BACKGROUND
EMERGE 2.0 is powered by AIGA Minnesota’s third AIGA Innovate grant, awarded in July 2017. Through a pivotal partnership with AIGA's Diversity & Inclusion Task Force, the objective during this next development phase is to grow and expand EMERGE to reach new, more diverse audiences, existing members, and prospective members. EMERGE will address each participating chapter and community’s needs in key areas of employment, growth, leadership, entrepreneurship, and life skills—as well as provide inclusive strategies that enable underrepresented groups and give all emerging designers the opportunity to flourish.
EMERGE EQUIPPED. EMERGE BOLD.
The initiative’s programming model will encourage engagement and conversation through a range of events—including workshops, panel discussions, roundtables, lectures, networking functions, studio tours, and online activities—that address different aspects of the design discipline. These experiences provide newer designers the opportunity to ask questions, seek advice, and participate in career development focused activities, while giving established designers the opportunity to grow as mentors and to support the emerging design community.
THE FIVE EMERGE TRACKS
Each EMERGE track includes a collection of topics that serve as thought starters for developing chapter-specific programming that aims to empower emerging designers.
EMPLOYMENT: Necessary steps to identify and secure a desired job, plus what might be expected working in the industry
GROWTH: How to continue growing skills and value as a designer
LEADERSHIP: What it takes to become an effective leader
ENTREPRENEURSHIP: The process of starting and growing a business
LIFE SKILLS: Non-design skills essential to human connection and work/life balance