylor’s rise
    • 08:10 – Leading with trust: Carolyn’s core approach
    • 10:40 – Building the next team: why mentorship mattered
    • 13:00 – Bridging leadership styles: collaborative handoffs and honest reflection
    • 15:10 – The Mullet Meter: a playful way to track event vibes
    • 16:30 – What future leaders need: permission, support, and follow-through


    About Our Guests


    Carolyn Colonna is a designer and creative leader based in Boston, MA. Her early career was spent in North Carolina where she helped steer AIGA Charlotte through a leadership gap with a human-centered, trust-first approach. Today she continues to create experiences and environments where creativity and connection thrive.


    Taylor Nall is the VP of Technology for carbonhouse, a digital agency based in Charlotte, North Carolina and was AIGA Charlotte’s youngest chapter president. He brought a fresh take on leadership, proving that initiative, authenticity, and a good sense of humor can take you far.

    Featuring


    Guest Carolyn Colonna, connect on LinkedIn

    Guest Taylor Nall, connect on LinkedIn

    Host Erik Cargill, connect on LinkedIn

    Host Rachel Elnar, connect on LinkedIn


    Support the Show

    • Theme music: Loose Ends by Silver Ships Plastic Oceans
    • Produced by Chapter 2 Media
    • Subscribe to the Together by Design newsletter for more community-building and podcast episode updates


    Sponsored by: Able Made, The Original Off Pitch Soccer Style: shop now
    Sponsored by: Draplin Design Company, check us out!
    Sponsored by: The People's Graphic Design Archive: browse, contribute, and research
    Mehr anzeigen Weniger anzeigen
    48 Min.
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