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.
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Terry Marks and Brien Thompson have been fixtures in Seattle’s design community for decades, though they’ve never served on the AIGA board at the same time. They take turns. Terry got pulled in by Jesse Doquillo despite not even being a member yet, and Brien accidentally launched his recruiting career at a Vegas conference after Terry forged him a badge to get into the parties.
This is a conversation about how relationships trump resumes, why Terry’s face ended up on the AOL homepage for impotence when he was 30, and what it means to build community when applying to 14 jobs gets you exactly one response. Also: how Brien built an entire staffing firm (Haystack Creative) on AIGA connections, and why the answer to “are you busy?” is always the wrong question.
Key Takeaways
Relationships are the lingua franca of everything: Jobs, clients, careers—all of it comes down to who knows you and how much they care.
AIGA was the only channel before online: National conferences and leadership retreats were how you met people and built your network across the country.
Forge ahead (literally): Sometimes getting someone into the parties requires a trip to Kinko’s and some creative Photoshop work.
Imposter syndrome is universal: Even self-taught designers who end up speaking across the country started out thinking they didn't belong.
Volunteering is networking: If you’re looking for work, volunteer at events—you'll meet people and get in free.
The job market is brutal, but it’s not you: Applying to hundreds of jobs with no response isn’t about your portfolio, it’s about the market.
Key Moments in This Episode
06:00 – The forged badge story: How Terry got Brien into Vegas AIGA parties via Kinko’s and Photoshop 10:00 – Meeting Michael Bierut with laryngitis: When Terry couldn’t talk and didn’t recognize one of the Michaels 14:00 – Taking turns on the board: How Terry and Brien have never served at the same time, and why that might have saved Terry’s marriage 22:00 – Erik and Brien’s origin story: How Brien’s dad—a pastor in Shelton—connected them 29:00 – Terry’s Photodisc fame: How a $40 photo shoot led to his face appearing on everything from Apple to AOL 33:00 – Relationships as business model: How Brien built Haystack Creative entirely on AIGA connections 42:00 – Solving the award book crisis: How Terry got 10,000 copies of a 350-page book printed when the deal fell through 46:00 – The job search black hole: Applying to 14 jobs, getting one “not filling this position” response, and the futility of AI-driven hiring 52:00 – How to actually get a job: Skip the portal, build relationships, find a recruiting firm, get face-to-face time
About Our Guests
Terry Marks is principal at TMarks Design, where he builds living brand systems that help teams move faster. A self-taught designer who co-founded Seattle's LINK program, he got his start in AIGA without even being a member—recruited by Jesse Doquillo to be the LINK liaison. He’s spoken across the country, appeared on more stock photography than he’d like to remember, and is currently back on the AIGA Seattle board.
Brien Thompson is founder of Haystack Creative, a recruitment and development expert specializing in design, UX, product, marketing, and creative industries. He’s been a connector in the Seattle design community for decades, serving on the AIGA Seattle Board as Sponsorship Director from 2002-2009. His career started accidentally—attending a Vegas AIGA conference with a forged badge, and discovering that relationship-based recruiting was his calling. He’s never served on the board at the same time as Terry—they take turns.
029: Amy Jo Levine & MaeLin Levine of AIGA San Diego Tijuana
Season 2 · Episode 29
Wednesday, March 25, 2026 • Duration 51:07
Amy Jo and MaeLin Levine have been running Visual Asylum together since 1987—and spending nearly as long proving that fearlessness is a San Diego AIGA tradition. In the early days, the chapter had $500 in the bank. A board member named Guy said: take money off the table and dream big. The answer became Y Conference, which ran for 26 years and inspired chapters across the country to launch their own events.
This is a conversation about framing Soviet posters when the USSR fell, following Bennett on an epic Toronto restaurant walk where people dropped like flies, and why Terry Marks couldn’t get a date. It’s about saving a chapter post-COVID with one email (not a single person said no), winning a World Design Capital bid during a pandemic, and the direct line from AIGA leadership to starting charter schools. Also: why you should never, ever suggest auctioning lawn chairs at a board meeting.
Key Takeaways
Fearlessness becomes culture: When your chapter starts by importing Soviet posters during the fall of the USSR, you set a precedent for taking on big challenges.
Remove money from the equation first: The Y Conference was born when someone said “take money off the table—what would you want to do?”
Sell sponsorships to cover costs, sell tickets for profit: This funding model sustained Y Conference for 26 years.
