Shows
Cheers & Tiers: Design Leadership Tales Retold027: Amy Gustincic & Jay Ganaden of AIGA San FranciscoAmy Gustincic and Jay Ganaden both served as presidents of AIGA San Francisco—at different times, but with a shared passion for community, creativity, and experimentation. In this episode, they reflect on the wild ride of shaping SF’s chapter culture, from designing risk-friendly programming to redefining who AIGA is really for.From parties that made the fire marshal nervous to retreats that sparked systemic change, they share lessons in leadership, legacy, and letting your weird ideas fly. Also: ghost tours, secret code names, and what happens when a national leader shows up and gets...
2026-02-0751 min
Cheers & Tiers: Design Leadership Tales Retold026: Allan Espiritu & Nick Prestileo of AIGA PhiladelphiaAllan Espiritu and Nick Prestileo didn’t set out to build a gallery, host legendary parties, or flip a mattress at an AIGA retreat—but somehow, they did all three. In this episode, the former AIGA Philadelphia presidents unpack a leadership era driven by joy, generosity, and a heavy dose of “why not?” They reflect on building a design community from the ground up, earning national credibility without losing their weirdness, and how trust, good vibes, and some tequila under the sink made Philly one of the most iconic chapters in AIGA history. Also: Art Chantry with a hammer, getting...
2026-01-1749 min
Cheers & Tiers: Design Leadership Tales Retold025: Debbie Millman & Michael Bierut of AIGA New YorkBefore they were design royalty, Debbie Millman and Michael Bierut both remember what it felt like to be on the outside. Debbie got kicked out of an AIGA special interest group for doing work that was “too commercial.” Michael, working at one of design’s most prestigious studios, felt like a dinosaur compared to the experimental West Coast crowd.In the late 1990s, before you could connect with designers online, AIGA was the only game in town. And getting seated next to the right person at a leadership dinner could change everything.This is the story...
2025-12-2055 min
Cheers & Tiers: Design Leadership Tales Retold024: Carlos Estrada of AIGA Detroit & Oen Michael Hammonds of AIGA AustinCarlos Estrada and Oen Michael Hammonds have never worked in the same city, but they’ve long shared the same goal: making AIGA a more inclusive, welcoming space for everyone. In this episode, they reflect on decades of volunteer leadership across chapters, task forces, and national roles, while swapping stories about moments that changed them, students that inspired them, and the value of making space for others to shine.From barstool pivots to back-to-back retreats, they unpack what it really means to lead with purpose, listen with humility, and make the design world feel a...
2025-12-0655 min
Design Of Podcast10 Episode 71: TBD - The Design of People-First EventsWhat happens when you stop chasing views and start designing for belonging?
When the world went online, most virtual events started to feel the same, flat, distant, and forgettable. But not for Rachel Elnar, Heather Lynn, and David Carr-Berry.
Together, they built some of Adobe’s most loved digital experiences: Creative Jams and The Perfect Match, a 1970s-style design game show complete with music, lights, wigs, and real connection. These weren’t webinars. They were living, breathing events that made thousands of creatives feel seen.
Each brought something vital: Rachel’s heart for community, David’s director’s eye for rhythm and...
2025-11-1947 min
Cheers & Tiers: Design Leadership Tales Retold023: Carolyn Colonna & Taylor Nall of AIGA CharlotteTwo presidents of the same scrappy Charlotte chapter share what it’s like to step up without a roadmap. In this episode of Cheers & Tiers, we sit down with Carolyn Colonna and Taylor Nall, who each led AIGA Charlotte through very different moments of growth and experimentation.They talk about the unexpected ways they found AIGA, what it means to lead with trust instead of ego, and why showing up with openness (and a well-placed DM) can create real change. There’s a quiet kind of bravery in simply showing up—and these two prove...
