AIGA announces winners in inaugural case study competition
16.11.2011 News
New York (United States) - This year AIGA launched 'Making the Case,' a competition awarding honours to case studies demonstrating the value of design in a clear, compelling and accessible way. Honours were awarded to nine outstanding case studies for the inaugural competition held by AIGA, the professional association of design in the United States. A jury comprised of experienced designers and educators made their final selections from the nearly 60 case studies submitted.
The competition challenged designers to measure the success of design's impact and to describe the effectiveness of communication design. While designers are often tempted to base the success of a design on whether the client is pleased, they are typically one step removed from tracking more objective measures of success simply due to the nature of traditional client-designer relationships - where ongoing reporting happens primarily on the client side.
But that needn't be the case, explains Richard Grefé, executive director of AIGA. "Designers should absolutely be asking these questions and continuing to follow up with clients after a project is implemented. Through challenges like 'Making the Case' we can begin coaching designers on how to measure their success - what questions to ask, what metrics to track, and how doing all of this can help prove the effectiveness of their work to existing and prospective clients."
AIGA's goal for the competition is to encourage the development of a public archive of examples documenting how designers, through their approach to solving problems and their execution of exemplary design solutions, have created value for their clients, their audiences and society.
"These case studies are great tools to explain the value of design to non-designers, including brief explanations of challenges, approach and actual metrics of effectiveness," added AIG's director of competitions, Gabriela Mirensky. "If you thought that case studies are only worth developing for mega projects, you'll be pleasantly surprised at the wide array of projects represented."
Designers, in-house design teams and independent design studios will also find inspiration within the collection, which AIGA plans to grow by holding the competition annually, beginning again in early 2012.
See all the case studies online at aiga.org/Making-the-Case-Selections where visitors are encouraged to comment and share.
View the original press release
For further information, please contact:
Jennifer Bender
AIGA | the professional association for design
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About AIGA
AIGA is the professional association for design in the United States, a nonprofit organisation dedicated to advancing design as a professional craft, strategic tool and vital cultural force. Founded in 1914, AIGA today serves more than 22,000 members through 66 chapters and 200 student groups throughout the United States. AIGA stimulates thinking about design, demonstrates the value of design and empowers the success of designers at each stage of their careers.
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