What AIGA Chicago does

AIGA Chicago is the Chicago chapter of AIGA, the national professional association for design, operating as a nonprofit member-driven organization serving designers, design students, and design educators in the Chicago metropolitan area. The chapter's core offerings center on community programming rather than software products: it runs recurring events (ASK + GIVE networking sessions, Coffee & Crits portfolio reviews, Co-working Days), an annual AIGA Chicago Awards program with six recognition categories, a 10-week Mentor Program serving approximately 120 mentees per cohort across two annual cycles, and a tiered grants portfolio including individual student grants ($1,500-$3,000), Boost Grants for student groups ($500-$750), and Community Grants ($2,000-$5,000, with $20,000 distributed in 2019). It also produces the On the Daily Podcast and the 'This Is Chicago' book profiling local design leaders, and hosts the MXD cultural exchange jointly with AIGA Detroit.

The chapter does not operate proprietary technology. Its digital infrastructure is built on WordPress (chicago.aiga.org) with third-party integrations for ticketing (Eventbrite), email (Mailchimp), and community commenting (Disqus). Membership billing, the member directory, and the job board are handled through the national AIGA platform (my.aiga.org), with AIGA Chicago receiving pass-through membership revenue from dues that start at $50 per year.

AIGA Chicago's revenue model combines individual membership dues (collected nationally), event ticket sales ranging from $15 for student members to $300 for non-members at conferences, and corporate sponsorships from technology providers (Disqus, Mailchimp), paper suppliers (Sappi, Classic, Domtar), and consumer brands (Brooklyn Brewery, Lagunitas, Koval Distillery). The chapter is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, currently led by Co-President Antonio García and Executive Director Kelly Knaga, and is one of 67 AIGA chapters worldwide.

Name

AIGA Chicago

Legal name

AIGA Chicago

Website

https://chicago.aiga.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1914

Operating status

Operating

Short description

AIGA Chicago is the Chicago chapter of AIGA national, a nonprofit professional association serving Chicago-area design professionals, students, and educators through events, awards, mentorship, grants, and educational programming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: AIGA Chicago generates revenue through membership fees collected by the national AIGA organization. The chapter operates as part of the larger AIGA network, with membership dues starting at $50 per year according to references to AIGA national membership pricing. These dues fund chapter programming, events, and educational initiatives.
2. Event Revenue: The chapter generates revenue through ticket sales for its events and awards ceremonies. Pricing varies by event type, with student members paying reduced rates. For example, 2018 AIGA Chicago Awards tickets were priced at $15 for student members, $25 for AIGA members, and $30 for non-members. Additional revenue comes from book sales, particularly the 'This Is Chicago' publication.
3. Sponsorships and Grants: AIGA Chicago receives sponsorship support from corporate partners including technology sponsors (Disqus, Mailchimp), paper suppliers, and event sponsors. The organization also distributes grants ($20,000 awarded in 2019 for community grants) funded through sponsorship and chapter resources, creating a reciprocal relationship with the design community and corporate partners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

AIGA Chicago is the Chicago chapter of AIGA, the professional association for design. It is a not-for-profit membership organization that delivers community programming (events like ASK + GIVE, Coffee & Crits, Co-working Days), an annual awards program, a 10-week Mentor Program, student grants and education programs, the On the Daily Podcast, and publications such as the 'This Is Chicago' book. It serves design professionals, students, and educators across the Chicago metropolitan area through events, educational resources, and professional recognition.

Product overview

AIGA Chicago is the Chicago chapter of AIGA, the professional association for design. It operates as a not-for-profit membership organization offering a portfolio of programs and services rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include: Events Programming (regular community events like ASK + GIVE, Coffee & Crits, Co-working Days, and annual conferences); AIGA Chicago Awards (annual recognition program with multiple award categories); Student Grants and Education Programs (individual student grants, Boost Grants for student groups, and community grants); the Mentor Program (10-week cohort program); On the Daily Podcast; the This Is Chicago publication; and various resources including the AIGA Standard Contract and design business resources. The organization also hosts the Music x Design cultural exchange event. These services are provided to advance the design profession and community in Chicago.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AIGA Chicago Membership Annual membership (starting at $50/year through AIGA national) providing Chicago-area design professionals with access to member-only content, job boards, event discounts, chapter programming, and the broader 67-chapter AIGA network.
• Events Programming Recurring community events including ASK + GIVE networking sessions, Coffee & Crits portfolio critiques, Co-working Days, the annual AIGA DEC Throughlines Conference (e.g., 2026 edition with student $150 / member $250 / non-member $300 tickets), Hybrid Design book talks, and Chicago Design Week programming for design professionals and students.
• AIGA Chicago Awards Annual awards program with categories including Fellow Award, Corporate Leadership Award, Above & Beyond Award, Emerging Designer Award, Social Impact Award, and Educator Award. Tickets sold to members and non-members (e.g., 2018 Awards: $15 student / $25 member / $30 non-member).
• Student Grants and Education Programs Educational funding programs including What's Next Individual Student Grants ($1,500-$3,000 for recent graduates), Boost Grants for student groups ($500-$750), Community Grants ($2,000-$5,000 per project), Education Grants, and the M.A.D. Student Design Award for Chicago-area design students and groups.
• Mentor Program Twice-yearly 10-week cohort mentorship program serving approximately 100-120 mentees and 10-15 mentors each cycle, connecting emerging designers with experienced design professionals in the Chicago area.
• This Is Chicago (Publication) A printed book profiling 22 Chicago design leaders and studios with interviews and photography, published by AIGA Chicago and sold through a book release party event and standard distribution.
• Music x Design (MXD) A collaborative cultural exchange event between AIGA Chicago, AIGA Detroit, and Submerge Records featuring 24-hour continuous DJ streaming from Berlin, Chicago, and Detroit with charitable fundraising component.
• On the Daily Podcast Podcast series featuring conversations with Chicago designers examining how their identities influence creative practice and discussing diversity and inclusion issues in the design profession, co-hosted with the On The Daily Instagram series.
• Chicago Student Groups Support and resources for design student groups at Chicago-area institutions including studio tours, industry engagement opportunities, and student group project grants, distributed through university partnerships with Columbia College Chicago, University of Illinois at Chicago, and School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Quantifiable outcome

