AIGA LA is pleased to recommend for your consideration the following slate of candidates for the 2023–2025 Board of Directors. If elected, each nominee will serve a two-year term, with the exception of the president who serves a three-year term. Only current members of AIGA Los Angeles are permitted to vote, and your membership number will be required. 10% of the membership as a whole will determine the vote. Please see below for your list of incoming candidates for the AIGA Los Angeles Board.
CAST YOUR VOTE
Voting closes at 11:45 PM on Saturday, 6/10/2023
If you need help with casting your vote, please contact us at nominations@aigala.org.
2023 BOARD OF DIRECTORS SLATE
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR POSITIONS
PRESIDENT
 Paul Woods
Paul Woods is an award winning designer, author, and CEO of global design agency Edenspiekermann. Over the course of his career he has led design and consulting projects for clients such as Google, Lucid Motors, Faraday Future, Volkswagen and many others. Paul’s best-selling book on creative culture, “How To Do Great Work Without Being An Asshole”, was published 2019 via Laurence King and has been translated into 10 languages. His follow-up book, “Shit They Didn’t Tell You”, a how-to guide for young creatives looking to start a career in the industry, was released in 2021. LinkedIn Profile
VP OF OPERATIONS
 Hannah Richard
Hannah’s prowess is transforming organizations through the application of strategic thinking, grounded ideology, and design insight. She advances her clients’ missions and goals on the micro and macro levels, from the ground up and the top down. She recently joined architecture giant HGA as their Manager of Strategic Development to further their relationships and business goals in Los Angeles. As the Vice President of Operations for AIGA LA, Hannah will move the executive team’s mission forward to evolve the organization. Hannah lives in Los Feliz with her many plants and loud Harley. LinkedIn Profile
DIRECTOR POSITIONS
EDUCATION CO-DIRECTORS
 Krislam Chin
Krislam Chin is a Los Angeles-based Educator and Designer. She is a professor at Mt. San Antonio College and brings 12 years of industry experience. Her passions lie at the intersection of design and pedagogy, pushing forth her work advocating affordable and equitable access to education. Krislam holds an undergrad degree in business and design from FIDM and recently earned her master’s degree from USC. LinkedIn Profile
 Ethan Coy
Ethan Coy is a multidisciplinary designer and advocate of design for impact. He has worked freelance and in-house, most recently at Disney, to create stunning visuals, design systems, and more that advance the future of their client’s business and relationships. He has an unconventional career path that was built on the rural foundation of food + customer service management, screenprinting, and importantly, design. Prior to this, he has been a mentor to creatives through workshop programs and is sometimes a guest lecturer to pacific northwest universities, where he is from originally. LinkedIn Profile
MARKETING DIRECTOR
 Richard Shanks
Richard Shanks is Partner of UpShift, a boutique branding & design agency in Los Angeles and Chicago. He has worked with agencies in Detroit, Chicago, and Los Angeles, including Adams+Morioka, VSA Partners, and Ogilvy. Rich was an Adjunct Professor at The School of The Art Institute of Chicago for 24 years. As President of the Society of Typographic Arts (STA), he received the prestigious Honorary Member for significant contributions to the organization. He now resides in LA and has a Masters degree from CalArts and a Bachelors from University of Michigan. LinkedIn Profile
MEMBERSHIP CO-DIRECTORS
 Ghazal Foroutan
Ghazal Foroutan is an Iranian designer and educator currently based in California, USA. She won the 13th Khawrizmi Youth Awards for her illustrations with watch pieces in 2012 leading to her acceptance to Alzahra University In Tehran, Iran. She graduated with her BFA in graphic design from AU in 2017. She worked for Studio Shizaru for two years before she moved to the USA in 2018. She graduated with her MFA in graphic design at Oklahoma State University in 2021. Her thesis was a collection of visual explorations in response to Iranian women’s rights. She is currently a designer at The Design Army agency. LinkedIn Profile
 Jasmine Najarro
Jasmine Najarro is a Salvadorian-American graphic and UX designer based in Los Angeles, California. She values conscious design, empathetic communication, accessibility and openness. She values each project through further research on the audience and goals to provide a smooth visual and technical experience. She utilizes her experience and personal background as a Latina in tech to create inclusive design experiences and solutions through UX/UI design, illustration and branding. LinkedIn Profile
PROGRAMMING CO-DIRECTORS
 Cory Grabow
Cory Grabow is the co-founder of Bruxton Group, a creative and digital marketing agency helping brands better connect with customers and improve their business performance. They have collaborated with client partners at Cal State LA, Claremont McKinna University, Walmart, Badgley Mischka, FIRST Robotics, LEGO Education, and yes even the Richard Simmons. On the side, Cory launched The Small Talk Series, an event series with the simple goal of opening up Bruxton Group’s space and getting to know the community on a personal level. He also works as a creative partner with Yspaniola, a non-profit that aims to create access to quality education in Batey Libertad, Dominican Republic. LinkedIn Profile
 Amanda Powell
Amanda is a passionate designer, crafter, artist, and creative. She has worked as a graphic designer, marketing specialist, and communications strategist in both the commercial real estate and architecture / engineering / construction (A/E/C) industries. Amanda has also worked in event planning and production, and finds immense value in making connections between emotional moments and visual storytelling. She infuses color into all that she can. Amanda lives in West Hollywood with her husband JJ and their Australian Shepherd mix, Junie. LinkedIn Profile
Artwork created by Jasmine Najarro
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By AIGA Los Angeles
Published May 26, 2023
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