2025-11-0848 min
Cheers & Tiers: Design Leadership Tales Retold022: Jenn Visocky O’Grady of AIGA Cleveland & Justin Ahrens of AIGA Arizona and ChicagoWhat do pyramid photos, Harry Potter, and a karaoke dare from Debbie Millman have in common? They’re all part of Jenn Visocky O’Grady and Justin Ahrens’ journey through AIGA leadership—and proof that the best design stories don’t always happen on stage. In this episode, they reflect on 20+ years of retreats, road trips, poster campaigns, and unexpected friendships. From building student chapters and Design for Good initiatives to scaling purpose-driven work through their careers, they show how showing up (and sometimes singing) can change everything.Key TakeawaysYou had to...
2025-10-1851 min
Cheers & Tiers: Design Leadership Tales Retold021: Laurel Webster & James Hersick of AIGA Blue RidgeTwo leaders who first met at an AIGA conference and ended up married share how a small but mighty chapter built national programs—and how retreats, late nights, and a little chaos shaped their leadership journey. Laurel Webster and James “Jamey” Hersick trace their path from student chapters and dissolving boards to facilitating competitions like Flux, pulling off unforgettable events, and carrying design-for-good values into their client work. Along the way, they recount pyramids, beer swaps, and 6 a.m. lobby hangouts that turned colleagues into lifelong friends.Key TakeawaysSmall chapte...
2025-09-3044 min
Cheers & Tiers: Design Leadership Tales Retold020: Kevin Berger & Aaron Shurts of AIGA SeattleTwo longtime friends turned co-leaders share how they built AIGA Seattle like a business—and kept the fun alive with hot dogs, karaoke, and pyramids. Kevin Berger and Aaron Shurts recount their journey from board interviews and budget struggles to building sustainable programming and epic conferences. Along the way, they reveal the bonds that leadership retreats created (and the legendary late-night antics that made them unforgettable).Key TakeawaysRun chapters like businesses: Sustainable structure beats constant one-off burnout.Financial stewardship matters: Turning deficits into reserves made big programs possible.Retreats are culture accelerators: They forged in...
2025-09-1348 min
Cheers & Tiers: Design Leadership Tales Retold019: Karen Kurycki & Varick Rosete of AIGA JacksonvilleFrom trivia-fueled pool parties in Miami to five-tier pyramids sketched out on cocktail napkins, Jacksonville brought the fun and the leadership to AIGA retreats. In this episode, we’re joined by longtime partners-in-crime Karen Kurycki (aka CMYKaren) and Varick Rosete (TigerLily Chief Design Officer) to relive the wild, heartfelt, and often hilarious stories from their years leading the Jacksonville design community. These two have done it all—presidents, mentors, party planners, pyramid architects—and their chapter motto said it best: “Have fun. Get sh*t done.”Key Takeaways:How a bag of Pringles sparked a legendary retreat ic...
2025-08-3046 min
Ishmael InteractiveCommunity is a strategyIn this week's vlog, Aaron chats with professional community-builder and beloved design mentor Rachel Elnar. Hear about her work building and sustaining community in an over-stimulated, over-saturated world. Her work has taken her to corporate giant Adobe, to thrive in the loose and fast-moving design world, and to give back as a mentor, including or Ishmael Interactive CEO Ana Monroe! Get full access to Ishmael Interactive at ishmaelinteractive.substack.com/subscribe
2025-08-2630 min
Cheers & Tiers: Design Leadership Tales Retold018: Michele Cooper & Kelly Holohan of AIGA PhiladelphiaDesign leadership with heart—and a healthy dose of activism. Michele Cooper and Kelly Holohan dive into how they transformed AIGA Philadelphia from nearly invisible to a powerhouse of community, mentorship, and thoughtful fun. Expect stories of financial discoveries, grassroots programming, and leadership that’s as thoughtful as it is rebellious.Key TakeawaysHow two Philly designers turned a chapter with little visibility into a thriving creative hubWhy uncovering hidden membership funds changed everything for programmingThe origin story of the Philadelphia Design Awards and how it elevated local workWhat really happened at the Miami retreat hot tub...