• Served approximately 120 mentees per cohort through the Mentor Program
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• VSA PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesigned the 'This Is Chicago' book published by AIGA Chicago, contributing design expertise and creative direction for the chapter's major publication showcasing 22 Chicago design leaders.
• SappiminorOthersPaper supplier sponsor for 'This Is Chicago' book printing, along with Classic and Domtar.
• Classic (paper)minorOthersPaper supplier sponsor for 'This Is Chicago' book printing.
• DomtarminorOthersPaper supplier sponsor for 'This Is Chicago' book printing.
• ArtisanminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent sponsor for 'This Is Chicago' Book Release Party.
• Dark Horse WineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent sponsor for 'This Is Chicago' Book Release Party.
• Lagunitas Brewing CompanyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent sponsor for 'This Is Chicago' Book Release Party and 2018 AIGA Chicago Awards.
• Koval DistilleryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent sponsor for 'This Is Chicago' Book Release Party.
• AIGA DetroitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner for MXD (Music x Design) event, a cultural exchange featuring DJs from Berlin, Chicago, and Detroit.
• Submerge RecordsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner for MXD (Music x Design) 24-hour streaming event featuring 12 DJs from Berlin, Chicago, and Detroit.
• Green SkyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for MXD (Music x Design) event, a cultural exchange between AIGA chapters.
• SMZminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for MXD (Music x Design) event, a cultural exchange between AIGA chapters.
• Forth LevelminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue sponsor for 2018 AIGA Chicago Awards celebration.
• Brooklyn BreweryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent sponsor for 2018 AIGA Chicago Awards.
• UptakeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor providing artwork for 2018 AIGA Chicago Awards and board nominations materials.
• Delicious Design LeagueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesigned the 2018 AIGA Chicago Awards materials.
• Paper SourceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent sponsor for Hybrid Design - Curiosity in All Things event featuring San Francisco studio Hybrid Design.
• HOW Design LiveminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAIGA Chicago promotes HOW Design Live conference to members with exclusive $50 discount using promo code AIGA15.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• AIGA Detroit: Direct peer AIGA chapter already collaborating with AIGA Chicago on the MXD (Music x Design) cultural exchange; operates a similar chapter model serving the Detroit-area design community.
• Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA): A national U.S. professional association for industrial design; highly analogous to AIGA Chicago in mission (community, education, awards, advocacy) but serving the industrial rather than graphic/UX design segment of the profession.
• AIGA New York: Direct peer AIGA chapter serving the New York design community; comparable scope of programming (events, awards, mentorship, education grants) and operates under the same national AIGA membership and chapter model.
• Type Directors Club (TDC): A professional association focused on typography and type design; runs awards, exhibitions, member programming and educational events in the same professional-association format AIGA Chicago uses in Chicago.
• AIGA (national): The national parent professional association for design; AIGA Chicago operates as one of 67 chapters under AIGA national, sharing brand, member infrastructure (my.aiga.org), standardized contracts and awards recognition programs.
• Society of Publication Designers (SPD): A U.S. professional association serving the editorial/publication design community; runs an analog awards program, member events and design education initiatives comparable to AIGA Chicago's mix of programs.
• AIGA Los Angeles: Direct peer AIGA chapter serving the Los Angeles design community; another large-market chapter operating the same awards, mentorship and event programming model within the national association.
• AIGA San Francisco: Direct peer AIGA chapter serving the San Francisco Bay Area design community; runs analogous events, awards and education programming within the same national AIGA chapter framework as Chicago.

Broad incumbents

• American Institute of Architects (AIA): A larger, established U.S. professional association for architects operating on the same chapter/membership/awards model as AIGA Chicago but at significantly greater scale and broader scope; useful analog for chapter economics and governance.
• Design Management Institute (DMI): A broader professional and academic organization at the intersection of design, business and leadership; offers events, awards and educational programming comparable to AIGA Chicago's mix, but oriented to design executives and managers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/AIGAChicago
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aigachicago
• Instagraminstagram.com/aigachicago
• Pinterestpinterest.com/aigachicago

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AIGA Chicago