“For people without disabilities, technology makes things easier. For people with disabilities, technology makes things possible.”

– Mary Pat Radabaugh

Ensuring that digital content is accessible to everyone, regardless of their abilities, is not just a moral obligation but a legal requirement in many places. To help you get started with accessibility, we’ve reached out to our local design community to crowdsource a list of top resources.

Getting Started

• The A11y Project
• Deque Accessibility Awareness Lab
• Level Access Info Sheets
• Microsoft Inclusive 101 Guidebook
• Accessible design like a pro from Figma
• Nielsen Norman Group (NN/g) Accessibility and Inclusivity: Study Guide
• World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
• WebAIM

Alt Text

• Alt text in Microsoft products
• Do you need alt text? w3.org can help you decide
• Harvard University Write helpful alt text
• WebAIM Alternative Text

Color Contrast Checkers

• Adobe Color
• Accessible Web WCAG Color Contrast Checker
• APCA Contrast Calculator
• WebAIM Contrast Checker
• Coloring for Colorblindness

Audio & Video

• How to Create an SRT File for Subtitles and Captions
• Section508.gov Create Accessible Audio- and Video-Only Media
• W3C Making Audio and Video Media Accessible

User Experience (UX)

• A11Y Style Guide
• Nielsen Norman Group (NN/g)
• WebAIM Web Accessibility for Designers Infographic

Accessibility Statement

• The Sage Mages Accessibility Statement
• W3C Accessibility Statement Generator

Creatives need strategy. Strategy needs insights. Our member feedback form is now live. Let us know what AIGA benefits you love and your preferences for events. We love engaging with this community, and want to continue to meet you where you are.

>> Feedback Form <<

Local Talent

Our Member Made initiative profiles the work of the Northwest Arkansas design community. Join us as we showcase local designer, Alejandro Vilgran.

His work often references and takes inspiration from pop culture, femininity and fantasy. Alejandro puts all of his energy into his creations. The colorful, hyperrealistic, pop art and delicate touch in his craft is the purest form of reconnecting with his inner child and a place of peace.

Interview

Design is: In everything, I believe as designers we have the power and creative responsibility to make a change, to lead and to influence others. If we really analyze it, everyone needs a designer beyond what most might think design is at a surface level. About everything we do has a design system and approach, it is a very broad field and if “not possible” somehow we make it.

AIGA is important to me because: It opens opportunities, creates connections and most importantly gives voices to a diverse group of people. They continue to create space for engagement and discussions that include perspectives often left out of the conversation in the design community, particularly in marginalized communities and really young designers and I am proud to know some of these voices.

My biggest fear is: To look back at things with regret. I never regret anything I do. I just keep moving forward or find a way to make it work, there is no point in regretting something that already happened, I feel like it holds us back and to ever feel that way in the future or live with regrets is scary to me.

My hero is: Hello Kitty because she’s the ultimate icon, successful in anything she does, everybody loves her and she is THAT GIRL.

Random a fact about me: I’ve never been to a music festival, but perhaps I will change that this year.

I’m currently learning: About Creative Business Leadership. I just started my M.A. this month at SCAD in Savannah, Georgia. The business side of creative has been on my list of interest for a while. It’s definitely out of my comfort zone but that is the way you grow and at this point in my career I speak from personal experience.

What I’m looking forward to: I’m looking forward to seeing my family and friends in Arkansas. I’m also looking forward to seeing my dog that is staying with my family and my friend that is Germany right now because I really like him. I’m looking forward to finishing my M.A. program and to see what is next for AIGA.

For more design inspiration

Check out Alejandro’s Instagram: @alejandrovillagrandesigns

Member Made gives a voice to our diverse chapter membership and contributes to the creative conversation in Northwest Arkansas. Want to be featured? Email communications@nwa.aiga.org

Impact your design community!

Do you want to play a more active role in your design community? Now’s your chance. As a 100% volunteer-run organization, we rely on the support of our creative community. We look for new volunteers every fall to help with the following year’s events and programming. We’d love to hear your ideas!

View current open positions. If you’ve been thinking about volunteering but just needed some motivation, apply now! If you have questions and want more information you can direct message any board member in our Slack channel or email questions directly to info@nwa.aiga.org.

Local Talent

Our Member Made initiative is dedicated to profiling the work of the Northwest Arkansas design community. Join us as we showcase local designer, AIGA NWA 2022 board member and self proclaimed doodler, Joy Rasphoumy.

Interview

Design is: Ultimately subjective. Everybody’s got their own opinions on what they consider art or design. So, unless it pertains to your job… make what makes you happy, dangit!

AIGA is important to me because: It’s a community. The design+arts field is a pretty particular group especially in NWA. AIGA brings all these people together and it’s comforting to be around people who share similar interests and goals. We help each other personally, professionally, and most importantly, you feel seen and understood.

My heros are: Definitely my cute, amazing mother! #1 in my book forever and always. She has always supported my endeavors and makes me proud to be a Southeast Asian American artist pursuing my dreams.

Random a fact about me: I am trilingual! English, Spanish, Laos.

Something you might not know about me: I’ve got an adorable, dorky husky named Kira that is my bff.

I’m currently learning: That could mean so many things! Haha. I’m learning to let go of perfectionism (personally and artistically), the ukulele, and playing around with Procreate.

What I’m looking forward to: Traveling the world to gain new eyes and inspiration to fuel my creativity, meeting and learning from other creatives, pop punk concerts, and walks with my dog.

