A brief history of AIGA

This is a very brief and eclectic history based on notes from Nathan Gluck, archivist emeritus, and Steven Heller, former editor of the AIGA Journal.

1914

[ years ]

At the National Arts Club, 119 East 19 Street New York City, 40 people met and passed a resolution authorizing a committee to draft a constitution and bylaws for a new organization named (at the suggestion of Charles DeKay) the American Institute of Graphic Arts and established "as a source of pleasure and intellectual profit" to its members. William H. Howland, publisher and editor of The Outlook, was elected president.

1915-16

[ years ]

John Clyde Oswald, editor, The American Printer, elected president.

"Contemporary Design in Printing," a 1915 exhibition sponsored by AIGA was followed by "American Wood Engraving."

In 1916, two exhibitions, "American Printing" and "Photography," were shown at the National Arts Club.

1917-19

[ years ]

Arthur S. Allen, color expert/consultant/lecturer, elected president for three years.

An exhibition of lithography, etching and war-work posters was created and traveled.

AIGA offices were located at Art Centre, 65 East 56th Street until 1920.

1920

[ years ]

Walter Gilliss, printer and secretary of the Grolier Club, elected president.

James Earle Frazer, designer of the Indian head/buffalo nickel, commissioned to design the AIGA Medal. Gold, silver and bronze medals minted and given as special awards at the 1920 Printing Exhibition, where Norman T.A. Munder received the gold award.

AIGA moved to the Squibb Building on Fifth Avenue until 1933.

1921

[ years ]

Frederic W. Goudy, book designer/typographer/printer, elected president.

Special award to Daniel B. Updike for his book Printing Types.

First AIGA newsletter published.

1922-23

[ years ]

J. Thomson Willing, artist/art manager of American Lithograph Co., elected president.

Exhibitions:
"The Printed Book Before the 19th Century"
The first "Fifty Books of the Year" competition and exhibition.

1924-25

[ years ]

Burton Emmett, advertising agency executive, elected president.

A committee to promote standardization of process colors deliberated until 1930 when stock colors were approved by the Association of Ink Manufacturers and the American Association of Advertising Agencies.

"Commercial Printing" exhibition held for the first time.

In 1925, a single gold medal was awarded to an individual who had made a lifelong contribution to the graphic arts. The recipient has since been referred to as "The Medalist." Bruce Rogers, book designer/printer, was the first to receive this award.

Special awards:
John C. Agar
Stephen H. Horgan
Carl Purington Rollins

1926

[ years ]

W. Arthur Cole, advertising agency vice president/ production manager, elected president.

The Carnegie Corporation awarded the AIGA a special grant of $5,000 in recognition of its "widespread efforts to promote and enhance graphic design."

An education committee in conjunction with New York University sponsored two courses on printing and typography.

Medalists:
Burton Emmett, 1926

1927

[ years ]

Frederic G. Melcher, president of R.R. Bowker, elected president.

First exhibition of "American Book Illustration."

John Day & Co., under the auspices of the AIGA, published three books - Fifty Prints, Fifty Books and Printing for Commerce - which cost $3.50 each.

534 members nationwide.

Medalists:
Timothy Cole, artist/wood engraver, 1927

1928-29

[ years ]

Frank Altschul, publisher/banker, elected president.

The AIGA incorporated.

Medalists:
Frederic W. Goudy, book designer/typographer/printer, 1928
William A. Dwiggins, book designer/typographer, 1929

1930-31

[ years ]

Henry A. Groesbeck, Jr., president Walker Engraving Corporation, elected president.

First book clinic held.

Blanch Decker appointed assistant secretary, first full-time employee of AIGA.

Medalists:
Henry Watson Kent, secretary of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1930
Dard Hunter, paper maker/book designer/printer, 1931

1932-34

[ years ]

Henry L. Gage, educator/vice president of Mergenthaler Linotype Co., elected president.

Dues raised to $15.

January 1934, the AIGA moved to The Japan Paper Co., 109 East 31st Street.

First exhibition of book jackets.

Medalists:
Porter Garnett, printing educator, 1932
Henry Bullen, founder/librarian American Typefoundry Co. Museum, 1934

1935-36

[ years ]

Charles Chester Lane, New York Times executive, elected president.

Lucien Bernhard keynote speaker at opening of "Printing for Commerce" exhibition.

