Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Bryl.
Katie, before we jump into specific questions about the organization, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
After graduating from Savannah College of Art and Design in 2015 and entering the workforce, I found that real life was not as full of design as I had hoped. Going to an art school, I was always surrounded by creative people; being the only designer on an in-house marketing team was a whole different world. My professors at SCAD had always pushed the value of AIGA, and so after finding my footing with my new job, I went to an AIGA Buzz Happy Hour event and met with other designers and AIGA volunteers. I asked one of those volunteers how I could get involved, and it all took off from there. Unsurprisingly, we’ve realized this event is where most of our volunteers tend to get their start.
Together with the programming committee, I’ve hosted four annual Poster Shows, AIGA Atlanta’s Big Night, and many workshops, lectures, and networking events for the Atlanta creative community. I’ve attended 2 AIGA National Retreats, meeting and sharing ideas with AIGA volunteers across the country to improve our chapters. I’ve also given a talk at Design Week Tallahassee on the importance of finding and fostering your own creative community. I definitely wouldn’t be the person I am today without becoming a member of AIGA.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It’s been smoother than expected at some intervals, but it definitely didn’t start off that way. I joined AIGA with the idea of being on a committee and helping someone else, with more experience, plan my idea of music-themed poster show. Instead, I ended up in charge of a poster show. This was definitely not according to plan. Typically, volunteers would start with a much smaller, low key event. Unfortunately, I’m stubborn and not one to usually say no, so when I was asked to champion this task. I said, “Yes!” I leaned on Jessica Mullis, the programming chair at the time, to help me through it. We worked together well and got the event planned, the venue booked, and open call up and accepting submissions.
And then we waited. And waited. And as we approached the deadline for poster submissions, I had my first inkling that maybe we’d failed. We’d had less than a dozen entries and needed 50-70 to fill the venue. I started to panic. I should have known designers are procrastinators, though, being one myself because the day of the deadline, we got about 90 submissions! The event was a success, but every year since the same thing happens and I have to recall this memory often to keep from freaking out! Since that show in early 2016, we’ve held three more poster shows with themes of music, movies, travel and books.
Please tell us about the organization.
AIGA advances design as a professional craft, strategic advantage, and vital cultural force. As the largest community of design advocates, we bring together practitioners, enthusiasts, and patrons to amplify the voice of design and create the vision for a collective future. We define global standards and ethical practices, guide design education, enhance professional development, and make powerful tools and resources accessible to all.
AIGA is made up of members who volunteer their time to the board or a committee. This is especially inspiring to me. Nobody is being paid to do what they’re doing – everyone is there because they love design, Atlanta and AIGA, and they want to build up the community for other designers. Being among a group of such incredible, like minded people always makes me strive to do my best.
Atlanta’s chapter has been my home since that day I walked into a Buzz Happy Hour event in June of 2015. Since joining, I’ve served as a programming committee member, Programming Chair, and now the Vice President of the Board. It’s been a roller coaster, with four poster shows under my belt, and this year will be the first time I’m letting go of the reigns and giving the new Programming Chairs control over the event. I’m both excited and nervous to see how it goes, but I have a feeling it will be bigger and better than ever!
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
In my eyes, success as a designer or AIGA member is hard to define. Is it if you’re Instagram famous among other designers – if other designers know your name or could pick you out of a crowd? Is it making a certain amount of money or working at a well-known design agency? Is it putting on a certain number of events or speaking at a certain number of conferences?
I think I suffer from imposter syndrome a lot. I’m still not sure what success looks like to me. I am often comparing myself to other designers, or other AIGA chapters and wondering if I’m good enough. Maybe my success is bringing joy to others, and if that’s the case, I think I’ve been pretty successful over my last five years with AIGA.
Contact Info:
- Website: atlanta.aiga.org
- Email: vp@atlanta.aiga.org
- Instagram: @aigaatlanta, @kbrylliant
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AIGAAtlanta/
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiebryl/
Image Credit:
The Amanda Kate Co.
Scott Youngblood
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