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Forward thinking designers in the Charleston community want to raise the bar by bringing a local chapter of AIGA to town.

Spearheaded by eight local creatives, the first, open meeting was held at Southend Brewery downtown on East Bay Street. Almost 40 interested folks from the design world attended to network, get more information, and sign up. Oh yeah, and to drink beer and eat free food. Designers are starving artists, too!

The American Institute of Graphic Arts organization was actually founded in the dark ages: 1914. And they're still churning out a circuit of motivated, top notch designers.

AIGA is on a mission to stimulate thinking about design, demonstrate the value of design, and empower the success of designers across the arc of their careers. And in these difficult economic times, your best bet is to just stick together.

In order to gain a chapter status, the local group needs at least 20 members. Interested? They are almost there, so if you’d like to join go online and sign up or email Will Bullock from Slant Media with questions. Even better, students get a discounted membership and an open pass to network, explore possible internships, and creative collaboration.

Membership runs $95 for students, and $230 for young designers.

Birds of a feather, flock together!