Leadership retreats create lifelong bonds: AIGA friendships lead to weddings, godparenthoods, and collaborations that last decades.
What you give comes back tenfold: Ron Muriello's advice proved true—AIGA leadership builds confidence and opens doors you never imagined.
Chapters need to pass the torch: The generation that built these programs is getting tired of schlepping water bottles—new leaders need to step up.
Key Moments in This Episode
03:20 – Framing Soviet posters: How MaeLin got recruited to work shoulder-to-shoulder with San Diego’s design who’s who
: When the Soviet Union fell, there was nowhere to send them back to—so the chapter kept them for 25 years
020: Kevin Berger & Aaron Shurts of AIGA Seattle
Season 2 · Episode 20
Saturday, September 13, 2025 • Duration 48:14
Two longtime friends turned co-leaders share how they built AIGA Seattle like a business—and kept the fun alive with hot dogs, karaoke, and pyramids. Kevin Berger and Aaron Shurts recount their journey from board interviews and budget struggles to building sustainable programming and epic conferences. Along the way, they reveal the bonds that leadership retreats created (and the legendary late-night antics that made them unforgettable).
Key Takeaways
Run chapters like businesses: Sustainable structure beats constant one-off burnout.
Financial stewardship matters: Turning deficits into reserves made big programs possible.
Retreats are culture accelerators: They forged instant friendships and solved common challenges across chapters.
Traditions build bonds: Pyramids, karaoke, and late-night hot dog runs made retreats unforgettable.
Mentorship pays forward: Early AIGA leaders inspired Kevin and Aaron to support the next generation.
Leadership translates: Board lessons built confidence, shaped careers, and even extended into new adventures beyond design.
Key Moments in This Episode
00:21 – From students to presidents: Kevin and Aaron trace their paths into AIGA Seattle leadership, from board interviews to co-leading the chapter.
05:46 – Building structure like a business: How they shifted Seattle’s chapter from burnout one-offs to sustainable programs like Schmooze.
10:33 – Turning red into black: Facing down a negative budget, they created financial sustainability and rebuilt the chapter’s reserves.
14:20 – Into the Woods: The origin of Seattle’s beloved design camp, and the struggle to make big conferences both meaningful and solvent.
20:52 – Connections that matter: Kevin recalls how early mentors like Terry Marks and Jesse Duquillo inspired him to pay it forward to young designers.
019: Karen Kurycki & Varick Rosete of AIGA Jacksonville
Season 2 · Episode 19
Saturday, August 30, 2025 • Duration 46:52
From trivia-fueled pool parties in Miami to five-tier pyramids sketched out on cocktail napkins, Jacksonville brought the fun and the leadership to AIGA retreats. In this episode, we’re joined by longtime partners-in-crime Karen Kurycki (aka CMYKaren) and Varick Rosete (TigerLily Chief Design Officer) to relive the wild, heartfelt, and often hilarious stories from their years leading the Jacksonville design community. These two have done it all—presidents, mentors, party planners, pyramid architects—and their chapter motto said it best: “Have fun. Get sh*t done.”
Key Takeaways:
How a bag of Pringles sparked a legendary retreat icebreaker
Why Miami might actually be the birthplace of the pyramid (sorry, Omaha)
The mysterious origins of the 6 a.m. Club and why it still lives on
Behind the scenes of Jacksonville’s epic “room parties” (and why they weren’t really in Jacksonville’s room)
Building lasting community impact—from high school mentorship programs to 70+ chapter events a year
It’s a trip down memory lane that shows how design leadership is equal parts planning, partying, and people-first community building.
Key Moments in This Episode
00:16 – Meet the Jacksonville duo: Karen “CMYKaren” Kurycki and Varick Rosete, design leaders known for blending creativity, leadership, and community.
02:21 – Karen’s AIGA journey: From volunteer chair to chapter president to launching the Discover Design mentorship program.
05:19 – Varick’s fast track: How a love for connecting people turned into a leap from membership to VP to president.
06:45 – Miami retreat memories: Poolside beers, Pringles trivia, and the surprising birthplace of the pyramid.
12:00 – Masked introductions: Jacksonville’s Michael Jackson masks made a memorable (and sweaty) first impression.
018: Michele Cooper & Kelly Holohan of AIGA Philadelphia
Season 2 · Episode 18
Saturday, August 16, 2025 • Duration 49:02
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 Takeaways
How two Philly designers turned a chapter with little visibility into a thriving creative hub
Why uncovering hidden membership funds changed everything for programming
The origin story of the Philadelphia Design Awards and how it elevated local work
What 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 cities
The 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 strategies
Episode Chapters
00:46 – 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.