AIGA moved again, to Grand Central Palace, 125 East 46th Street and in 1936 to The Architectural League, 115 East 40th Street until 1951.

Medalists:
J. Thomson Willing, 1935
Rudolph Ruzicka, artist/wood engraver, 1935

1936-38

[ years ]

Henry Watson Kent, secretary of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, elected president.

"Printing for Commerce" exhibition opened first at Art Center School, Los Angeles and then in New York City.

Medalists:
None selected for 1936, 1937, or 1938

1939-40

[ years ]

Melbert B. Cary, Jr., president of Continental Typefounders Association, elected president.

"Fifty Books of the Year" opened simultaneously in San Francisco, Minneapolis and New York City.

The "Printing for Commerce" exhibition consisted d of work judged in four regions of the country and then exhibited in New York City.

Medalists:
W.A. Kittridge, book designer/printer, 1939
T.M. Cleland, book designer/illustrator, 1940

1941-42

[ years ]

Arthur R. Thompson, Bell Telephone Laboratories executive, elected president.

A 10-minute broadcast over WEAF Radio network publicized the "Fifty Books of the Year." Speakers were Dr. Irwin Edman and Carl van Doren.

Dues were waived for armed forces AIGA members.

First AIGA show of comic strips, at the National Arts Club, was covered by CBS-TV and NBC-Radio.

The textbook clinic concentrated on wartime problems of book printing and publishing.

Medalists:
Carl Purington Rollins, printer/Yale University Press, 1941
Edwin and Robert Grabhorn, book designers/printers/publishers, 1942

1943-44

[ years ]

George T. Bailey, president of Photogravure & Color Co., elected president.

Edward Epstean, pioneer photo-engraver, 1944

"Artists in War" exhibition.

Medalists:
No medalist selected for 1943

1945-46

[ years ]

Walter Frese, president of Hastings House, elected president.

Medalists:
Frederic G. Melcher, president of R.R. Bowker, 1945
Stanley Morrison, typographic designer/printer, 1946

1947-48

[ years ]

Joseph A. Brandt, president of Henry Holt & Co., elected president.

First issue of bimonthly journal, replacing AIGA newsletter

1,000 members.

Stanton L. Catlin became first full-time executive director, serving until January 1950.

A fundraising campaign began in 1948 to support education, research and promotion.

Long-range Objectives:
Chapters throughout the country, including undergraduate chapters in colleges
New headquarters
Workshops with presses for printing courses
Establishment of a graduate school of graphic arts to supplement existing programs
Speakers' service
Graphic arts information service

Ray Nash, a teacher at Dartmouth College, supervised formation of student chapters. The first was established at Carnegie Institute of Technology.

Medalists:
Elmer Adler, publisher/printer/book collector, 1947
Lawrence C. Wroth, librarian of J. Carter Brown Library, Rhode Island, 1948

1948-50

[ years ]

Donald S. Klopfer, treasurer/secretary and one of the founders of Random House, elected president.

The "Fifty Books of the Year" opened in six cities simultaneously: New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, Washington and San Francisco.

Student chapters formed in Los Angeles, Washington, Detroit and Dartmouth.

AIGA held its first magazine competition and exhibition.

Medalists:
No medalist selected in 1949
Earnest Elmo Calkins, advertising agency founder and printer, 1950
Alfred A. Knopf, publisher, 1950

1951-52

[ years ]

Merle Armitage, book designer/consultant/art director of Look magazine, elected president.

The AIGA Journal published five times a year.

AIGA moved to 120 East 40th Street and then to the Bedford Hotel, 118 East 40th Street.

In 1952 the "Fifty Ads" competition was combined with "Printing for Commerce."

In May 1952, AIGA moved to quarters renovated and designed by Walter Dorwin Teague at Artists Equity Building, 13 East 67th Street.

Medalists:
Henry L. Gage, educator/scholar/vice president of Mergenthaler Linotype Co., 1951
Joseph Blumenthal, designer/printer/private press publisher, 1952

1952-53

[ years ]

Walter Dorwin Teague, industrial designer, elected president.

Medalists:
George Macy, Limited Editions Club Books, publisher, 1953

1953-55

[ years ]

Dr. M.F. Agha, art director of Conde Nast, elected president.

Joyce Morrow appointed executive administrator, September 1953.

Fortune magazine ran an article on "Printing for Commerce" in 1954.

In November, the AIGA moved again, to 5 E. 40th Street.

