About AIGA Minnesota

AIGA Minnesota is the professional association for designers in Minnesota and the upper Midwest. Founded in 1977 as the Minnesota Graphic Designers Association (MGDA), AIGA Minnesota is one of the largest AIGA chapters in the nation.

AIGA Minnesota creates programming, professional development opportunities, and social/networking events for designers looking for inspiration and connection. We welcome everyone interested in our ever-expanding design field: graphic design, web design, strategy, design thinking, UX/UI, branding, illustration, photography, video, SEO, animation, game design, etc. Our members come from all backgrounds, all fields, and all levels of experience and include designers, strategists, developers, students, educators, and representatives from marketing, advertising, digital channels, printing, and publishing.

AIGA Minnesota is a chapter of AIGA, the professional association for design. AIGA is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization.

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Our Purpose — what we do and who we work for

AIGA MN is an inclusive source of connection, inspiration, and support for every designer in Minnesota.
We promote the passion and power of design.

Our Vision — what we aspire to and why

We create community that empowers all designers to create a more beautiful, equitable world.

AIGA Minnesota Chapter Values

Belong

Embrace diversity.
Nurture an inclusive and unbiased environment with a commitment to justice and equity.

Connect

Lean on us.
Be a place of community and support to share knowledge through engagement and collaboration.

Partner

Work together.
Cultivate relationships with like-minded organizations and institutions for combined action and participation.

Inspire

Grow your passion.
Encourage and instill confidence in individuals to enjoy life through making and creating

Contact

Mailing Address
AIGA Minnesota
P.O. Box 18396
1600 18th Avenue NE
Minneapolis, MN 55418-4714

[email protected]

Executive Committee

Brent Larson
Brent Larson
President

Brent is an award winning Motion, 3D, and Graphic designer with 20 years of experience working in the architectural, manufacturing, legal, corporate, and film industries as a solopreneur, agency, and in-house designer. He has experience in illustration, graphic design, product design, 3D modeling & animation, motion graphics, video production, live & virtual event production, presentation design, art direction, and project management. He currently works as a corporate in-house Principal Motion and Graphic Designer in the MedTech industry.

Before becoming AIGA Minnesota President, Brent served as Vice President from 2022-2023 and Chair of the In-House Designers Committee from 2019 - 2023.

Brent volunteers as a mentor for emerging designers and is a member of the AIGA Minnesota Mind to Mind Mentorship Program Committee.

His interests include history, film, design, animation, illustration, 3D printing, model making, woodworking, golf, bowling, fishing, and restoring things.

Rich Higgins
Rich Higgins
Vice President

Rich Higgins is the Creative Director at Parallel Retail Group. His background is as diverse as a platypus.

He started his own design studio, Oryx & Moth, doing branding, art direction and design for clients big and small. Meanwhile he was the chair of the Solopreneurs Committee for AIGA MN (2022-2023) and served on the Design Student & Alumni Board at the University of Minnesota (2010-2013). Prior to that he worked at TSG, a design agency in Robbinsdale, for clients including: Target, HealthPartners and Crate & Barrel. He's also had a short stint designing for financial institutions (PNC Bank, Citibank and BBVA Compass). He started out designing and art directing photo shoots for multiple national salon chains throughout the US and Canada. And has had mediocre hairstyles since.

His interests vary widely with the season but he always willing to chat about DIY projects, soccer, LEGO, minimalism, FIRE, AI, technology, saunas, traveling, camping, parenting, etc.

Tina Meyhoff
Tina Meyhoff
Secretary

Tina Meyhoff has been working as a web designer in Minneapolis for the past 10 years.

Dan Paulus
Dan Paulus
Treasurer

Dan Paulus is a Professor of Graphic Design at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. He enjoys collaborating with students and clients alike—keeps him on his toes. He's a beekeeper and cat lover. He enjoys working with his hands and exploring physical media as a way to inform his craft but also to break away from the computer. He is currently exploring wood turning.

Carla Januska
Carla Januska
President Emeritus
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Directors

Emily McLaughlin
Emily McLaughlin
Director of Communications
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Emily is a graphic designer and creative director based in Saint Paul, MN. She passionate about the potential for design to cultivate collaboration and cleave opportunities. As Communications Director of AIGA Minnesota, her emphasis is on supporting and engaging the design community while kindling new connections.

Development
Development
Director of Development

Looking for a way to reach young graphic designers AND amplify your brand? I have a way. Actually, I have several, and I would like to find out which one is right for you.