2025-08-1649 min
Cheers & Tiers: Design Leadership Tales Retold017: Jenny Price & Seth Johnson of AIGA MinneapolisTwo design leaders, one powerful connector, and a story of mentorship turning into lifelong creative partnership—this episode is a masterclass in community, transformation, and the wild, wonderful culture of design retreats. Hear how cold emails blossomed into careers, how chapter leadership became a training ground for corporate change, and why human pyramids (and arm-wrestling in Denny’s) became legendary.Key TakeawaysA cold email changed everything: how Jenny’s outreach to a connector unlocked career-long leadership in AIGA and beyond.Mentorship in motion: Doug Powell introduced them, their partnership flourished, and he later reunited them profes...
2025-08-0255 min
Cheers & Tiers: Design Leadership Tales Retold016: Leadership Lessons from Season 1 with Erik & RachelSeason 1 wasn’t just about retreat tall tales—it was a masterclass in real leadership. In this wrapped-up chat, hosts Rachel and Erik unpack the key lessons that surfaced across the season—from stepping into leadership despite imposter syndrome and the power of a single invitation, to why retreats are where connections happen and how humble gestures become leadership in action. This episode isn’t a recap—it’s a reflection on what it means to lead, together.Key TakeawaysYou don’t need to feel ready to start leading—action builds confidence.An ask is powerful—leaders...
2025-06-2834 min
The Reflex Blue Show : A Graphic Design PodcastRachel Elnar & Erik Cargill: The Reflex Blue Show #274Rachel Elnar & Erik Cargill of the Cheers & Tiers podcast stop by to talk about their show that is based partly around the heydays of the AIGA Leadership retreats. I was fortunate enough to get to be at six[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry...
The post Rachel Elnar & Erik Cargill: The Reflex Blue Show #274 appeared first on 36 Point.
2025-06-2400 min
The Reflex Blue Show Archives - 36 PointRachel Elnar & Erik Cargill
Rachel Elnar & Erik Cargill of the Cheers & Tiers podcast stop by to talk about their show that is based partly around the heydays of the AIGA Leadership retreats. I was fortunate enough to get to be at six of these conferences, ending with the one in Omaha, Nebraska. I still miss this event and the immediate connections you had with the other 250~ people there. We also talk about design leadership, the need for design community, and human pyramids.
Enjoy.
The post Rachel Elnar & Erik Cargill: The Reflex Blue Show #274 appeared first...
2025-06-2400 min
Cheers & Tiers: Design Leadership Tales Retold015: Kristine Johnson of AIGA SeattleMeet a powerhouse of clarity, creativity, and community: Kristine Johnson—AIGA chapter ally, brilliant in visual cognition, and master at translating complexity into clarity. In this episode, she shares how she turned $350 into $85,000 in chapter funding, revived legacy programs like Into the Woods, and built youth‑focused impact through the LINC program—all fueled by coffee chats, mentorship, and a network of collaborators.Key TakeawaysFrom empty coffers to capital: Kristine’s bold fundraising turned $350 into $85K—through systems and community trust.Mentorship matters: Her success was propelled by energy from the board, mock interviews, and collaborat...
2025-06-2134 min
Cheers & Tiers: Design Leadership Tales Retold014: Bernardo Marguils of AIGA PhiladelphiaMeet Bernardo Marguils — a design-tech polymath whose journey spans graphic design, computer science, and marketing leadership. Fresh out of school, he dove headfirst into AIGA Philadelphia, learning on the fly, leading transformational board experiments, and turning volunteer roles into career-defining skills. This episode uncovers how messy learning, human pyramids, and hot‑tub jam sessions shape creative leadership. Key TakeawaysThe best learning happens when you’re thrown in—Bernardo hit the ground running as Sponsorship Chair the week before graduation.Failing forward is real: his first sponsorship and fundraising experiments taught him through trial, error, and unexpect...
