AIGA Saint Louis

What AIGA Saint Louis does

AIGA St. Louis is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit local chapter of AIGA National, the professional association for design, operating in the St. Louis metropolitan area since 1989. The organization serves design professionals, students, educators, and design-related businesses through a membership-based community model. Core programming includes the annual Design Show (now in its 28th year), the STL Student Conference (StuCo), monthly happy hours, quarterly coworking days, Design Week events, and skill-building workshops. Members join through a Local Partner Pass ($50 annual donation or $10/month recurring) that unlocks coworking benefits, local vendor discounts, exclusive job listings, and event discounts; National AIGA membership is layered on top with healthcare assistance, software discounts, and the AIGA Exclusive Job Board.

The organization has no proprietary technology platform — operations run on Squarespace (website), Slack (community), and Google Forms (volunteer/signup management), with event venues and coworking space provided by third-party partners (Nebula, TechArtista, Matchbox, Atomic). Revenue is generated through four streams: membership donations, event ticket sales ($10-$20 per attendee), individual donations, and corporate sponsorship tiers ranging from $5 to $5,000+. Notable corporate partners include Adobe, Cartel, Grown, and Atomicdust. The chapter is governed by a volunteer board of ~12 directors covering President, Vice President, Communications, Creative, Membership, Web & Interactive, Treasurer, Education, Chapter Manager, Social Media, Education Director, and Design Show Chair roles. Geographic reach is the St. Louis metro area with student programming extending into Missouri and Illinois.

Name

AIGA Saint Louis

Legal name

AIGA St. Louis

Website

https://stlouis.aiga.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

AIGA St. Louis is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit local chapter of AIGA National serving the St. Louis design community since 1989. It runs a membership program, the annual Design Show competition, Student Conference, coworking benefits, and networking events for designers, students, and educators.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

St Louis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues/Donations: Local membership offered through a $50 one-time donation or $10/month recurring gift. National AIGA membership provides additional benefits through aig.org. The local partner pass provides coworking benefits, event discounts, job listings, and vendor discounts.
2. Event Tickets: Design Show tickets sold at $15 for AIGA members, $10 for students, and $20 for non-members. Proceeds support local AIGA events, activities, and learning opportunities.
3. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorship tiers: Headline Sponsor ($5k+), Industry Leader ($2.5k+), Industry Supporter ($1.5k+), and Chapter Friend ($5-$1000+). Event-specific sponsorships also available. In-kind donations of products/services are also accepted.
4. Individual Donations: One-time or recurring donations from individuals supporting the local creative community. Monthly giving program encouraged at amounts equivalent to coffee purchases.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

AIGA St. Louis is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional association that delivers membership programs, signature events, and educational programming to the St. Louis design community. Its core offerings include the Local Partner Pass membership, the annual Design Show competition and fundraiser, the STL Student Conference (StuCo), quarterly coworking days, monthly happy hours, workshops, and portfolio reviews. Members gain access to discounted coworking, local vendor discounts, the AIGA national job board, and Adobe Creative Cloud discounts through the parent AIGA membership.

Product overview

AIGA St. Louis is a professional design association serving the St. Louis creative community since 1989. The organization operates as a membership-based nonprofit offering two membership tiers: a Local Partner Pass ($50/year or $10/month) providing coworking benefits, vendor discounts, and event discounts, plus National AIGA Membership with additional resources and healthcare assistance. Core programming includes the annual Design Show competition (28th edition), the STL Student Conference (StuCo), monthly Happy Hours, and periodic Design Week events. The organization facilitates community coworking through partnerships with Nebula and TechArtista. Funding comes from memberships, event tickets, sponsorship tiers ($5-$5,000+), and individual donations. The organization is registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Local Partner Pass (AIGA St. Louis Membership)

Quantifiable outcome

• Free coworking days per year: 8 group days across Nebula and TechArtista locations, plus individual day passes
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and major.

