Cream of the Crop | AIGA Chicago

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Ahead of AIGA Chicago’s 2016 Design Awards on April 14th, the chapter offers a sneak peek at the honorees

Empowering young women, reviving the age-old card game, guiding typographic field trips—the achievements of this year’s AIGA winners make for a sundry crew of standouts, but there’s a clear common thread: giving back to the design community. Through contributions, mentorship, community initiatives and, of course, thoughtful design, each of this year’s recipients is equal parts mover, shaker and creative mind.

Mig Reyes, Co-President of AIGA’s Chicago chapter, echoed the notion:“These individuals have no doubt changed the landscape of design—not just for our city, but for the rest of the world. Their contributions show off the talent and diversity that can only come from the city of Chicago.”

“[They] have no doubt changed the landscape of design—not just for our city, but for the rest of the world.”

And so, without further ado, a quick glimpse at the people and organizations that will be recognized on April 14th at The Graham Foundation:

Andrew Dembitz, Above & Beyond Award — He’s Director of Specification at Veritiv, but Dembitz’s resume extends beyond the 9 to 5. With a clear understanding of design’s role in Chicago culture, he’s been generous with his time and guidance for many local teams and organizations—AIGA included—helping the local design community expand and elevate to new heights.
Mario Grillo, Fellow Award — Her portfolio is thick and her talents many, but best of all, Grillo has no intention of slowing down. Ask any number of creative leads in the city (including AIGA’s co-presidents Mig Reyes and Alisa Wolfson) and they’ll cite Grillo as a key influencer in their careers. She’s owner of the eponymous Grillo Group, has served on AIGA Chicago’s Executive Board, and taught acclaimed design programs at University of Illinois, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and Syracuse University’s Independent Study Master of Arts Program.
Victor Margolin, Fellow Award — Margolin’s fascination and promotion of design—its origins, its implications—has been a lifelong endeavor. In addition to serving as Professor Emeritus of Design History at the University of Illinois-Chicago, he published his latest book World History of Design last year, adding to a bibliography that includes titles like The Idea of Design (1995), Discovering Design: Explorations in Design Studies (1995), and The Designed World: Images, Objects, Environments (2010).
Wright Auction House, Corporate Leadership Award — Since its founding in 2000, Wright has handled over 40,000 lots, bringing the best in 20th and 21st-century aesthetics to Chicago. Their constant pursuit of high design gives way to curated exhibitions like this month’s Jewels (Cartier, Bulgari, Van Cleef and Arpels) and May’s Treasures from the Märta Måås-Fjetterström Workshop.
Wilson Sporting Goods, Corporate Leadership Award — All-American, absolutely classic and going on 103 years old, Wilson has straddled the line between roots and reinvention for decades. They founded their global headquarters here in Chicago in 1914, and a century later, the sports equipment manufacturer is still here, setting the standard in high-performance, beautifully designed products.
Frances MacLeod, Emerging Designer Award — Ever in pursuit of provocative type, MacLeod has done her fair share of exploring in recent months: she led a field trip of greater Chicago’s best lettering (Newberry Library, French Paper Company), joined a second installment through Vancouver, and has another city on tap this summer. A designer at Leo Burnett’s Department of Design, she’s also the mind behind Lost Type’s Lincoln typeface—aptly named for being “tall, skinny and honest.”
Amy Schwartz, Emerging Designer Award — It’s safe to assume a dinner party at Schwartz’s house would be a fun one, given she’s the creative brainpower behind Cards Against Humanity, a free-to-the-masses, hilariously lewd project that’s brought simple card games back into fashion. Cards is the tip of the iceberg, though. Schwartz also co-founded The Makers’ Social, was named AIGA’s Fresh Blood in 2014, and won AIGA’s CommandX competition last year.
Alyssa Low, Emerging Designer Award — Curious, confident and making waves, Low is redefining what it means to be a bright, young mind in Chicago’s design community. By day, she’s Senior Designer at The Office of Experience, but in between branding and UX projects, she’s also at the helm of SheSays Chicago, devoted to mentorship and networking for women in creative fields. Low’s talks garner particularly big audiences, inspiring female designers on topics like “Going from Student to Professional” and “Knowing Your Value.” Clearly, Low knows hers.

#2016AIGAChiAwards
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By AIGA Chicago

Published April 8, 2016

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