Heather Olson—Past President, 1983 and AIGA Fellow February 19, 2014
The Golden Circle of Contribution
On June 15, 2012, I was conferred as one of Minnesota’s AIGA Fellows. It was the highest point in three decades of my relationship with first, Minnesota Graphic Designers Association, and eventually, AIGA Minnesota.
How did it happen? In circular fashion.
1980s
Attendee…Design conference at Lutsen. Studio tour. Volunteer…Newsletter editor. Luncheons chair. Conference co-chair. Leader…Chapter’s first female president. Encourager…Countless design industry peers, now friends.
1990s
Family time off…
2000s
Attendee (again)…National Gain conference. Volunteer (once more)…Education director. In-house designers associate director. Veteran designers co-chair.
2010s
Leader (natural next step)…Director of affinity programming. While off visiting my daughters at college, the phone call came. Chapter President Seth Johnson announced it: Minnesota has named you a Fellow. I was incredulous, and still am!
2014
Encourager (my passion)…Nominating committee member for national board of directors.
May the Golden Circle of Contribution continue its course well beyond this AIGA Centennial Year.
Contact Leadership
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.