Design Lives in Chicago!

It's only appropriate that, after talking about the design work I saw in Nashville in my last post, that I should re-acquaint myself with the place I've been fortunate to live, work, and thrive in. A web search and a visit to a gallery stirred memories of my early career as a designer: those firms I learned about in class and names of famous designers in the city. I'm fortunate to have known and worked with some of them. Chicago is a great place for designers to work, network, and grow.

Following is a gallery of websites and links for people who want to learn more about the history of Chicago's graphic designers. Content on the sites is copyrighted and owned by the respective organizations.

From 1936 to 1991, the group 27 Chicago Designers showcased and honored the efforts of over 100 graphic designers, photographers, typographers and illustrators. I recall fellow students referring to them as the "high priests" of graphic design. They were the people we were inspired by, and most wanted to be like.

Started in 1927, the Society of Typographic Arts (STA) is the oldest organization for designers in Chicago. It's a great place to discover Chicago's design history and to meet the next generation of designers via articles and though the various levels of membership offered.

AIGA/Chicago is the local chapter for AIGA | the professional organization for design. 
Check out the events and resources offered by this organization.

The Chicago Design Archive contains over 800 images showcasing the best of design in Chicago. New images are added to the archive annually. The site is hosted by STA-Chicago.

The Chicago Cultural Center currently has an exhibit titled CHGO DSGN running through November 2, 2014, highlights the work of over 100 leading Chicago designers. You can find details on the CHGO DSGN site here. The image above is from the City of Chicago website. Admission is free.

The Chicago Design Museum has a new exhibit home located in Block 37, Starts/Speculations: Graphic Design in Chicago Past and Future. The exhibit runs through September 30, 2014. Admission is free.

The Chicago Book Review site is one you should visit, not only for the reviews. The links in the left column are a great resource for publishing blogs, organizations, and area publishers. Disclosure: the company I work for, World Book,  is listed on the site.