InfoGuides: Art and Design: Join a Professional or Academic Organization

Student Groups @ Mason

Illustrators at Mason
The mission of Mason Illustrators is to build an artistic community at George Mason University and broaden a creative presence on campus through the two-dimensional field of illustration. The group regularly holds sketch jams, craft fairs, and other programming.
AIGA at Mason
Interested in graphic design? AIGA at Mason student group is committed to advancing the understanding of the value and process of design to aspiring professional graphic designers around the Washington DC area. In addition to monthly meetings and events, we have a rich schedule of design-related activities such as our Creative Speaker series, portfolio reviews, field trips, social events, Design Battle, etc. There's always room in our friendly community for all students to learn, get inspired, and make new friends.
Film at Mason
Film at Mason is a community of cinematic storytellers that fosters creativity, analysis, and diverse perspectives, professional practice and socially conscious filmmaking.

Professional Organizations

Academic and professional organizations provide support and advocacy for creators, including conferences or meetings where members can meet to discuss important issues in their field.

College Art Association (CAA)
CAA is a community for those interested in advancing research, practice, and the impact of visual arts. CAA's members include artists, art historians, curators, critics, and more, and offers virtual programming and core publications in the visual arts, including The Art Bulletin and Art Journal.
SECAC
SECAC promotes the study and practice of the visual arts in higher education, and organizes an annual fall conference with exhibition opportunities for members.
National Association of Independent Artists (NAIA)
An all-volunteer, artist-led nonprofit that advocates for artists at art shows nationwide
Foundations in Art: Theory and Education (FATE)
FATE is an educational association dedicated to the promotion of excellence in the development and teaching of college-level foundation courses in both studio and art history.

AIGA
AIGA is the largest association for designers, with a mission to advance design through innovation and creativity. AIGA offers professional development opportunities, webinars, artist talks, and more.
Graphic Artists Guild
The Graphic Artists Guild’s primary purpose is to help our members compete effectively in an ever-changing field. We enable graphic artists and other design professionals to build and maintain successful careers by providing skills and support—from advice on the daily tasks of running a creative business to going to bat for our creative community.
American Advertising Federation
The AAF helps new and established advertisers advance their career, build connections, and promote the well being of advertising.
International Society of Typographic Designers
Run by and for typographers, educators, and designers, ISTD works to set and maintain typographic standards.
Association Typographique Internationale (ATypeI)
ATypI (Association Typographique Internationale) is an international non-profit organization dedicated to typography and typeface design.
The One Club
The One Club for Creativity exists to support and celebrate the success of the global creative community through education, networking, and competitions & awards.
Society for Experiential Design
SEGD is a mutidisciplinary community of graphic and exhibition designers, fabricators, architects, creative technologists, students, and educators.
Design Management Institute
DMI brings together innovators, educators, researchers, and leaders from every design discipline and industry to facilitate organizational change and design-driven innovation.
International Institute for Information Design
The International Institute for Information Design (IIID) is a global network for people who work to make information clearer – for everyday life, business, education and science.
Type Director's Club (TDC)
TDC builds community, supports the growth of students and professionals, and recognizes excellence in type design across the world.
Interaction Design Association
The Interaction Design Association is a member-supported organization dedicated to the discipline of interaction design.

Association of Illustrators
Supports illustrators and the illustration industry
Society of Illustrators
The Society of Illustrators’ mission is to promote the art of illustration, to appreciate its history and evolving nature through exhibitions, lectures and education, and to contribute the service of its members to the welfare of the community at large.
Graphic Artists Guild
The Graphic Artists Guild’s primary purpose is to help our members compete effectively in an ever-changing field. We enable graphic artists and other design professionals to build and maintain successful careers by providing skills and support—from advice on the daily tasks of running a creative business to going to bat for our creative community.
Society of Publication Designers
SPD brings together and supports talented creatives, working across all platforms and disciplines, to learn, inspire, and collaborate.
Association of Medical Illustrators
The Association of Medical Illustrators furthers the use of visual media to advance life sciences, medicine, and healthcare through a worldwide network of specialized interdisciplinary professionals.
Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCWBI)
SCBWI provides the resources, professional networking, and community-building opportunities that support writers, illustrators, and translators throughout their careers.

National Oil and Acrylic Painters' Society (NOAPS)
Supports artists around the world in striving for artistic excellence by recognizing great art, enriching education, enhancing skills, challenging abilities and expanding marketing opportunities
American Watercolor Society
The mission of the American Watercolor Society is to foster the appreciation of watercolor media, and to advance education in support of this end.
Sculptor's Guild
The mission of the Sculptors Guild is to promote, encourage, and support sculptors and sculpture through personal interaction, professional development, exhibitions and community outreach.
International Sculpture Center (ISC)
ISC is a nonprofit organization that champions the creation and understanding of sculpture and its unique, vital contribution to society. Members include sculptors, collectors, patrons, architects, developers, journalists, curators, historians, critics, educators, foundries, galleries, and museums—anyone with an interest in and commitment to the field of sculpture.

Society for Photographic Education (SPE)
The Mid-Atlantic Chapter of SPE organizes conferences, exhibitions, lectures, and other professional opportunities. Follow them for news on photography-related events and opportunities in the region!
Photographic Society of America (PSA)
The Photographic Society of America (PSA), founded in 1934, is a world-wide organization providing abundant resources for photographers, from the novice to the professional. PSA offers online learning, webinars, study groups, competitions, mentors and consultants
Professional Photographers of America (PPA)
PPA is the world’s largest nonprofit photography association organized by and for professional photographers, with a mission to provide education, resources, and industry standards of excellence.

ACM SIGGRAPH
The ACM SIGGRAPH community is a global nonprofit organization serving the evolution of computer graphics and interactive techniques. With thousands of members across the world, the researchers, artists, developers, filmmakers, scientists, and business professionals of ACM SIGGRAPH are building the future of digital art and interactive design.
International Animated Film Association
ASIFA is devoted to cultivating and promoting the art, craft, and profession of animation.
Society for Animation Studies (SAS)
SAS is an international organization dedicated to the study of animation history, theory and practice.
The Animation Guild
Representing animation artists, writers, technicians & production workers since 1952
Quickdraw Animation (QAS)
Based in Calgary, QAS promote the art of animation through courses, workshops, screenings, and production resources.