Medalists:
Will Bradley, designer/illustrator, 1954
Jan Tschichold, typographer/designer, 1954
P.J. Conkwright, designer/typographer/Princeton University Press, 1955

1955-57

[ years ]

Leo Lionni, designer/art director, Fortune magazine, elected president.

"Fifty Packages of the Year" competition planned.

Henry Wolf was selected as editor/art director of planned annual but the Institute was not able to realize publication.

Medalists:
Ray Nash, author/historian/lecturer on graphic arts, 1956
Dr. M.F. Agha, art director, 1957

1957-58

[ years ]

Sidney R. Jacobs, Random House/Knopf, design and production executive, elected president.

Blanche Decker, AIGA secretary, retired after almost 30 years.

Medalists:
Ben Shahn, artist, 1958

1958-60

[ years ]

Edna Beilenson, publisher/printer, elected first woman president.

"Fifty Books of the Year" traveled to Vienna, Athens and Belgrade under the auspices of the United States Information Agency.

"Graphics in Packaging" and "Design and Printing for Commerce" exhibited at Aspen Design Conference, 1959.

"Paperbacks USA" exhibited January 1960.

Design Laboratory, a 10-week course in typography design and photojournalism, conducted by Alexey Brodovitch under AIGA auspices.

Medalists:
May Massee, executive, Viking Junior Books, 1959 (first woman medalist)
Walter Paepcke, president, Container Corporation of America, 1960

1960-63

[ years ]

Alvin Eisenman, book designer/Yale University educator, elected president.

In November 1961, AIGA moved to 1059 Third Avenue.

An exhibition of Asian graphic design, "Printing Design and Production from Seven Countries," collected by Milton and Evelyn Glick, exhibited at AIGA.

Chermayeff & Geismar Associates designed and mounted AIGA "Graphic Trends" for the USIA to display in Russia. The USIA also exhibited other AIGA shows in Europe, Latin America and Asia.

AIGA's small gallery began showing the work of designers and illustrators: Herb Lubalin, Paul Rand, Lou Dorfsman, Bradbury Thompson, Lester Beall, Rudolph do Harak, James McMullan and others.

Medalists:
Paul A. Bennett, typographer, 1961
Willem Sandberg, director, Stedelijk Museum (Amsterdam), 1962
Saul Steinberg, artist, 1963

1963-66

[ years ]

Ivan Chermayeff, graphic designer, elected president.

AIGA participated in an exhibition of American graphic design at the Louvre, Paris.

The AIGA Journal redesigned to include AIGA exhibition catalogs.

Medalists:
Josef Albers, artist/educator, 1964
Leonard Baskin, illustrator/artist, 1965
Paul Rand, graphic designer, 1966

1966-68

[ years ]

George Tscherny, graphic designer, elected president.

Medalists:
Romana Javitz, curator of the New York Public Library Picture Collection, 1967
Dr. Giovanni Mardersteig, director of the Officina Bodoni/typographer, 1968

1968-70

[ years ]

Allen Hurlburt, art director of Look magazine, elected president.

AIGA and the Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in Fine Arts cosponsored "The Sign and the City," an environmental graphics exhibition. Displayed indoors at the AIGA gallery, outdoors in Bryant Park, New York Public Library.

Joyce Morrow resigned after 16 years as executive director; Edward Gottschall succeeded her.

Medalists:
Dr. Robert L. Leslie, typographer/Composing Room, 1969
Herbert Bayer, artist/designer, 1970

1970-72

[ years ]

Henry Wolf, graphic designer, art director/photographer, elected president.

Medalists:
Will Burtin, graphic designer, 1971
Milton Glaser, artist/graphic designer, 1972

1972-74

[ years ]

Robert O. Bach, art and creative director, N.W. Ayer, elected president.

Art Directors Club members in Chicago, Buffalo, Washington, Detroit, Providence and Harford invited to join AIGA as affiliated groups.

First "Mental Picture" competition, subsequently a series, conceived by Seymour Chwast and James McMullan.

Medalists:
Richard Avedon, photographer, 1973
Philip Johnson, architect, 1973
Allen Hurlburt, art director of Look magazine, 1973
Robert Rauschenberg, artist, 1974

1974-75

[ years ]

Karl Fink, graphic designer/consultant, elected president.

AIGA and the U.S. Department of Transportation collaborated to research and design a program of symbols and guidelines resulting in the DOT Symbol Signs.

