002: Josh Silverman of AIGA Rhode Island

When your career threads through design education, community building, and recruitment, stories become your legacy. Josh Silverman has done exactly that—spanning leadership roles in multiple AIGA chapters, designing recruitment frameworks, shaping graduate programs, and even riding epic bike trails. This episode explores how those long bike rides reflect the beauty of design relationships: the endurance of curiosity, the connections formed along the way, and how volunteer roots can become career branches.Key TakeawaysStories can be your bridge: From membership postcards to mentorship, every connection made became a pivot point.Roles evolve with vision: Josh turned a Membership Chair title into a custom path—Community Membership Director—because he kept showing up.Innovation often risks friction: Introducing the Bone Show beyond Boston inspired chapters—and a few raised eyebrows along the way.Retreats incubate relationships: From banners to pyramids to dinner with Sagmeister—some bonds form outside the agenda.Generosity returns tenfold: A volunteer ask to pick up a design legend turned into lasting friendship—and creative collaboration.Episode Chapters00:02 – The importance of preserving stories: Josh emphasizes why sharing design leadership stories matters now more than ever.  02:25 – From postcard to power role: How a membership postcard led Josh to the Boston chapter—and memorable mentorship with Fritz Klaetke.04:03 – From Membership Chair to Community Membership Director: Reinventing his role to stay in leadership beyond the typical term limit.  06:06 – Bringing the Bone Show to New England: Josh drove the idea across states to grow creative community—and unintentionally ruffled some chapter feathers in the process.07:28 – Launching the Rhode Island chapter: Expanding the community by co-founding a new chapter from scratch.  08:10 – Co-leading AIGA’s Centennial: Josh co-chaired planning for AIGA’s 100-year celebration—one of his proudest chapters yet.  14:21 – First leadership retreat memory (Phoenix, ’97): A formative moment that opened doors to new networks and mentorship.  15:51 – Calling out the smart-quote faux pas: Noticing a design error on the chapter banner led to praise—and solidified Josh’s love for meticulous design.32:31 – Too many human pyramids to count: Pyramids at bowling alleys—powered by communal bravery and a touch of alcohol.  33:30 – Collaboration led from trust: How meeting Randy Hunt at a retreat turned into creative partnership—and even a friend-based business collaboration.  36:32 – Meeting Stefan Sagmeister—and record shopping: When volunteering meant spending the day with one of his design heroes.  About Our GuestJosh Silverman is a longtime connector in design education, AIGA leadership, and creative recruitment. He’s founded PeopleWork Partners, advised graduate design programs, and led chapters in Boston and Rhode Island. Whether riding metaphorical (or literal) long distances, Josh’s leadership is routed in relationships and story stewardship.  FeaturingGuest Josh Silverman, connect on LinkedIn | PeopleWork PartnersHost Erik Cargill, connect on LinkedInHost Rachel Elnar, connect on LinkedInSupport the ShowTheme music: Loose Ends by Silver Ships Plastic OceansProduced by Chapter 2 MediaSubscribe to the Together by Design newsletter for more community-building and podcast episode updatesSponsored by: Able Made, The Original Off Pitch Soccer Style: shop nowSponsored by: Draplin Design Company, check us out!Sponsored by: The People's Graphic Design Archive: browse, contribute, and research