Staying Relevant

I just visited the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) website today and noticed this blurb on the front page. I was so excited to see that this national body was actually working on the issue of disaster planning, rather than just disaster response through the arts.

"AIGA Disaster Relief Task Force
The AIGA Disaster Relief Task for is working to support Displaced Designer, extending the reach and effectiveness of this initiative so that no designer is left behind in the wake of a disaster. The task force is working to develop a framework that chapters can use to prepare for disasters in the future." [emphasis added]

I followed the link for more on the article and was slightly dissapointed when it took me to the AIGA Displaced Designer information page, which has been up since the Hurricane. Now, maybe I read a little too much into the blurb, and I don't mean to dismiss the Displaced Designer project (which is awesome), but I was expecting and hoping that the AIGA would realize its own ability for collaboration beyond that to raise money. Money is important, but if its put into use with bad ideas and bad planning (read, FEMA) then all the sacrifice, generosity, and good will put forth is lost. Organizations like the AIGA have an unbelievable network of creative people and business people, and yet their social initiatives only encourage designers to contribute posters to be shown on the AIGA website. How does this provide meaningful change?

There is an inequality of wealth and action here. It's time to start collaborating.