AIGA West Michigan is excited to present the screening of Design Disruptors, a new documentary about the rising importance of design as a competitive advantage in disruptive technologies. The documentary focuses on the world of over 15 industry-toppling companies--valued at more than $1 trillion dollars combined--with one unifying secret advantage: the transformative power of design.

 Design Disruptors centers on companies that changed the landscape of how people live, travel, and communicate—from Uber to Airbnb to Twitter and Facebook—and how those companies succeeded in a world where their products didn’t exist yet. You’ll hear from the Product Design Manager of Pinterest, the Vice President of Product Design for Facebook, the Product Designer for Netflix, and other design leaders as they shed light on how design-driven business can create an impact around the world. 

What if we told you that by attending this film you will not only expand your own visions and innovations, but you will also help inspire the creative minds of local youth? By seeing this film at the UICA on August 23rd, your attendance will help benefit the Worldstudio AIGA scholarships, which are awarded to minority and economically disadvantaged students studying art and design disciplines in college and universities in the United States.

 In alignment with these goals and the message of Design Disruptors, AIGA West Michigan will use all of the money raised from ticket sales to benefit the Midwest Tech Project—a local non-profit that connects inner city students to the world of technology and the tech industry. Your $15 ticket proceeds will go towards purchasing laptops for every student in the program (primarily 7th-9th grade African American and Latino male students from Grand Rapids Public Schools) so they can practice and continue working on their design and tech skills outside of the classroom.

To get hooked immediately, check out the Design Disruptors trailer here. AIGA West Michigan welcomes you to learn about making a difference in your design world while making a difference in someone’s future.

A huge thank you to our sponsors, Visualhero and TEKsystems, for making this event possible.