AIGA/Notre Dame
Notre Dame's American Institute of Graphic Arts student (AIGA) group is an active, thirty member strong organization. In fact, in 2007, Notre Dame's AIGA student group was the 11th largest group in the United States! AIGA is the national organization for student and professional graphic designers that hosts annual conferences, multiple speakers in different areas of the country, and various other events to advance the understanding of design, its history, and practice. Yearly AIGA/ND initiatives include a trip to the Unisource Annual Report Show each fall in Chicago and a design studio tour in the spring, also in Chicago. AIGA.org
NDesign
Notre Dame's industrial and graphic design student group, NDesign provides many opportunities for design students to further their understanding of the profession. Yearly events include a portfolio review session, a resume building session, an internship information meeting, and various freelance possibilities. In the past, NDesign raised money to host various events, including movie nights.
Chicago Design Studio Tour
The Chicago design studio tour is a day-long event during which students visit three firms of various sizes and end the evening by dining with Notre Dame design program alumni who offer support and advice to the current undergraduate students. These connections have led to future employment opportunities. Firms visited include: CloserLook, Crosby Associates, DDB/Chicago, Design Kitchen, Essex Two, Foote, Cone & Belding, Gerhardt & Clemons, Giant Step, Pivot Design, Ryan Partnership, VSA, and Zun Design.