Letter from the Creator of Command X

Bonnie Siegler

Creator and Producer, Command X

Twelve years ago, while serving on the national board of AIGA, I noticed that the audience at the national conferences was mostly younger people but they never got to see themselves on the stage. I created Command X to right that wrong and it has worked out better than I could have imagined, and is still going strong after nine “seasons.”

Watching these videos of all of the incredible contestants I have chosen of the years makes my heart swell. I am so very proud of every one of them. In their videos, they each express the power of this forum for young designers better than I ever could. It was and is an amazing opportunity to help jump start a design career.

Each year, after reviewing the applications, I have the honor of calling seven contestants and telling them that they have been chosen to participate. Some of them shriek with joy and others are immediately filled with dread but all of them rose to the occasion once they got there. One by one, they took to the stage and presented their ideas with confidence and poise, blowing the audiences and judges away. It’s not at all surprising to me that so many ended up finding new opportunities from people at the conference. They took a risk and their courage, drive and talent paid off. The most satisfying part of creating Command X each year is seeing the lasting friendships that develop among each group of seven contestants. I feel like a matchmaker!

I want to thank Kathleen Budny for putting up with me all these years, my partner at Number 17, Emily Oberman, who started this with me, our first emcee, Michael Bierut, our current master of ceremonies, Sean Adams, and all of my amazing colleagues who have served as judges and mentors over the years.

Good luck to this year's contestants!

Bonnie

Fionn Breen

Command X 2017

Graphic and motion designer, Independent

Fionnbreen.com

Instagram: @fionnbreen

Linkedin

 

Isabel Castillo Guijarro
Command X 2016     

Art Director, Apple

byisabel.com

Instagram: @byisabel

Linkedin

Phaedra Charles

Command X 2011

Partner/Type Designer, Undercase Type

www.undercase.xyz

Instagram: @phaedra.xyz and @undercasetype

Joey Cofone

Command X 2013

Co-founder & CEO, Baronfig

Baronfig.com

Garrett Corcoran 

Command X 2019

Senior Designer, Order

garrettcorcoran.com

Instagram: @g_rrettcorcoran

Linkedin

Talia Cotton

Command X 2019

Interaction & Identity Designer & Developer, Pentagram

taliacotton.com

Instagram: @taliasaccount

Linkedin

Andres Garcia

Command X 2016

Senior Designer, Blenderbox, Inc.

andrgar.design

Instagram: @andrgar.design

Linkedin

Scott Gunderson

Command X 2007

Design Director, Motion

scottgundersen.com

agencyinmotion.com

Linkedin

Wendy Hu

Command X 2011

Founder, Nomadic Fare

wendyhu.com

Instagram: @nomadicfare

Linkedin

Adam Lehman

Command X 2016

Design Director, DesignBridge

upandadam.co

Instagram: @up.and.adam

Linkedin

Joanna Ngai

Command X 2016

UX Designer , Microsoft

dribbble.com/joannan

Jacob Parr

Command X 2015

Graphic Designer , Hanson Inc.

jacobparr.design

kickstarter

Raymund Ramirez

Command X 2018

Graphic Designer, Play

raymundramirez.com

Instagram: @rayramire

Linkedin

Jesse Reed

Command X 2011

Partner, Order and Co-founder, Standards Manual

order.design

standardsmanual.com

Instagram: @order.design.nyc and @standardsmanual

LinkedIn

Sidney Rhee

Command X 2019

Freelance Graphic Designer

Rheesdesign.com

http://rheesdesign.com/us

Instagram: @sidney.rhee

Linkedin

Ainsley Rose Romero

Command X 2019

Freelance Graphic Designer

ainsleyromero.com

Instagram: @ainsleyromero

Linkedin

Russell Shaw

Command X 2015

Art Director, Brand Designer, and Illustrator, Russell Shaw Design

russellshawdesign.com

Instagram: @russrs

Linkedin

Tori Thomas

Command X 2013

CEO & Co-Founder, Circa Creative Studios

circa.design

Instagram: @circa.design

Linkedin

Daniela Valle

Command X 2016

Creative Director, SAUCEHAUS

DINGO ATE MY TACO

COMMODORE PERRY ESTATE MURAL

SUERTE

DONT MESS WITH TEXAS WOMEN

Use AIGA2020 for Free Shipping!

sauce.haus

Instagram: @saucehaus

Linkedin

Monina Velarde

Command X 2009

Sr. Art Director, The New York Times

moninavelarde.com

Instagram: @moninavelarde

Linkedin

Zipeng Zhu

Command X 2013

Founder, Dazzle

Zz-is.it

dazzle.studio

Instagram: @zzdesign