2025-06-1442 min
Cheers & Tiers: Design Leadership Tales Retold013: Gage Mitchell of AIGA Seattle and moreWhen your idea of fun is starting or reviving entire AIGA chapters, you know community is in your DNA. From launching a student group in Colorado to helping restart Seattle, Gage Mitchell has been at the center of design communities wherever he lands. Along the way, he’s pioneered programs like Design for Good and Changemakers, built frameworks like the Path to Impact Workbook, and—of course—helped fuel retreat traditions involving pyramids, cowboy hats, and 6 a.m. send-offs. Key TakeawaysLeadership is built by doing: Gage founded or revived multiple AIGA chapters—from his college...
2025-06-0754 min
Cheers & Tiers: Design Leadership Tales Retold012: Victor Davila of AIGA OrlandoMeet Victor Davila—a designer, illustrator, professor, and Orlando’s creative catalyst. From co-founding mentorship programs to teaching, retreat‐born innovations, and even community healing after tragedy—Victor’s AIGA journey is rooted in connection, courage, and creative care.Key TakeawaysServe to grow: Victor’s leadership isn’t altruism—AIGA shaped him as much as he shaped it.Belonging kicks ego: Whether in introverted rings or human pyramids, design retreats make leaders out of quiet people.Design heals: After Pulse, he helped transform grief into creative community care.Connection births movement: From AIGA Unidos to Changemakers...
2025-05-2444 min
Cheers & Tiers: Design Leadership Tales Retold011: Wendy Quesinberry of AIGA SeattleFrom check-in desk volunteer to AIGA Fellow, Wendy Quesinberry has seen it all. Known for her sharp branding work and her knack for cultivating community, she steered AIGA Seattle with a “quality over quantity” mindset, brought design legends to town, and later kept the creative spirit alive through casual happy hours. Along the way, she collected retreat stories involving bottle service mishaps, border-crossing bus trips, and the kind of friendships that only grow from late-night design antics.Key TakeawaysLeadership often starts at the door—Wendy turned check-in duty into chapter presidency.Fewer events, more impact—the powe...
2025-05-1739 min
Cheers & Tiers: Design Leadership Tales Retold010: Frances Yllana of AIGA Dallas/Fort WorthMeet Frances Yllana—a branding sage, community builder, design operations leader, and the kind of person who’ll rip apart a hotel sink to save a wedding ring. Over a decade of service with AIGA shaped her journey from volunteer communicator to a civic tech dream job leading design operations. Expect heartfelt stories, civic design in action, and the reminder that taking things apart isn’t always about breaking—they’re just making space for someone else.Key TakeawaysCold outreach can spark a decade of growth—Frances started with a simple “Can I help?” and ended creati...
2025-05-1037 min
Cheers & Tiers: Design Leadership Tales Retold009: Brian Singer of AIGA San FranciscoFrom journals to billboards, Brian Singer has always pushed design into unexpected places. As the mind behind the global 1,000 Journals Project and the viral campaign Twit Spotting, Brian blends creativity with cultural commentary in ways that make people stop, think, and sometimes fume. His AIGA journey—from San Francisco chapter leadership to the national board—offers candid lessons on leading volunteers, sparking movements, and why the best retreat moments happen in elevators at 5 a.m.Key TakeawaysSometimes, complaining catalyzes change—it was merely asking why that got Brian invited to fix things from the inside...
2025-05-0332 min
Cheers & Tiers: Design Leadership Tales Retold008: Ashleigh Axios of AIGA DCShe transformed the White House with design—and the DC design community with heart. Ashleigh Axios brings design into democracy as a former Creative Director at the Obama White House, founder of DotGov Design, and longtime AIGA leader. Her journey shows how volunteer leadership can spark systemic impact—across government, community, and conferences turned culture shifts.More about AIGA DC's DotGov: https://dc.aiga.org/dotgovdesign/Key TakeawaysVolunteerism becomes actual leadership – Ashleigh’s first board roles led to designing policy, publications, and civic design systems.Retreats are revelation machines – informal rituals like sunset wal...
