Cheers & Tiers: Design Leadership Tales Retold

From 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,...

From 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 Takeaways Opportunities often...

She championed in-house design before it was cool—and made community feel like home. As SVP of Experience Research & Design at O3 and former president of AIGA Philadelphia, Christine Sheller forged in-house design advocacy, launched a scholarship fund, and connects communities across coasts. Her path includes late-night retreat stories, unexpected mentors, and the kind of legacy that starts wi...

When your career threads through design education, community building, and recruitment, stories become your legacy. Josh Silverman has done exactly that—spanning leadership roles in multiple AIGA chapters, designing recruitment frameworks, shaping graduate programs, and even riding epic bike trails. This episode explores how those long bike rides reflect the beauty of design relationships: the end...

She turned volunteer leadership into a leadership vocation. Amanda Hovest’s journey began in AIGA LA’s membership committee and spanned nearly half a decade as president—where she didn’t just grow a chapter, she molded herself into a creative events architect, community advocate, and powerhouse facilitator. From retreat after-parties to boardroom strategy, she shows how design volunteering becomes...

Welcome to the fire-starting episode—where insider retreat stories meet design leadership sass. Hosts Erik Cargill and Rachel Elnar set the stage by explaining what Cheers & Tiers is all about: a podcast that brings AIGA chapter leadership stories to life with sharp insights, playful gaps, and generous doses of community nostalgia. They share why retreats—not boardrooms—are where careers are m...