At AIGA Boston, we’ve observed how COVID-19, has fundamentally changed what design education looks like. Students need to adapt to a virtual design education — an education that relies heavily on in-person discussions and learnings — and put their problem-solving skills to test. How will students get the most preparing for next steps in their careers all from an at-home education and self-starter attitude? Educators, similarly, are faced with how to best support students from afar in preparing them for how to take their first steps out into the professional world — including preparation of portfolio work, preparation for virtual interviews, and perfecting resumes and cover letters in ways to make them stand apart from the masses. 

Your Students, Featured!
One of the top themes we are hearing across the design community nationally is recent graduates’ need for guidance and support in navigating their job search during this difficult time and the desire for portfolio reviews. In light of these newly presented challenges faced during this time, AIGA Boston is committed to providing support and inspiration to educators, students, and emerging designers in the community through sharing resources and amplifying the voice of design education. Together will build on the design education experience by enabling the design community and providing long-term, sustainable support.

We’ve reached out to local universities in the area inquiring about how they were coping with these newly presented challenges of design education during this time and whether or not they were able to host a virtual portfolio review or similar this year at their school. 

We are very excited to share that several universities not only hosted a virtual review for BFA and MFA students, but also created websites to house student work for public previewing at later dates, amplifying the work and voice of students. These universities include Suffolk University, BU, UMASS Lowell, Lesley, and Simmons. Below are links to the student work:

Suffolk University
BU BFA
BU MFA
UMASS Lowell
Lesley University
Simmons
MassArt

If your school would like to be featured to show off the student work of your recent grads, please send Natalie (natalie@boston.aiga.org) a link and we will include in future AIGA Boston social posts over the coming weeks.

Activate the Designers! AIGA EMERGE Virtual Portfolio Reviews are Here!

In “normal circumstances,” AIGA Boston hosts an annual portfolio review inviting students and emerging young professionals within 0-5 years of their careers to come together at the College of Art & Design at Lesley University for a lively day of reviewing work and practicing interview skills. Reviewees receive feedback and tips from diverse seasoned professionals.

Review sessions are conducted similar to speed dating, maximizing the number of reviewers that reviewees are able to meet with and one-on-one reviewer/reviewee time. Modeling the process similar to an interview process, the goal of the sessions is to both provide support and to prepare reviewees for their careers and future interviews. 

This year, we are shifting to invite reviewers and reviewees to connect virtually. 

Sign up to be a virtual reviewer here and please pass along the invitation to your students to be reviewed here.

Please Know, We Are Here.
Finally, if you’re an educator interested in sharing insights in how you think AIGA can support the design education community now and for your future classes, please reach out to Natalie natalie@boston.aiga.org. We’re here to support you and see our creative community design our way through.