For more design inspiration

Check out Joy’s Instagram: @doodlingwithjoy

Member Made aims to give a voice to our diverse chapter membership and move the discussion on design in Northwest Arkansas forward, putting our area on the map. Want to be featured? Email communications@nwa.aiga.org

As a design community, we know the importance of collaboration, diversity, and intersectionality when it comes to solving today’s problems.

The goal of this program is to share the diverse skills, knowledge, and experiences of design professionals in our amazing chapter with the next generation of student designers right here in NWA! We know from experience, there’s nothing quite like having someone from the field visit the classroom and share their stories. We’re working with local schools to do just that – bring AIGA into the classroom and share about being a designer!

We will engage speakers from across the spectrum – those still in college, junior designers, design leaders, freelancers, agency owners, in-house and those working for corporations.

Get Involved

If you would be interested in participating as a speaker for a 30-minute presentation reach out to us and let us know at info@nwa.aiga.org!

Want to help but can’t present? Share your advice and wisdom in Slack or via email (still info@nwa.aiga.org!) .

Join the Club!

Start a new chapter with the AIGA Book Club. Books, podcasts and articles are recommended and voted on by the group in our Slack channel. Read (or listen) and then discuss it with us at our #AIGABookClub meetup.

We will meet virtually through Zoom for discussions at an agreed upon date and time.

If you cannot make the discussion meeting, message Jessica Wei on Slack for a video recording.

Previous Books, Articles, and Podcasts

User Defender’s podcast episode You Belong Here with Jessica Gaddis, selected by the Slack channel, discussed April 29

Let Them See You: The Guide to Leveraging Your Diversity at Work by Porter Braswell, selected by the Slack channel, discussed March 24

The Condemnation of Blackness: Race, Crime, and the Making of Modern Urban America by Khalil Gibran Muhammad, selected by Lauren Tumbleson, discussed June 30, 2020

Design As Art by Bruno Munari, selected by Marc Laney, discussed November 19, 2019

Steal Like An Artist by Austin Kleon, selected by Lauren Tumbleson, discussed October 15, 2019

Pattern Recognition by William Gibson, selected by David Reynold, discussed August 24, 2019

Ruined by Design by Mike Monteiro, selected by Reynold’s Sharp, discussed July 6, 2019

The Design of Everyday Things by Donald A. Norman, selected by Kelsey Jackson, discussed on May 25, 2019

101 Contrarian Ideas About Advertising by Bob Hoffman, selected by Amy Pedid, discussed March 30, 2019

Creative Strategy and the Business of Design by Douglas Davis, selected by Tim Walker, discussed February 23, 2019

Black lives matter. AIGA NWA stands with our Black colleagues, friends, family, and community members. We see you. We hear you. And we love you.

There are many ways we can take an active role in supporting Black people and people of color. Take a moment to research and contribute in whatever way you can. Below, are a few ways we’ve found to work toward’s our chapter’s vision “to create an inclusive, design-driven Northwest Arkansas.”

Most importantly, though: extend support to your Black friends and family in ways that do not require additional emotional labor from them.

With love,

AIGA NWA Board

Call or write to elected leaders to enforce accountability and change.  Find your elected officials here.

Support Black-owned businesses.
@blackownednwa
@venturenoire

Listen and Research.

• Anti-Racism Resources
• It’s Nice That – Resources for supporting the Black Lives Matter movement
• ilove creatives BLM Resources

Reflect.
What harmful systems unique to our community must be redesigned to drive health, security and justice for all in NWA?

Donate.

• Black Action Collective
• The Bail Project
• Northwest Arkansas Branch of NAACP
  
• NWA Equality

Get Involved.

• Black Action Collective
• Northwest Arkansas Branch of NAACP
• Northwest Arkansas African American Heritage Association
• NWA Equality
• TRU Powered by Ideals Institute
• Engage NWA

Chit Chat

A Biweekly Discussion through June 2020.

There is so much happening in the world. Let’s take a moment to connect and discuss what’s on our minds.

Drop in (virtually) for an informal chat every other week, where we will discuss a particular topic with a discussion leader.

Date: Biweekly on Wednesdays

Event Times: 5 – 5:30 PM

Location: Zoom Video Call

→ ADD THE MEETING TO YOUR CALENDAR

Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/2699655690
Meeting ID: 269 965 5690

Dial by your location
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 646 876 9923 US (New York)
+1 253 215 8782 US
+1 301 715 8592 US
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 408 638 0968 US (San Jose)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/ay8f3WBbi

TOPICS

Interested in leading or have a topic in mind? Let us know!

Wednesday, June 24 | Chad Nicholson, Tyson Foods | Design Thrives in a Crisis

Wednesday, June 10 | Maren Munoz, Walmart | How might we collaborate, support, and better amplify the perspectives and needs of Black people and communities across our Nation?

Wednesday, May 27 | Rebecca Black, RevUnit | Finding Creative Outlets Outside of Work

Wednesday, April 29 | Marc Laney | Keeping Life Interesting

Wednesday, April 22 | Bree McMahon | Staying Curious and Fostering Learning

Wednesday, April 15 | Aricka Lewis | Living and Designing in a Remote World

QUESTIONS
Please direct questions to:

Rebecca Black
President
president@nwa.aiga.org

Watch the video recording of our Design Drinking featuring Chad Maupin of Big-Bot Design.

Listen to Chad talk about his latest projects and how he’s coping with a new way of working, live from his new space at Mount Sequoyah in Fayetteville. See Chad’s work on Instagram

Forgive the sudden start, we are still learning the logistics of virtual events! 🙂