FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 3, 2024
Duncan Lawrence, VP, Communications
AIGA Boston, Boston, MA
duncan@boston.aiga.org

AIGA Boston Announces Three 2024 AIGA Boston Fellow Awardees

Awarded at the local chapter level, the AIGA Fellows program recognizes designers who have made a significant contribution to raising the standards of excellence in practice and conduct within their local or regional design community as well as in their local AIGA chapter. The areas of education, writing, leadership and reputation, as well as the practice of design are given equal consideration in measuring significant contribution.

On June 6, 2024, AIGA Boston announced three 2024 recipients of the coveted AIGA Boston Fellow Awards. The announcement was made by Amy Parker, AIGA Boston’s VP of Programming at Boston’s Institute of Contemporary Arts in remarks preceding a talk by the national design leader Brian Collins. The awardees will be recognized in a formal ceremony and celebration on October 1, 2024.

The three 2024 awardees are Daren Bascome, Tammy Dayton, and Suzanne McKenzie. Previous AIGA Boston Fellow Award recipients include Denise Korn (2012), Matthew Carter (2010), and Christopher Pullman (the first to receive the Boston Fellow Award in 1999). A complete list of Boston Fellows is available here, and Fellows from all AIGA chapters can be found here.

“The 2024 AIGA Boston Fellows demonstrate the uncommon reach and impact of design across culture, commerce, and community,” says Dan Vlahos, President of AIGA Boston. “These three Fellows not only signal the future of design—but also showcase Boston as a hub and incubator for creative and social entrepreneurship.”

“The previous round of AIGA Boston Fellows were awarded in 2018,” says Duncan Lawrence, VP of Communications at AIGA Boston. “After several years, this will be a tremendous opportunity to gather and celebrate as a community. We are expecting a big turnout for the fall celebration.”

The AIGA Boston Fellows are chosen through a rigorous nomination and deliberation process and are ultimately chosen by a review committee that includes previous Boston Fellows.

About AIGA/AIGA Boston: AIGA is the design profession’s oldest and largest professional membership organization—with more than 70 chapters and more than 15,000 members. AIGA advances design as a professional craft, strategic advantage, and vital cultural force. Now in its 40th year as a local chapter, AIGA Boston develops, produces, and supports programming, mentorship, lectures, and has hosted events in the greater Boston area since 1984.

About Daren Bascome: Daren Bascome is Managing Director of the award-winning Boston-based branding and advertising firm Proverb Agency, which he founded in 1997. Proverb develops brands, campaigns, websites, and marketing collateral—pairing great design with strategic thinking to create impact, make vibrant communities, and make cities great. Bascome studied design at Massachusetts College of Art and Design or “MassArt” from 1989–1992 and was recently appointed Vice Chair of MassArt’s Board of Trustees. Recognized as a “Most Influential Bostonian” by Boston Magazine and among the city’s Most Influential Men of Color by Get Konnected! Bascome sits on the Board of Mass Marketing Partnership and is an overseer at Boston’s MFA. Under Bascome’s leadership, Proverb has created impactful solutions for Embrace Boston, Franklin Cummings Tech, The Bermuda Tourism Authority, The City of Boston, The Boston Foundation, United Way of MassBay, Mass General, Harvard University, The New England Aquarium, Pine Street Inn, National Grid, and countless other clients.

About Tammy Dayton: Tammy Dayton is a Boston-based designer with three decades of experience helping mission-driven organizations connect with their audiences. Tammy founded Moth Design in 2003— a strategic design studio specializing in brand, editorial, and web design. Dayton also serves as Creative Director for Probable Futures, an unconventional climate literacy initiative that brings together leaders across culture, business, technology, and design, in collaboration with scientists at the renowned Woodwell Climate Research Center. Dayton’s commitment to and impact upon Boston is clearly evident in her work. Dayton views Boston as a vibrant and “smart” city and is particularly energized by the culture and arts scene. Her firm’s work reflects this passion as it has helped formulate visual branding for the MassArt Art Museum, MIT, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Woodwell Climate Research Center, Native Plant Trust, Harvard University, the MIT List Visual Arts Center, and many others.

About Suzanne McKenzie: Suzanne McKenzie is an American designer and entrepreneur. She is currently the Founder, CEO, and CCO of Able Made and Chair of The Board of Directors for the Ucal McKenzie Breakaway Foundation (UMBF). McKenzie started as a designer at Arnold Worldwide in the late 1990s before joining the design consultancy Continuum (also in Boston) in 2007. In the early 2000s, McKenzie was actively engaged in AIGA Boston. McKenzie served as a Board Member from 2004-2010 and was President for her last two years. In 2012, McKenzie launched Able Made—a rapidly growing, responsible, and sustainable clothing line. Able Made launched its first independent brick-and-mortar store in October of 2022. Able Made inspires healthy living and combines bold design with responsible manufacturing and social philanthropy. McKenzie has lectured worldwide and has served as an independent design consultant to clients that include MoMA, Tom Ford, the Olympic Games, and the Institute of Contemporary Art. In 2015, Suzanne was selected to attend President Obama’s Global Emerging Entrepreneurs event at the White House.

For questions or comments, please reach out to AIGA Boston President, Dan Vlahos at dan@boston.aiga.org.

Graphic: Molly Lawrence