017: Jenny Price & Seth Johnson of AIGA Minneapolis
Season 2 · Episode 17
Saturday, August 2, 2025 • Duration 55:00
Two design leaders, one powerful connector, and a story of mentorship turning into lifelong creative partnership—this episode is a masterclass in community, transformation, and the wild, wonderful culture of design retreats. Hear how cold emails blossomed into careers, how chapter leadership became a training ground for corporate change, and why human pyramids (and arm-wrestling in Denny’s) became legendary.
Key Takeaways
A cold email changed everything: how Jenny’s outreach to a connector unlocked career-long leadership in AIGA and beyond.
Mentorship in motion: Doug Powell introduced them, their partnership flourished, and he later reunited them professionally at IBM.
Volunteer leadership is scalable leadership: Seth’s AIGA experience taught him how to structure repeatable systems—a key skill at IBM.
Some habits stick: from human pyramid diagrams to impromptu arm-wrestles and Denny’s storylines, design community rituals are unforgettable.
Retreats are more than meetings—they’re cultural boot camps: from security profiles to nighttime antics and shared rituals, those moments formed their leadership DNA.
Episode Chapters
00:43 – Meet Seth Johnson: Design Director at IBM, educator, and former AIGA Chapter President.
01:31 – Meet Jenny Price: Global Design Lead Producer at GM, architect of IBM’s first DesignOps community and playbook.
02:41 – Jenny’s cold email to Doug Powell: The spark that lit her AIGA involvement.
03:07 – First shared AIGA event: Seth and Jenny both at the same W Hotel event—though hadn’t yet met.
04:14 – The pivotal introduction: At GAIN 2010, Doug introduced them—setting a path that changed both their careers.
05:00 – Jenny launches board leadership: Her first AIGA board role—Co‑Director of Education—while still new to Minneapolis.
07:46 – Seth’s parallel path: Introduced to AIGA through local connections and mentors, moving quickly into chapter leadership.
016: Leadership Lessons from Season 1 with Erik & Rachel
Season 1 · Episode 16
Saturday, June 28, 2025 • Duration 34:25
Season 1 wasn’t just about retreat tall tales—it was a masterclass in real leadership. In this wrapped-up chat, hosts Rachel and Erik unpack the key lessons that surfaced across the season—from stepping into leadership despite imposter syndrome and the power of a single invitation, to why retreats are where connections happen and how humble gestures become leadership in action. This episode isn’t a recap—it’s a reflection on what it means to lead, together.
Key Takeaways
You don’t need to feel ready to start leading—action builds confidence.
An ask is powerful—leadership often begins with someone saying, “Hey, we’d love you here.”
Retreats shape us more than events do—they’re where people evolve into leaders.
Small, messy actions matter—gracious leadership often happens offstage.
People are our legacy—connections outlast work portfolios.
Mentorship completes the circle—being invited and then inviting others is leadership in motion.
Season 1 was the structural foundation—and it’s only getting stronger in Season 2.
Episode Chapters
00:02 – Why this episode exists: Rachel shares how reviewing transcripts with GPT revealed stunning leadership insights hidden just below the retreat stories.
01:11 – Lesson 1: Leadership starts before you feel ready: Imposter vibes are universal, but leadership grows in the doing.
04:27 – Lesson 2: One invitation can change everything: A simple “Wanna join?” unlocked leadership paths for many guests.
09:18 – Lesson 3: Retreats aren’t events—they’re origin stories: From Grand Rapids energy to hot tub bonding, these aren’t just trips—they’re accelerators of belonging.
13:10 – Lesson 4: Real leadership is small, messy & generous: It’s not always the mic, but the unseen gestures—like greeting at the check-in table.
015: Kristine Johnson of AIGA Seattle
Season 1 · Episode 15
Saturday, June 21, 2025 • Duration 34:42
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
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.
01:17 – Sponsorship transformation: From $350 in the bank to over $85,000—Kristine details how she built a reliable, value-driven funding model.
03:20 – Mentors & momentum: Her initial fear of fundraising was quelled by smart mentors who leveraged mock interviews and strategy to guide her.
06:17 – Most memorable retreat: Minneapolis: A jam‑packed content-driven retreat where bonds, frameworks, and inspiration were forged over hallway conversations.
