@Andy: I agree that we web designers have our own vibrant, informal networks and support systems. We have had them since there were two web designers and a modem. And of course we have our own publications and conferences. On that level, we can get along without participating in AIGA. But AIGA is not merely about networking. See, for instance, the Center for Sustainable Design, Design for Democracy, Inequality Matters, and other significant social and environmental campaigns and valuable professional resources. These help everyone. And I’m not sure I agree that award shows or initiatives with polysyllabic names constitute mere navel-gazing.

If you have decided that the AIGA is irrelevant to you, then you will be satisfied with a minimal or nonexistent web design presence at AIGA events and in AIGA publications. But I believe otherwise. I believe the AIGA has something to teach us, and we just might have something to teach as well.

As a web designer, we don’t have any of this. I think this entire topic, and especially one of creating our own Society, is a big deal to show the world that our professions need to be taken seriously. This goes back to the ALA surveys Jeffrey and Eric have put together the past few years. Sometimes we are still being compared to the 12 year old kid next door who knows computers and can build websites. Why not have our own organization. Even if its just to show the world that we are serious, and damn well passionate about what we do. Define our profession, then organize it. Nothing against the ideals of AIGA, but we don’t need to be a “division” of an already existing organization.

Per your last response here, why this preoccupation with organization–inside or distinct from AIGA? Aside from the fact that the Web professions have no need for AIGA, our professions don’t require any sort of formal organization. Why you believe otherwise?

Print designers, having long been technophobes, have done well, in theory, to have a large, analog organization to help facilitate many things that our Web professions community can do handily without organization. Given the naked contempt and wholesale misunderstanding our professions receive from the print design industry and its organizations, it is no crime to not seek entry into their troubled world. Why do you believe otherwise?

Our highly-visible professional members and professional community at large all do just fine without bureaucracy. Myriad resources are freely and widely available, conversation and fellowship are ongoing and vibrant, job leads and discourse on professional progression are all easy to find. Web professional interaction with educational institutions is not uncommon. What is lacking, in your opinion?

As for this thread’s particular issue, in so many tangible examples AIGA seems to be vastly more concerned with contemplating its own navel at the expense of championing design professionalism.

By way of just one example, at one AIGA awards ceremony I witnessed who I think I remember being Richard Grefé (though I could be mistaken) talking about the Medal of AIGA as being “the highest achievement any designer can aspire to.” If that is not the actual quote, it is almost verbatim. I remember thinking, “Hmm, that’s about the most unprofessional sentiment I’ve ever heard. I can think of many higher achievements, including 1) delivering on my project promise to produce a highly successful product, project, communication, or campaign for my client, or 2) vastly improving the user experience for my client’s customers, or 3) greatly and positively impacting my client’s fortunes.” Yes, there are many higher achievements any designer can aspire to than some medal.

Why invite this sort of unprofessional ideal and myopia into our profession?