Design policy advocacy kit

What you’ll find in the kit

Individual designers and local AIGA chapters can make a difference! The materials in this kit are inspired by AIGA’s federal advocacy work, yet they are intended to be a model for what chapters and members can do locally at the municipal, county and state levels. For instance, local advocates can help the national campaign by developing the case for effective design in their communities, communicating with legislators, government officials and media in their area and corresponding with their members of Congress. Designers might also develop comparable strategies for state and local issues. Tools and resources for adaptation include:

• Advocacy steps
• AIGA’s position on government communication design
• Sample talking points
• A media primer for advocacy work
• Sample letters to Congress
• Tips on meeting with—and thanking—your legislator

• AIGA Design Policy Advocacy Kit (236K)

CapWeb — information on the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government, including Congressional email addresses

U.S. House of Representatives — information on House members, committees, organizational information, schedules and more

U.S. Senate — information on Senate members, committees, organizational information, schedules and more

The White House — information about the federal government, news releases and federal statistics

Thomas — one-stop Congressional information including text of the Congressional record and pending legislation

Library of Congress — website for the world’s largest library, with resources available and useful to the Congress and the American people

American Society of Association Executives: Advocacy Center — association issues, Congressional directory, database of all state legislatures and daily Congressional schedule

Roll Call — a Capitol Hill newspaper

Congressional Quarterly — the latest news of what’s going on in Congress, plus links to their selection of best political sites

C-Span — nonprofit network providing public access to the political process; site offers schedule of coverage, glossary of terms, plus interactive Q&A section

Legislative Action Center (VOXCap.com) — site providing email links to Congress, guides to federal and state elected officials and summaries of recent votes and bills

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) — a public agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts, both new and established

National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) — an independent grant-making agency of the U.S. government dedicated to supporting research, education, preservation and public programs in the humanities