08:09 – Cross‑chapter collaboration: Seattle and Boston shared programming systems—Business Basics series and email workflows made smarter through shared notes.
014: Bernardo Marguils of AIGA Philadelphia
Season 1 · Episode 14
Saturday, June 14, 2025 • Duration 42:03
Meet Bernardo Marguils — a design-tech polymath whose journey spans graphic design, computer science, and marketing leadership. Fresh out of school, he dove headfirst into AIGA Philadelphia, learning on the fly, leading transformational board experiments, and turning volunteer roles into career-defining skills. This episode uncovers how messy learning, human pyramids, and hot‑tub jam sessions shape creative leadership.
Key Takeaways
The best learning happens when you’re thrown in—Bernardo hit the ground running as Sponsorship Chair the week before graduation.
Failing forward is real: his first sponsorship and fundraising experiments taught him through trial, error, and unexpected wins.
Rituals matter—a retreat’s pool, hot tub, and Sharpie-fueled room parties are as formative as any workshop.
AIGA isn’t just volunteering—it’s a network powerful enough to land jobs, schools, and show up at pivotal career moments.
Real leadership is about creating space—not owning every answer, but asking the right questions and empowering others.
Coming full circle: from mentee to mentor, Bernardo embodies the continuing ripple of design community giving back.
Episode Chapters
02:04 – The first AIGA chapter – Bernardo reveals that AIGA Philadelphia was established in 1981, making it the first official chapter—sorry, New York.
03:18 – Calling in fresh – Just before graduation, Bernardo is tapped as Sponsorship Chair—totally unprepared and totally ready.
07:25 – First fundraiser experiments – Paper show was fading. After apologizing to vendors, he schemes tiered sponsorships: Gold, Silver, Bronze.
12:58 – Trials and pivots – Experimented with a resource fair instead of a paper show. Though it lost money the first year, success arrived in venue partnerships.
15:02 – Birthplace of pyramids – Forget Miami—human pyramid legends began in Omaha, not glamorous but wildly memorable.
– At his national board retreat in Miami, he absorbs hundreds of ideas and finds belonging across generations.
013: Gage Mitchell of AIGA Seattle and more
Season 1 · Episode 13
Saturday, June 7, 2025 • Duration 54:49
When your idea of fun is starting or reviving entire AIGA chapters, you know community is in your DNA. From launching a student group in Colorado to helping restart Seattle, Gage Mitchell has been at the center of design communities wherever he lands. Along the way, he’s pioneered programs like Design for Good and Changemakers, built frameworks like the Path to Impact Workbook, and—of course—helped fuel retreat traditions involving pyramids, cowboy hats, and 6 a.m. send-offs.
Key Takeaways
Leadership is built by doing: Gage founded or revived multiple AIGA chapters—from his college years onward.
Rituals spark connection: Human pyramids, 6 a.m. club farewells, and cowboy-themed retreat skits formed strong creative bonds.
Theory falls flat without practice: He turned abstract sustainability frameworks into tangible tools people can use.
Design with impact works best when it’s co-created: Changemakers proved design + community = real solutions.
Start small, scale smart: To restart Seattle, he began simply—with social meetups, delegating, and building momentum.
Community-making is the finest leadership: Gage’s strength lies in planting ideas and letting the group water them.
Episode Chapters
03:30 – Founding AIGA Fort Collins: Gage jumps into leadership by starting the student chapter mid-college—and becomes president by default.
09:24 – Saving AIGA Charlotte: Moves post-grad, finds a chapter on the brink of closing, and helps revive it with a new board and events like “Morning Buzz.”
12:22 – Building in Madison: After a travel hiatus, lands in Madison and steps up as the city rep, building community from scratch.
14:31 – Seattle board in weeks: Moves northwest, attends an AIGA event within weeks, and joins the Seattle board almost immediately.
14:42 – First leadership retreat: Recounts his intimidating first retreat—walking in to find hundreds of creatives who instantly felt like friends.
