The Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) is pleased to announce the launch of two new and two returning professional chapters in March 2020.
The new chapters are:
- IDSA-Jinhua in China (IDSA-JIN), with Chris Hosmer, IDSA as Chair and Dylan Ren, IDSA as Vice Chair
- IDSA-Portland in Maine (IDSA-POR), with Mat Cardinali, IDSA as Chair and Ben Miley, IDSA as Vice Chair
The returning chapters are:
- IDSA-San Jose in California (IDSA-SJ), formerly IDSA Silicon Valley, with Russ Henning, IDSA as Chair and Jon Corpuz, IDSA as Vice Chair
- IDSA-Providence in Rhode Island (IDSA-PVD), formerly IDSA-RI, with Jeanette Numbers, IDSA as Chair and Scott Noh, IDSA as Vice Chair
IDSA-SJ was created in response to a renewed energy around industrial design in the region. Similarily, IDSA members in Providence, RI have expressed their excitement about IDSA’s renewed focus and support for professional chapters. They are committed to re-opening and building IDSA-RI, now IDSA-PVD, and will work to support industrial designers and make ID practices visible in their region.
The launch of these new and renewed chapters kickstarts one of IDSA’s current initiatives, announced in IDSA Executive Director Chris Livaudais’ letter to membership in January 2020, to support and grow city-based chapters.
“For years, many of our professional chapters have represented large geographic areas with loosely defined borders (think Rocky Mountain, Northern Lakes, or Mid-Atlantic),” wrote Livaudais.
In 2020, you’ll begin to see changes that usher in renamed chapters and completely new chapters in cities all over the U.S. and internationally, with all IDSA chapters being city-based. We hope this will allow more opportunities for chapter leadership teams to meet and thrive by providing rich and meaningful content to their local design communities.”
IDSA members who have questions about how this initiative will impact their chapter, or if they would like to discuss developing a city-based chapter, should contact Community Manager Korie Twiggs at [email protected].
Thanks to the IDSA professionals who have committed to supporting our new chapters! Be sure to check the professional chapters page for updates.