Sponsorship opportunities are now available for our AIGA MN Portfolio 1-on-1® 2023 in April.

Do you want to be the coveted title sponsor? Do you have a design or product you would like to provide in kind? Maybe you would like to make it possible for an underrepresented student to attend? Branded SWAG? Studio Tour?

Any and every contribution makes a huge difference and comes with terrific, brand-building benefits. Plus, you will be part of an amazing, inspiring, and educational networking experience. Talk to you soon!

Diversity & Inclusion
Director of Diversity and Inclusion

Technology
Technology
Director of Technology

Open
Position
Position Open
Director of Alliances

The Director of Alliances cultivates partnerships with organizations and associations in the creative space and adjacent fields. This role helps our chapter broaden our community and provide design leadership across a wide variety of opportunities.

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Danilo Bojic
Danilo Bojic
Director of Education
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As a native Serbian, born and raised in Belgrade, Danilo has earned his BFA in Graphic Communications and BA in Art History from the University of Houston in 2009. In 2012 Danilo had successfully defended his thesis and holds an MFA Degree in Graphic Communications from the University of Houston.

Danilo engages the questions of enticing shifts in perception in design education and the influence of contemporary society and culture on our visual cognition in his research practice. His goal is to visually investigate the ability to communicate in different formats and create different levels of cognition through perception, acceleration, and construction of messages that raise consciousness, sensitivity, and conviction.


In his teaching practice, Danilo is committed to transforming the traditional design curriculum to expand the level of understanding of core and advance theoretical principles while utilizing historical and contemporary knowledge to enhance the learning experience. Danilo currently teaches design at Winona State University in Minnesota, USA.

Muriel Bartelme Kreske
Muriel Bartelme Kreske
Director of Membership

Thoughtful design is powerful, it can solve problems, ignite passion and bring people together. Design can also be beautiful, functional and change the way people interact in the world.

Operations
DIrector of Operations

Legacy
Director of Legacy Programming

Associate Directors

Jhoselin Dominguez
Jhoselin Dominguez
Associate Director, Communications

I am a graphic designer from Kansas currently living in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. I graduated May of 2019 from Fort Hays State University with a B.F.A in Graphic Design. My hobbies include writing short stories, riding my longboard, and playing the piano.

May Hayes
May Hayes
Associate Director of Student Affairs
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Recently graduating from Winona State University, May earned her Bachelor's of Arts in I-Design with honors. Finding new ways to become involved within the design community led her to volunteer as the Associate Director of Student Affairs through AIGA Minnesota. As an emerging designer, she is currently gaining experience in her full-time position with a Minneapolis based media production agency while simultaneously taking on freelance clients.

Jenni Lathrop
Jenni Lathrop
Associate Director, Registration

With over 18 years as a graphic designer, brand manager and marketing team member, Jenni Lathrop has a wide range of graphic design experience ranging from print to digital. Her work includes websites, logos, event collateral, advertising and publications. She also has a background in writing and editing.

Jenni is currently an independent, Twin Cities-based graphic designer working collaboratively with nonprofits, small businesses and individuals. A member of the AIGA since 2014, Jenni has worked with the In House Designers and Solopreneurs Committees and served as AD of Registration since 2016.

When she’s not enjoying time with her family, she spends time consuming too much pop culture, reading and knitting. Lots and lots of knitting.

Sarah Billings
Sarah Billings
Associate Director, Archives

Committee Chairs

Peter (Blaise) de Sibour
Peter (Blaise) de Sibour
Committee Chair, In-house Designers
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Innovative creative leader that solves business problems and builds enterprise brands. Involved with the strategy, creative direction and design of communication for a variety of disciplines including traditional and digital media, packaging, visual and branding systems, identity, theming, content creation, naming and informational design. Proven team leadership and client interaction skills. Strong new business development mindset and pitch strategy. Proactive exploration of new technologies and applications with a growth mindset.

Adventure-seeker that thrives on new experiences, traveling with family, cycling enthusiast, weather geek + environmental, health-related, social enterprise volunteering.

Cailey Birchem
Cailey Birchem
Chair of Portfolio 1-on-1® Committee
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Hi, I'm a designer, illustrator, educator, and artist based in Minnesota.

After graduating from Alexandria Technical College in 2017, I went on to get my Bachelor's Degree from Bemidji State University with triple emphasis in exhibit design, graphic design, and studio arts. I graduated from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design in the spring of 2022 with my MFA.

