Design for Democracy: Ballot and Election Design sent to U.S. Senators and Representatives

NEW YORK. February 11, 2008. On behalf of AIGA and its local chapters, AIGA Design for Democracy has sent personalized copies of Marcia Lausen’s book Design for Democracy: Ballot and Election Design to each member of Congress. The book, along with subsequent work for the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, provides both principles and pragmatic examples that can improve the clarity and accuracy of election processes across the country.

In its quest to demonstrate the value of design by doing valuable things, AIGA aims to inform legislators about the ways that professional information designers bring a level of expertise to activities that are critical to an effective democracy. Ideally, the example established by Design for Democracy will lead to improvements in the electoral process and also inspire awareness that professional designers can play a critical role in designing improvements to other forms used by government that engage its citizens, such as Social Security, Medicare, immigration, census, tax reporting and homeland security.

“The personalized copies of each book should remind each legislator of the strength of the design profession in his or her constituency, the ease of reaching the professional design community through AIGA chapters and the importance of the design community in advancing innovation in local economies,” says Richard Grefé, AIGA executive director.

Visit AIGA Publications for more information on Design for Democracy: Ballot and Election Design, which was published jointly by AIGA and the University of Chicago Press.

About AIGA
AIGA, the professional association for design, is the oldest and largest membership association for design professionals engaged in the discipline, practice and culture of designing. AIGA’s mission is to advance designing as a professional craft, strategic tool and vital cultural force.

Founded in 1914, AIGA is the pre-eminent professional association for communication designers, broadly defined. In the past decade, designers have increasingly been involved in creating value for clients (whether public or business) through applying design thinking to complex problems, even when the outcomes may be more strategic, multi-dimensional and conceptual than what most would consider traditional communication design. AIGA now represents more than 22,000 designers of all disciplines through national activities and local programs developed by 59 chapters and 200 student groups.

AIGA supports the interests of professionals, educators and students who are engaged in the process of designing. The association is committed to stimulating thinking about design, demonstrating the value of design and empowering success for designers throughout the arc of their careers.

For further information, please contact:
Katie English
AIGA | the professional association for design
Tel 212 710 3136   Fax 212 807 1799
katie_english@aiga.org