2025-04-2637 min
Cheers & Tiers: Design Leadership Tales Retold007: Elysia Syriac of AIGA ColoradoShe turned skateboard art into a force for community and change. Elysia Syriac transformed a modest mentorship experiment—Bordo Bello, a skateboard art auction—into a ten-year legacy of artistic civic impact. From student volunteer to board leader (and national advisory member), she built systems that fundraised $50,000 for designers with disabilities and cultivated creative culture through leadership retreats, human pyramids, and unapologetic joy.Key TakeawaysSometimes creativity starts with a skateboard—Bordo Bello started small and grew into a mentorship, fundraising, and advocacy powerhouse.Cool still funds community—Elysia’s cold calls to design superstars led to unforge...
2025-04-1943 min
Cheers & Tiers: Design Leadership Tales Retold006: Mike Joosse, AIGA Director of Chapter DevelopmentVolunteer energy plus organizational legacy—Mike Joosse made it his mission. AIGA’s first-ever Director of Chapter Development, Mike helped design what chapter leadership looks like today. Whether orchestrating leadership retreats or building the connective tissue between chapters, his story intertwines systems, empathy, and retreat-floor pyramid chaos in a way only AIGA can inspire.Key TakeawaysLeadership begins with paying it forward: Mike’s journey started with a boss who didn’t just pay his membership—he sent Mike to AIGA events.Retreats are more than agendas—they’re rituals: Human pyramids, zoo afterparties, morning hall chats—they’re...
2025-04-1238 min
Cheers & Tiers: Design Leadership Tales Retold005: David Jon Walker of AIGA NashvilleFrom Memphis student to Yale design powerhouse, David’s trajectory is one rooted in momentum, connection, and creative obligation. He launched his AIGA journey in 2008 with a classroom assignment, then led Nashville’s chapter, organized retreats, and sparked a lettering practice that doubled as historical commentary. Whether writing with Procreate or building human pyramids at leadership retreats, his story underscores the power of inertia—and creative responsibility.Key TakeawaysMomentum matters: What began as a class assignment led to chapters, conferences, and Yale.Leadership pivots on presence: Real opportunities start with showing up—for retreats, for conversa...
2025-04-0532 min
Christian Entrepreneurs Rise Up| Faith in Business | Family First BusinessChristian Entrepreneurs: This Is How You Stand Out (with Norbert Elnar) - Episode 525In this episode, I sat down with branding expert Norbert Elnar to talk all things Kingdom branding. From landing his dream job in the advertising world to walking away from it all to pursue his God-given purpose, Norbert shares his powerful story of choosing faith over flashy success. We dive into how Christian entrepreneurs can align their brands with their values, stand out in the marketplace with integrity, and truly make an impact for the Kingdom—without watering down their message or compromising on excellence. If you're ready to build a brand that reflects Jesus and serves wel...
2025-03-3124 min
Cheers & Tiers: Design Leadership Tales Retold004: Paul Mendoza of AIGA Los AngelesFrom karaoke bars to design conferences, Paul Mendoza shows how joy becomes leadership. Starting as a night-school student turned AIGA co-president, he leveraged unexpected opportunities—including an impromptu karaoke mic—to become a community-builder, volunteer manager, and event producer, ultimately shaping programs like Amazon’s Conflux with a dose of delight.Key TakeawaysOpportunities often arrive via simple invitations: A classroom nudge led Paul from script coordinating to chapter leadership.Community isn’t just structure—it’s a performance: A karaoke mic can open doors and anchor your story.Retreat magic happens off-stage: The 6 a.m. C...
2025-03-2932 min