Currently, I am an experience designer at X-FCTR. We are an agency that focuses on consumer engagement through both digital and live brand activations.

Open
Position
Position Open
Committee Chair, Insights Design Lecture Series



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Leah Meilander
Leah Meilander
Chair of Solopreneurs
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I am Freelance Visual Designer and Artist based in Bloomington, MN. I have over a decade of experience with brand identities, designing for print & digital, website design, event design, as well as marketing strategy & planning. Overall, I'm more of a generalist who specializes in brand strategy, graphic design, and web design.

In addition to being a freelance designer, I am also a lettering and illustration artist. A lot of my custom hand-drawn work appears in my client projects.

When I’m not designing or drawing, I enjoy climbing/bouldering, lifting, going to movies, dancing, and hanging out with family & friends.

Open
Position
Position Open
Chair, Design Show



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Leslie McDougall, Jack Wiese, Sierra Chowa
Co-Chairs, Design Camp®

Open
Position
Position Open
Chair, Lunch & Learn

Our Lunch & Learn program offers the creative community a virtual hour of inspiration, education, and community. As the chair of Lunch & Learns you'll suggest topics, find speakers, and coordinate the programming for the events. Help us keep this popular inspiration hour going.

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Past Presidents

  • 2021-2024 Carla Januska, President
  • 2019-2021 Heather Michael, President
  • 2016-2019: Katrin Loss, President 1
  • 2014-2016: Jenny Price, President
  • 2012-2014: Jenny Schmitz-Hinshaw, President
  • 2010-2012: Seth Johnson, President
  • 2008-2010: Christina Jackson, President
  • 2006-2008: Jim Madson, President
  • 2004-2006: Amy Anderson, President
  • 2002-2004: Scott Geiger, President
  • 2000-2002: Joelle Sather (née Anderlik), President
  • 1998-2000: Doug Powell, President; AIGA Minnesota Fellow (2014)
  • 1996-1998: Dan Woychick, President
  • 1994-1996: Grant Pound, President
  • 1992-1994: John DuFresne, President; AIGA Minnesota Fellow (2012) 2
  • 1990-1991: Paul Wharton, President
  • 1988-1989: Jo Davison (née Strand), President; AIGA Minnesota Fellow (2014)
  • 1986-1987: Carol Capistrant, President 3
  • 1985-1986: Mark Odegard, President, MGDA
  • 1984-1985: Bruce Rubin, President, MGDA
  • 1983-1984:  Heather Olson (née Soladay), President, 
MGDA; AIGA Minnesota Fellow (2012) 4
  • 1982-1983: Robert “Bob” Fleming, President, MGDA
  • 1981-1982: Dale Johnston, President, MGDA
  • 1980-1981: Timothy “Tim” Larsen, President, MGDA; AIGA Minnesota Fellow (2007)
  • 1979-1980: Patrick Redmond, Chairman > President, MGDA 5
  • 1978-1979: Peter Seitz, Chairman, MGDA; AIGA Minnesota [first] Fellow (2000)
  • 1977-1978: James “Jim” Johnson, Chairman, MGDA
  • 1976-1977: Timothy “Tim” Larsen, Founding Chairman, MGDA; AIGA Minnesota Fellow (2007)

Notes: 1. Three-year term 2. 1992-1994 First time AIGA Minnesota President is two-year term 3. MGDA becomes AIGA Minnesota (AIGA Minnesota Chapter) in 1986 4. First female president 5. Although elected with the title “Chairman”, title was changed from “Chairman” to “President.”

Contact Leadership

Brent Larson
Brent Larson
President
Brent is an award winning Motion, 3D, and Graphic designer with 20 years of experience working in the architectural, manufacturing, legal, corporate, and film industries as a solopreneur, agency, and in-house designer. He has experience in illustration, graphic design, product design, 3D modeling & animation, motion graphics, video production, live & virtual event production, presentation design, art direction, and project management. He currently works as a corporate in-house Principal Motion and Graphic Designer in the MedTech industry.

Before becoming AIGA Minnesota President, Brent served as Vice President from 2022-2023 and Chair of the In-House Designers Committee from 2019 - 2023.

Brent volunteers as a mentor for emerging designers and is a member of the AIGA Minnesota Mind to Mind Mentorship Program Committee.

His interests include history, film, design, animation, illustration, 3D printing, model making, woodworking, golf, bowling, fishing, and restoring things.