Johanna Armstrong, sophomore visual communication design major, pins up her drawings for Thursday night’s visual communications show. The show consisted of work from students in the American Institute Graphic Arts.

Credit: Andrew popik

The American Institute of Graphic Arts student group relaunched itself at the Art Building on Thursday night with its first meet and greet social of the new year.

Visual Communication Design professors and students were invited to the event, which showcased work from every level of the VCD program. Nationally, the group has 16,000 members and 48 chapters, said Ken Visocky O’Grady, assistant professor of visual communication design and faculty adviser of the student group.

The institute supports the interests of professionals, educators and students who are involved with designing, regardless of where they are in their careers, according to their Web site. The institute is made of national branches and local chapters with professionals and student groups on campuses across the country.

President of the American Institute Graphic Arts student group, Johanna Armstrong, sophomore visual communication design major, said she wants to make the group more visible this year.

“AIGA hasn’t been very active over recent years because lots of students are so busy,” Armstrong said. “VCD students need to realize that this group is all about coming together and making connections.”

The institute, like any other major-oriented student group, helps students in networking and getting to know faculty better, Armstrong said. Also, it is a good place for younger students to make connections with older students who can tell them what to expect.

“Besides everything else that AIGA does, it also helps us to get connected with professionals when we need internships later,” said Elisa Vega, sophomore visual communication design major and vice president of the group. “I think it really helps to keep us motivated when we can see what designs and cool things we get to do down the road.”

The group meets at 5 p.m. every other Tuesday in room 108 of the Art Building.

“The higher VCD students get in the program, the more their numbers decrease,” O’Grady said. “Collaboration and cooperation are essential to being successful in this field.”

Contact Communication and Information reporter Ali White at [email protected].