IDSA HQ
2020 MISSION
I
n 2019, much of our work at IDSA HQ was about setting ourselves down a path toward reenvisioning the IDSA membership experience for a new era. All of it is built around the core idea of Community + Content = Value. It’s a phrase I’ve spoken and written about in great detail during my two years as Executive Director, and it has become a foundational element of our strategic approach. This short statement is now embedded in everything we do at IDSA HQ and will continue to drive our thinking as we move forward. Today, we find ourselves at the dawn of a new decade, and I remain very optimistic for the opportunities that lie ahead for us to bring expanded awareness, inclusion, progression and success to our beloved Society. Many of the goals the Board of Directors and I share for the future of IDSA center on celebrating the work of our community and creating unique opportunities for you as a member of IDSA year after year. The IDSA staff and the Board of Directors are working in closer harmony now than perhaps ever before. During a recent day-long workshop, we brainstormed programmatic improvements and envisioned new opportunities to prepare the organization for the growth that is surely to come. We’re excited to incorporate these ideas into our current offerings. I’m looking forward to a tremendous year ahead of us. The work we are doing now will further establish our place as the leading organization for industrial designers. I am very thankful for the many of you who have continued to champion our cause and actively contribute to our community during this time of metamorphosis. Centering on Community Regardless of membership status, a core tenet of IDSA remains to serve the profession as a whole and advocate for the impact we all believe industrial design can have on business, society and the lives of the people who use the products we create. According to the most recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are more than 40,000 industrial designers living in the United States. This community of thousands of designers represents the nucleus of IDSA.
6
IDSA.ORG
By maintaining our focus on supporting the industrial design community and directing resources back to our membership, IDSA HQ has accomplished a great deal in just a few months. We have reengaged with dormant chapters and are working to establish new ones. As a result, we’ve seen increased activity and renewed energy around creating localized design events that build community and allow individuals to take proactive leadership roles. Every day we’re seeing more people in our community experience the value that real-life connections can offer. After all, personal one-on-one connections have long been the backbone of the IDSA experience. We are thrilled to have helped facilitate this resurgence in connections and can’t wait to see what comes next. Elevating our Content Over the past several months, our media channels have seen considerable growth and increased engagement. This is due in large part to highlighting our members’ stories and keeping a close eye on the pulse of industrial design and related industries. Just as in the early years of our organization, we are working today to build a platform that collects from, centralizes and showcases one of our most valuable resources: you. You are at the forefront of our profession and you are actively driving its evolution. Thus, it makes sense that the content at our events, on our website, in print and on social media is pulled directly from the collective knowledge base of our membership and is uniquely tailored to best respond to the transforming needs of our profession. The IDSA staff has been working diligently behind the scenes on a range of other content-related improvements. For example, we’ve made several adjustments to our website to improve navigation, content hierarchy and visual clarity. We also completely reworked our membership renewal communications, updating the language and processes to make renewing your membership much quicker and easier. These types of details are paramount to improving the interactions you have with IDSA and go a long way to create a delightful experience. You know as well as I do that designers love the details!