In 1976, Flora Finn Gross replaced Edward Gottschall as executive director.

Medalists:
Bradbury Thompson, graphic designer, 1975

1976-77

[ years ]

Massimo Vignelli, graphic designer/consultant, elected president.

"Fifty Books of the Year" no longer limited to 50 books and renamed "The Book Show."

AIGA national seminar, "Communications for Nonprofit Institutions," under a grant from the New York State Council on the Arts, held at the Ford Foundation.

Medalists:
Henry Wolf, graphic designer/art director/photographer, 1976
Jerome Snyder, artist/illustrator/art director, 1976
Charles and Ray Eames, designers, 1977

1977-79

[ years ]

Richard Danne, graphic designer, elected president. Caroline Hightower selected executive director, November 1977.

"Masscom/Masstrans," an exhibition of worldwide subway and bus maps held at AIGA. A formal debate on the new MTA subway map, replacing one designed by Massimo Vignelli, was co-sponsored by the AIGA, the Municipal Art Society and the Architectural League of New York.

AIGA published a quarterly newsletter, compiled and published an Educational Directory listing institutions with courses and degrees in graphic design, with a grant from the NEA.

The Library of Congress began selecting items from AIGA exhibitions for its archives.

Special competition: Federal Design Response, and exhibition with support from the NEA, in conjunction with the Federal Design Council.

Exhibition in small gallery of CBS Record Albums by John Berg.

Medalists:
Lou Dorfsman, graphic designer, 1978
Ivan Chermayeff and Tom Geismar, graphic designers, 1979

1979-81

[ years ]

James Fogleman, design consultant, elected president

Robert O. Bach proposed formation of chapters and agreed to organize the first in Philadelphia, which became a prototype for those to follow.

Special competition: "Communicating with Children."

An invitational show, "Political Art: 10 Years of Graphic Commentary," was covered by the New York press and ABC-TV.

AIGA published first annual, Graphic Design USA, designed by James Miho.

The AIGA library was installed.

DOT Symbol Signs published as repro art for sale to the public.

Graphic Design for Non-Profit Organizations by Vignelli/Laundy published with an NEA grant and distributed to a broad audience.

A new award for graphic design leadership was given to IBM as the first recipient in 1980; MIT press, 1981.

Medalists:
Herb Lubalin, graphic designer/typographic designer, 1980
Saul Bass, graphic designer,1981

1981-84

[ years ]

David Brown, vice president, Creative Services of Champion Paper, elected president.

The first "California Design Show" organized for the Stanford Design Conference.

The AIGA newsletter, redesigned as the AIGA Journal, received a grant from the NEA.

AIGA published "Code of Ethics."

The Philadelphia chapter sponsored a Philadelphia Design Show in 1982.

Renovations completed at the national office to accommodate a larger staff and library.

Special competitions:
"Charts, Maps and Diagrams"
"Just Type"

New chapters:
Boston, 1983
San Francisco, 1983
New York, 1983
Los Angeles, 1983
Texas, 1983

Medalists:
Lella and Massimo Vignelli, designers, 1982
Herbert Matter, graphic designer/photographer, 1983

Design Leadership:
Container Corporation of America, 1982
Cummins Engine, 1983

1984-85

[ years ]

Colin Forbes, graphic designer/consultant, elected president.

Graphic Design Resources, an archival listing, published under a grant from the NEA.

The first AIGA national design conference was held in Boston.

AIGA received a Presidential Design Citation for its DOT Symbol Signs.

The AIGA Journal was expanded to include analysis and criticism on design and design issues.

Over 130 events held by AIGA chapters across the country.

New chapters:
Cleveland, 1984
Washington, DC, 1984
Raleigh, 1985
Seattle, 1985

Medalists:
Leo Lionni, designer/art director, 1984
Seymour Chwast, artist/graphic designer, 1985

Design Leadership:
Herman Miller, Inc., 1984
WGBH-Boston, 1985
A special award to the Olympic Games Graphic Committee.

1986-87

[ years ]

Bruce Blackburn, graphic designer, elected president.

Grant received from NEA for chapter programming of national significance and AIGA Journal in 1987.

Awards were presented at the second national design conference in San Francisco.

