015: Kristine Johnson of AIGA Seattle

Meet a powerhouse of clarity, creativity, and community: Kristine Johnson—AIGA chapter ally, brilliant in visual cognition, and master at translating complexity into clarity. In this episode, she shares how she turned $350 into $85,000 in chapter funding, revived legacy programs like Into the Woods, and built youth‑focused impact through the LINC program—all fueled by coffee chats, mentorship, and a network of collaborators.Key TakeawaysFrom empty coffers to capital: Kristine’s bold fundraising turned $350 into $85K—through systems and community trust.Mentorship matters: Her success was propelled by energy from the board, mock interviews, and collaborative resilience.Retreats made real: Into the Woods connected minds and disciplines via place-based, unplugged creative exploration.Impact beyond design: The LINC program reshapes lives—connecting youth in need with arts, scholarships, and hopeful futures.Networks as two-way streets: AIGA taught her—as a designer and leader—that giving and receiving in networks is where they thrive.Culture happens in hallways: Human pyramids are more than stunts—they’re trust-building team rituals in motion.Episode Chapters00:02 – Meet Kristine Johnson: With a background in biocommunications and visual cognition, she yields design strategy with precision—and a champion for equitable storytelling.  01:17 – Sponsorship transformation: From $350 in the bank to over $85,000—Kristine details how she built a reliable, value-driven funding model.  03:20 – Mentors & momentum: Her initial fear of fundraising was quelled by smart mentors who leveraged mock interviews and strategy to guide her.  06:17 – Most memorable retreat: Minneapolis: A jam‑packed content-driven retreat where bonds, frameworks, and inspiration were forged over hallway conversations.  08:09 – Cross‑chapter collaboration: Seattle and Boston shared programming systems—Business Basics series and email workflows made smarter through shared notes.  10:37 – Into the Woods: A rustic, unplugged program (formerly Design Camp) that fused disciplines; Kristine helped keep it alive at Sleeping Lady.  13:44 – Creative unplugged magic: With no screens allowed, Into the Woods featured craft-based learning, intimate talk sessions, and cross-discipline inspiration.  17:30 – The LINQ program: Kristine’s leadership in the LINC initiative, now in its third year, brings creative workshops and scholarships to underserved youth in Seattle.  23:27 – The power of networking & contribution: She reflects on how AIGA taught her that giving and receiving in a network are equally vital.  31:53 – Spontaneous human pyramids: AIGA culture captured in hallway pyramids—impromptu, team-driven, and filmed as instant memories.  About Our GuestKristine Johnson – With an academic foundation in biocommunications and visual cognition, Kristine brings clarity to complexity as a strategist, lecturer, and AIGA board veteran. In Seattle, she served as Sponsorship Director (2009–2014) and chaired the national selection committee. She revitalized chapter funding, collaborated cross-chapter on programming, preserved creative rituals like Into the Woods, and leads the impactful LINC program for youth arts access. FeaturingGuest Kristine Johnson, 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