012: Victor Davila of AIGA Orlando

Meet Victor Davila—a designer, illustrator, professor, and Orlando’s creative catalyst. From co-founding mentorship programs to teaching, retreat‐born innovations, and even community healing after tragedy—Victor’s AIGA journey is rooted in connection, courage, and creative care.Key TakeawaysServe to grow: Victor’s leadership isn’t altruism—AIGA shaped him as much as he shaped it.Belonging kicks ego: Whether in introverted rings or human pyramids, design retreats make leaders out of quiet people.Design heals: After Pulse, he helped transform grief into creative community care.Connection births movement: From AIGA Unidos to Changemakers, new ideas often start with a shared language or spark.Dare to assemble your tribe: When voices weren’t available, Victor created Giant Illustrators—a reminder that leadership is sometimes creative self-assembly.Episode Chapters01:28 – AIGA roots: Victor joined AIGA Orlando in 2011, stepping into roles from education chair to co-president and president.  03:08 – Leadership as learning: Through committee roles and retreats, he found AIGA to be a reciprocal growth engine.  05:04 – Retreat initiation: His first leadership retreat in Philadelphia was a crash course in connection—where introversion met creative community.  08:22 – Problems, meet purpose: Victor learned to lean outward—advocating for his community removed the glare from self-consciousness.  10:46 – A network in motion: Juggling boards for AIGA, DEC, Creative Mornings, and UCF, he insists it works when you surround yourself with teammates who catch the ball.  17:38 – Retreat rituals: Grand Rapids brought bar experiences in a church-turned-bar, human pyramids tall enough to make security sweat, and an unforgettable feeling of belonging.  21:16 – Designing after tragedy: In Raleigh, news of the Pulse shooting hit. Back home, the chapter organized Love by Design—a community healing event in real time.  23:45 – Sparks to movements: A Spanish-language moment at a board retreat ignited AIGA Unidos, a space for Spanish-speaking members to feel seen.  25:37 – Changemakers in action: Orlando adapted Seattle’s model to pair designers with nonprofits for branding sprints—real work, real impact.  38:16 – Build your tribe: Victor founded Giant Illustrators—a peer network born because he couldn’t find the others; a design family forged by passion.  About Our GuestVictor Davila is an Orlando-based illustrator, designer, and associate professor at UCF’s School of Visual Arts and Design. His creative reach spans editorial, animation, games, and children’s books—and his leadership extends across AIGA Orlando, the national board, Creative Mornings Orlando, Giant Illustrators, and design education.  FeaturingGuest Victor Davila, connect on LinkedInHost 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