New chapters:
Anchorage, 1986
Chicago, 1986
Cincinnati, 1986
Detroit, 1986
Miami, 1986
Minnesota, 1986
Birmingham, 1987
San Diego, 1987
Wichita, 1987

Medalists:
Walter Herdeg, graphic designer/founder of Graphis magazine, 1986
Alexey Brodovitch, 1987
Gene Federico, 1987

Design Leadership:
Esprit de Corp, 1986
Walker Art Center, 1987

1988

[ years ]

Nancye Green elected president.

New chapters:
Arizona, 1988
Atlanta, 1988
Baltimore, 1988
Pittsburgh, 1988
Salt Lake City, 1988

Medalists:
William Golden
George Tscherny

Design Leadership:
The New York Times

1989

[ years ]

The third national design conference, "Dangerous Ideas," was held in San Antonio, attracting 1,100 attendees.

New chapters:
Colorado, 1989
Jacksonville, 1989
Kansas City, 1989
Knoxville, 1989
St. Louis, 1989
Upstate New York, 1989

Medalists:
Paul Davis
Bea Feitler

Design Leadership:
Apple and Adobe Systems

1990

[ years ]

New chapters:
Honolulu, 1990
Nebraska, 1990
Richmond, 1990

Medalists:
Alvin Eisenman
Frank Zachary

Design Leadership:
The National Park Service

1991

[ years ]

The fourth national design conference, "Love, Money, Power," was held in Chicago.

New chapters:
Indianapolis, 1991
Portland

Medalists:
Colin Forbes
E. McKnight Kauffer

Design Leadership:
MTV
Olivetti

1992

[ years ]

Anthony Russell elected president.

Medalists:
Rudolph de Harak
George Nelson
Lester Beall

Design Leadership:
Sesame Street, Children's Television Workshop

1993

[ years ]

The fifth national design conference, "Living Contradictions," was held in Miami.

Medalists:
Alvin Lustig
Tomoko Miho

Design Leadership:
Nike, Inc.

1994

[ years ]

William Drenttel elected president.

AIGA purchased the former Knights of Pythias building at 164 Fifth Avenue.

New chapters:
Iowa

Medalists:
Muriel Cooper
John Massey

1995

[ years ]

Richard Grefé selected executive director, February 1995.

Hodgetts + Fung designed the gallery space in the new building.

The sixth national design conference was held in Seattle, attracting 1,700 attendees.

New chapters:
Orange County

Medalists:
Matthew Carter
Stan Richards
Ladislav Sutnar

1996

[ years ]

Lucille Lozada Tenazas, graphic designer and educator, elected first president from outside New York City.

New chapters:
Oklahoma

Medalists:
Cipe Pineles
George Lois

1997

[ years ]

Renovation of the gallery and mezzanine completed, designed by Emanuela Frattini Magnusson.

The seventh national design conference, "Jambalaya," was held in New Orleans, attracting 2,400 attendees.

New chapters:
Austin
Houston

Medalists:
Lucian Bernhard
Zuzana Licko and Rudy VanderLans

1998

[ years ]

Michael Bierut, graphic designer, elected president.

Renovation of the second floor and the National Membership Center on the third floor completed, designed by James Biber, Pentagram.

New chapters:
Las Vegas
New Orleans

Medalists:
Louis Danziger
April Greiman

Design Leadership:
Champion International

1999

[ years ]

Installation of the new façade completed; designed by Tod Williams and Billie Tsien.

The eighth national design conference, "America: Cult and Culture," was held in Las Vegas, attracting 3,200 attendees.

Medalists:
Steven Heller
Katherine McCoy
Tibor Kalman

Design Leadership:
Alfred A. Knopf

2000

[ years ]

The sixth business and design conference, "Risk/Reward," was held in San Francisco, attracting 700 attendees.

New chapters:
Charlotte
Orlando
Wisconsin

Medalists:
P. Scott Makela and Laurie Haycock Makela
Fred Seibert
Michael Vanderbyl

 

2001

[ years ]

Clement Mok elected president.

New chapter:
Nashville

Medalists:
Samuel Antupit
Paula Scher

2002

[ years ]

The ninth national design conference, "Voice," was held in Washington, DC, attracting 1,200 attendees.

New chapter:
Santa Fe

Medalists:
Robert Brownjohn
Chris Pullman

2003

[ years ]

Michael Vanderbyl elected president.

The tenth national design conference, "The Power of Design," was held in Vancouver, British Columbia, attracting 2,200 attendees.

New chapter:
Blue Ridge

Medalists:
B. Martin Pedersen
Chris Pullman