We've recruited design leaders from around the country to judge your AIGA 50 entries, and while they're in town we're giving you the chance to get to know their background and work. Earl Gee will address the topic of “Design = Value.” Using examples from Gee + Chung Design’s work in branding, systems, collateral, promotions, packaging and environmental design, Earl will present ways in which creatives can use design to create client value in their own work. Conor Brady will draw on his years of experience working at Razorfish, Organic, and Huge, where he’s overseen branding and design  for household names like Pepsi, Nike, Audi, Intel, VW, and Condé Nast. Interested blogging, photographing, or welcoming guests for this event in exchange for free entry? Email us.

Registration opens on November 1 at noon. The event will cost $20 for non-members, $10 for Contributors, and $5 for Supporters and higher membership levels. Learn more about the benefits of becoming an AIGA member at www.aiga.org/join/. For this event, we’re introducing a ‘Bring your coworker’ promotion: if you register in advance, you can bring a coworker for free! All you have to do is show matching business cards at the registration table.

Thank you to the Art Institute of Washington for donating this venue.

Directions:
The Church is located just a few blocks from the Key Bridge, at the junction of North Nash Street and Fort Myer Drive in downtown Rosslyn – directly above the only gas station in Rosslyn. The doors are located on the uphill side of the church - on the skywalk between Fort Myer Drive and North Nash Street. The stairs from the street level to the skywalk are entered from North Nash Street.

From Rosslyn Metro Station: turn to the right after coming up the escalators from the train platform, following signs to “Skywalk” – go up escalator, make a U-turn to the left and go up the stairs. Go straight on the skywalk over Fort Myer Drive. You will see the Church building ahead of you to the right. The doors to the church are located on the skywalk between Fort Myer Drive and North Nash Street.

A portion of this event’s proceeds will go to a scholarship for the next generation of designers through AIGA DC’s Continuum Fund.

Event coordinator: Mollie Bates

Conor Brady

Chief Creative Officer, Huge

Conor Brady is Chief Creative Officer at Huge where he oversees the agency's creative teams throughout the United States, Europe, and Latin America. He is a passionate advocate of the belief that the best work comes from the intersection of great design, user experience, and beautiful narrative.

Before joining Huge, Conor served as the Chief Creative Officer at Organic, where he was responsible for overseeing the creative discipline across all offices in the United States and Europe. He joined Organic from Razorfish, where he was a creative director in London and New York. He has worked with many of the world’s largest brands, including Pepsi, Nike, Audi, Intel, Hilton, VW, BBC, Bank of America, P&G and Condé Nast.

Although he spends most of his time working in digital, he loves design in all forms. He began his career by helping create the first 100 book covers for Vintage Paperbacks at Random House, then moved into the music industry as a creative director at Universal Music/Polygram, designing record covers. Conor is also an avid cyclist and spent time racing in Europe. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife and runs Elcyclista, a journal about the intersection of design and cycling, in his spare time.

Earl Gee
Partner + Creative Director, Gee + Chung Design

Earl Gee is Partner and Creative Director, with Fani Chung, of Gee + Chung Design, an award-winning multidisciplinary brand communications firm based in San Francisco. The firm develops successful branding, print, packaging, environmental and interactive programs for leading clients including Apple, Adobe, IBM, Lucasfilm, the Federal Reserve and Chronicle Books. Earl was named in Graphic Design USA’s 50th Anniversary Survey as one of the 50 “Most Influential Graphic Designers Working Today” and one of its “People to Watch in 2010”. He was also one of only 50 U.S. graphic designers selected for the international edition of “Who’s Who in Graphic Design”. He has served on the board of AIGA San Francisco and is a frequent juror for major design competitions including Communication Arts, Spark, Creativity, Critique, STEP, Exhibitor and Sappi. Earl began his career as a designer at Landor Associates in San Francisco, creating identity programs for Fortune 500 companies and senior designer at Mark Anderson Design in Palo Alto, designing branding programs for Herman Miller, PG&E and the Oakland Museum. He received his BFA in Graphic Design with Distinction from Art Center College of Design.

Image: Off-Site Records Management Shred Truck Graphics by Gee + Chung Design

Over 75 people are registered for this event. Are you one of them?