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14:00 – Bennett’s epic restaurant walk: When 40 people started following Bennett in Toronto and only 6 made it to the end
17:00 – Terry Marks and the STD billboards: Why Seattle’s gorilla suit guy couldn’t figure out why no one would date him
19:00 – That one intimidating retreat: When MaeLin walked into a room with all the Michaels and Jennifers—and felt like the only normal person there
21:00 – Following Jesse and Terry to start LINK: How a leadership retreat conversation led to 30+ years of San Diego’s mentorship program
24:00 – The backyard that birthed Y Conference: Guy’s challenge to dream big when the chapter only had $500 in the bank
26:00 – We are NOT auctioning lawn chairs: MaeLin’s breaking point that redirected the chapter’s energy
31:00 – 26 years of Y Conference: How San Diego became the first chapter outside New York to run a major design conference
32:00 – The email that saved the chapter: When MaeLin asked former board members to help save AIGA post-COVID, not one person said no
35:00 – World Design Capital bid: How AIGA experience gave MaeLin the confidence to chair a world-class designation—during a pandemic
45:00 – What AIGA gave back: From Harvard Business School programs to starting charter schools—the direct line from leadership to life-changing opportunities
About Our Guests
Amy Jo Levine is co-founder of Visual Asylum, past president of AIGA San Diego-Tijuana, and former Y Conference chair. A typography expert who teaches advanced typography and wayfinding, she spent 17 years on the AIGA board—about 15 of which involved moving, reinstalling, or shipping those Soviet posters. She specializes in environmental design and making spaces actually communicate with people.
MaeLin Levine is co-founder of Visual Asylum, an AIGA Fellow, and incoming President’s Council Chair for AIGA National. She helped San Diego Tijuana win the World Design Capital 2024 designation, co-founded the Y Conference, and started Urban Discovery Academy, a K-8 charter school in San Diego. She’s been proving that designers can lead anything since she walked into a room to frame Soviet posters in 1987.
29:14 – Retreat revelations: Why leadership retreats felt like “college on steroids,” with instant connections and problem-solving across chapters.
36:40 – Hot dog diplomacy: The unforgettable 3 a.m. Denver street-corner memory—bonding quietly over hot dogs amid city chaos.
42:12 – Pyramid time: How spontaneous human pyramids became the unofficial leadership-retreat tradition (yes, even in elevators).
48:29 – Swim-off showdown: Aaron’s hilarious “race” against Raleigh president Matt Enios—complete with sabotage.
55:18 – Karaoke choreography: Aaron’s Proud Mary performance—with full backup dancers—cemented his legend at retreat karaoke.
1:05:42 – Beyond AIGA: Life after board service—Kevin focused on agency leadership, while Aaron became a certified charter captain leading fishing trips.
About Our Guests
Kevin Berger is Executive Creative Director and Partner at Graphiti, where he’s led creative strategy for Amazon, Starbucks, Tableau, and more. He served as Programming Director, VP, and President of AIGA Seattle, helping stabilize its programs and finances.
Aaron Shurts is Founder and Principal of Mentor Creative Group, a Seattle-based design and technology agency. With over two decades of experience, he’s held leadership roles at Deloitte Digital, taught at the Art Institutes, and served as AIGA Seattle Vice President and President. Outside design, Aaron is a certified charter captain leading marine adventures in the Pacific Northwest.
13:41 – Crashing retreats: How Varick became known for sneaking into leadership gatherings without a badge.
19:14 – Designing for good: Karen shares how social design talks inspired a decade-long mentorship program in Jacksonville.
26:40 – The Jacksonville party myth: Why their chapter became legendary for gatherings—even when they weren’t technically the hosts.
29:54 – The 6 a.m. Club: The origin story of an all-night tradition that stretched across multiple retreats.
37:23 – 76 events in one year: The ambitious streak that energized (and nearly exhausted) AIGA Jacksonville.
40:16 – Beyond AIGA: How both leaders continue to shape community after their official chapter roles.
About our guests
Karen Kurycki – Designer, illustrator, and socially engaged creative known for her watercolor work and civic design projects. Former AIGA Jacksonville president and creator of Discover Design, a mentorship program for students.
Varick Rosete – Chief Design Officer at TigerLily, longtime Jacksonville design leader, and former AIGA Jacksonville president. Known for connecting cultural resonance with design and building community through events like One Spark Festival.
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 Guests
Kelly 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.
11:20 – Seamless partnership: Their roles visually aligned—Jenny succeeding Seth on education, then VP after his presidency.
15:56 – Reunited at IBM: Doug invites Jenny to help build IBM’s DesignOps community—the AIGA playbook going corporate.
21:57 – AIGA lessons at scale: Seth reflects how AIGA taught him how to make initiatives repeatable and scalable—critical to his work at IBM.
34:18 – Leadership retreats get real: Designers are profiled for their habits by hotel security—ugh, wearing human pyramids like a badge of honor.