• Matchbox (Venue)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 November 2025Matchbox at 1501 Locust St. is the venue for AIGA STL's annual Design Show event. The partnership enables the organization's signature annual fundraiser and design competition showcase.
• Atomic By JamosupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Sponsor for the 2025 Student Conference (StuCo) event.
• The LuminarysupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Sponsor for the 2025 Student Conference (StuCo) with logo placement.
• MxMwsupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Sponsor for the 2025 Student Conference (StuCo) event.
• The Done DeptsupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Sponsor for the 2025 Student Conference (StuCo) event.
• Human MakessupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Sponsor for the 2025 Student Conference (StuCo) event.
• FusionsupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Sponsor for the 2025 Student Conference (StuCo) event.
• Nebula (Coworking Space)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNebula is a St. Louis coworking space offering AIGA St. Louis members 4 FREE group coworking days, up to 12 FREE individual day passes, and 50% off drop-in memberships. Nebula provides AIGA members with professional workspace amenities and community access.
• TechArtistacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechArtista is a St. Louis coworking community with locations in Downtown, UCity, and CWE. They offer AIGA St. Louis members 4 FREE group coworking days and 50% off open seating memberships. The partnership provides AIGA members with access to multiple workspace locations.
• AdobecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAdobe is a featured sponsor and provides national membership discounts to AIGA members. Adobe Creative Cloud discounts are offered through AIGA National membership benefits, making Adobe software more accessible to local design professionals.
• CartelmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured sponsor and partner of AIGA St. Louis. Cartel is a creative agency based in St. Louis. Their Chief Creative Officer served as a Design Show judge, demonstrating deep involvement with the organization.
• Grown (Creative Agency)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerGrown is a creative agency based in South St. Louis City. The Co-Founder and Design Director serves as AIGA STL's Design Show Chair, providing strategic leadership for the annual design competition.
• AtomicdustmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured sponsor of AIGA St. Louis events including Design Show. Atomicdust is a St. Louis-based creative agency and design studio.
• Fortune Teller BarsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured sponsor of AIGA St. Louis with logo placement on website and event materials. Fortune Teller Bar is a St. Louis establishment supporting the local creative community.
• FondsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured sponsor of AIGA St. Louis events with logo recognition on website and promotional materials.
• STL BarkeepsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for Design Show 28 event, providing beverage services and event support.
• Joe BishopsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for Design Show 28 event with logo placement in event materials.
• Binding SolutionssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for Design Show 28 providing printing and binding services for event materials.
• SwiftsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for Design Show 28 with logo placement in event materials.
• Home and OfficesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for Design Show 28 with logo placement in event materials.
• ADV PrintingsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured sponsor of AIGA St. Louis. ADV Printing is a St. Louis-based printing company supporting local design events.
• CoffeestampsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured sponsor with logo placement on website. Coffeestamp is a local St. Louis business.
• Golden GemssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured sponsor with logo placement on website. Golden Gems is a local St. Louis business.
• Melon PresssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured sponsor with logo placement on website. Melon Press is a local St. Louis design-related business.
• MadesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured sponsor with logo placement on website. Made is a local St. Louis creative business.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Interaction Design Association (IxDA): Global nonprofit professional association for interaction design, with local IxDA chapters running events and community programming. Mirrors AIGA's chapter structure, member benefits, and event-driven engagement model.
• HOW Design Live: A design professional conference and community platform serving graphic designers and creative professionals. Comparable as a designer-focused event and membership community paralleling AIGA's Design Show and educational programming.
• Type Directors Club (TDC): A professional design organization running competitions, exhibitions, and member events focused on typography and design. Shares AIGA's nonprofit professional-association model and competition-driven programming (parallel to Design Show).
• The Dots: A professional networking platform for creatives offering job listings, portfolio hosting, and community events. Comparable to AIGA St. Louis's job-board member benefit and community-driven model, though delivered digitally rather than through local chapters.
• AIGA New York: The New York chapter of AIGA, operating the same membership, events, and sponsorship model as AIGA St. Louis but at much larger scale. Most directly comparable peer as it shares identical structure, programming (design shows, portfolio reviews, coworking partnerships), and brand affiliation.
• Creative Mornings: A global, chapter-based creative community that hosts free monthly breakfast events with talks and workshops — directly comparable to AIGA St. Louis's monthly happy hours and Design Week programming in mission, structure, and community-driven growth model.
• AIGA Chicago: Chicago chapter of AIGA, the closest geographic and demographic peer to AIGA St. Louis within the Midwest. Operates identical community and event programming (competitions, student events, professional development) at similar scale to St. Louis.
• AIGA San Francisco: San Francisco Bay Area chapter of AIGA with the same community-association model, member benefits, and event programming as AIGA St. Louis. Comparable in mission and operating design but serves a larger and more tech-adjacent design community.

Regional players

• Ad Club St. Louis / American Marketing Association (AMA): Regional marketing and advertising professional associations operating in St. Louis with similar membership, sponsorship, and event-driven programming. Comparable as an analogous local professional-association model in the same metro area.

Others

• Behance: Adobe-owned online creative portfolio and networking platform used by designers for visibility and jobs. Adjacent to AIGA St. Louis's portfolio review and job-board member benefits, but operates as a digital infrastructure provider rather than a community-driven association.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/aigastl
• Xx.com/aigastl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aiga-saint-louis

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Saint Louis