DESIGNERS UNITE: AIGA San Diego Tijuana Premieres Powerful International Poster Exhibition
AIGA San Diego Tijuana welcomed over 370 guests to the world premiere of the Graphis Designers for Peace International Poster Exhibition: United with Ukraine. The bi-national event kicked off on Wednesday, November 16th, with over 200 guests in attendance at UCSD Park & Market in downtown San Diego. Internationally acclaimed designers and exhibit artists Kit Hinrichs, Michael Pantuso, and Carmit Haller attended the opening night event to meet with guests and sign limited-edition merchandise. On Thursday, the exhibition premiered in Tijuana, Mexico at the iconic Casa de la Cultura Tijuana with Michael Pantuso in attendance. Proceeds from both events benefited humanitarian aid for the people of Ukraine.
“I was overwhelmed by the response from designers around the world to the heinous, unprovoked invasion of Ukraine by Putin and the Russian military. The visuals for many of the posters carried powerful, heartfelt concepts crafted around the brutality of the current crisis,” said jury chair, Kit Hinrichs of Studio Hinrichs.
“This unique binational exhibition shows the power of design raising a voice in a hard and hurtful event like the war in Ukraine, and demonstrates the strength of the San Diego Tijuana design communities,” says Arturo Elenes. Elenes serves on the AIGA SDTJ Board of Directors and is an Advisor to San Diego Design Week. “AIGA San Diego Tijuana is working to harness this enthusiasm and talent of dynamic and generous professionals both sides of the border.”
Reconnecting Two Vibrant Design Communities San Diego and Tijuana designers have a rich history of cross-border collaboration and celebration, though formal efforts to connect have waned in recent years. The exhibition’s opening night successes in both locations prove that the love, support, and connection between creative professionals and our shared work span across borders today. Attendees to both events included healthy amounts of students and nationally acclaimed industry professionals alike from the San Diego and Tijuana regions—connecting young, upcoming, and seasoned designers together through a powerful cause for good.
UC San Diego’s Park & Market and Casa de la Cultura Tijuana recently announced that the public exhibition would be extended through January 2023.
LIMITED EDITION MERCHANDISE AVAILABLE FOR SALE
AIGA San Diego Tijuana released a limited edition collection of merchandise featuring artwork from the exhibition. Included among the pieces are an exhibit catalogue, notecards, select prints and apparel. Sales the from the exhibition benefit humanitarian aid for people of the Ukraine through Jose Andres’ World Central Kitchen and International Relief Teams.
AIGA SDTJ fundraising partner TZilla has offered customizable T-shirts from the collection. Choose from several award-winning poster designs and personalize by selecting your preferred shirt color and adding a unique message to your shirt. Each shirt also comes with a QR code that allows family and friends to support the cause as well.
WITH GRATITUDE TO OUR PARTNERS
The international premiere of the Graphis Designers for Peace: United with Ukraine Exhibition was made possible thanks to the generous support of our sponsor community. AIGA SDTJ is grateful for the vision and generosity of A7D Creative Group + Printing, Neyenesche Printers, Once Upon a Frame, TZilla.com, UCSD Park & Market and XXIV Ayuntamiento de Tijuana / IMAC.
ABOUT AIGA SAN DIEGO TIJUANA
AIGA San Diego was established in 1987 as a chapter of AIGA, the Professional Association of Design. In 2022 the Chapter expanded to encompass both San Diego and Tijuana, in acknowledgement of the unique binational culture that has evolved between designers in the Southern California and Baja region. Founded in 1914, AIGA now comprises more than 70 chapters worldwide and exists to advocate for a greater understanding of the value of design and designers in government, business and media. AIGA SDTJ has distinguished itself beyond typical professional networking organizations as an action-oriented nonprofit focused on advocacy, community contribution and impact. This is reflected in nationally-recognized initiatives such as the annual Y Conference, the Urban Art Trail, Tweet Street Urban Park, the Soviet Poster Exhibition, Contact-o Binational Exhibition and more. The organization serves the San Diego Tijuana region as the voice of design leadership, and champions design as a powerful change agent essential to the greater good of the community.