36:00 – Human pyramid training: From diagrams in Illustrator to napkin-coded six-tier team builds—a Minnesota tradition.
43:38 – Denny’s arm wrestle moment: Jenny accidentally flips David out of his chair mid-arm-wrestle; legendary snapshot captured.
About Our Guests
Seth Johnson – Design Director at IBM’s Chief Data Office, educator at Parsons and Art Center, former AIGA Minnesota president. Seth’s journey from local volunteer to corporate design leader showcases how leadership in community scales to global impact.
Jenny Price – Global Design Lead Producer at General Motors (Craft & Interface), pioneer of DesignOps at IBM (built its community and internal playbook). Her volunteer roots in AIGA helped her architect new systems of design leadership in enterprise contexts.
16:29 – Lesson 5: This community is the product: It’s the people that turn chapters into ecosystems—relationships matter more than portfolios.
21:05 – Lesson 6: Full-circle moments make it worth it: From mentee to mentor, the loop of giving back is the heartbeat of design community.
29:48 – Behind the scenes love: Erik and Rachel reflect on how much this podcast—Season 1—has meant to them personally.
33:22 – What’s next for Season 2: A teaser—returning by August with duo interviews, a bi-weekly rhythm, and subscriber exclusives.
About the Hosts
Rachel Elnar & Erik Cargill continue their journey shaping Cheers & Tiers, curating design leadership stories with warmth, levity, and honesty. From pulling insights out of transcripts to building community one episode at a time—they lead by listening, storytelling, and lifting others.
10:37 – Into the Woods: A rustic, unplugged program (formerly Design Camp) that fused disciplines; Kristine helped keep it alive at Sleeping Lady.
13:44 – Creative unplugged magic: With no screens allowed, Into the Woods featured craft-based learning, intimate talk sessions, and cross-discipline inspiration.
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.
23:27 – The power of networking & contribution: She reflects on how AIGA taught her that giving and receiving in a network are equally vital.
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.
22:13 – Post-conference ritual – Pool > hot tub > late-night sea submerge. No formal room parties, but magic still happened.
23:48 – Sharpie tactics for room parties – Security kicked them out, so they Sharpied room numbers on wrists and kept the party alive.
28:21 – AIGA connection networks – A conversation in a Miami cab led to job leads, grad school recommendations, and mentors lining the way.
29:44 – Leadership with data – Partnering with his VP, he analyzed decade-long board data to reshape recruitment and board participation.
31:53 – Leadership as facilitation – Bernardo reframed his role as enabling board conversations and experimentation—not doing everything himself.
37:14 – Mentor turn – Once a mentee, now a mentor in Philly’s mentorship program—full-circle moment.
About Our Guest
Bernardo Marguils is a creative-leadership chameleon—equally at home in code or composition. Currently the Director of Marketing at Penn Medicine Doylestown Health, he previously engineered at Amazon and served multiple terms on AIGA Philadelphia’s board. From innovating fundraising systems to reshaping how the chapter recruits and leads through data, his background in design, computer science, and strategic facilitation makes him a standout leader.
21:55 – Building the 6 a.m. club: How an early-morning farewell ritual for an ED became an AIGA folklore favorite.
28:25 – Design for Good gets real: Turning academic frameworks into accessible, practical discussions and workshops attendees can actually use.
30:29 – Birth of Path to Impact: How merging design, sustainability, inclusion, and good practice led to a chapter-ready workbook supported by a grant.
38:21 – Launching Changemakers: AIGA Seattle’s program pairing creatives with nonprofits to co-design solutions—real consulting, real change.
36:51 – Riding stage hobby horses: Leading retreat fun in Dallas: cowboy hats, hobby horses, and stage performances that embed memory and camaraderie.
45:19 – Restarting AIGA Seattle: Working through legal hurdles to bring the chapter back to life—one coffee meetup at a time.
47:49 – Pyramid mania: From hotel lobbies to ping-pong bars—structural, impromptu human pyramids served as creative bonding rituals.
About Our Guest
Gage Mitchell – Founder of Modern Species, advocate for B Corp design ethics, and creative strategist based in Seattle. Gage has a storied history of chapter-building—from Colorado to Charlotte to Madison—and most recently, spearheading the rebirth of AIGA Seattle. He’s fused community energy into frameworks like Design for Good, Changemakers, and the Path to Impact Workbook, grounding activism in accessible design practices.
