In this episode of Cheers & Tiers, hosts Erik Cargill and Rachel Elnar sit down with design veteran Josh Silverman to discuss his 30-year career spanning entrepreneurship, education, and community leadership. Josh reflects on how volunteering with AIGA Boston early in his career transformed his professional journey. What started as a simple act of "raising his hand" led to meaningful leadership roles, forging connections with collaborators, mentors, and lifelong friends.

Together, Erik, Rachel, and Josh explore how community participation creates a virtuous cycle: the more you give, the more unexpected opportunities arise. They share practical advice for designers at any career stage looking to find their community—whether through local meetups, online spaces, or volunteering. This conversation offers an intimate look at how design communities are more than just professional networks—they're support systems that enrich both work and life. Josh's story is a powerful reminder that in design, as in life, we go further together than alone.

Key Takeaways

• Be the ancestors the design community needs.
• Taking initiative in the community fosters personal and professional growth.
• Community remains relevant, important, and necessary.
• Involvement with AIGA can open new opportunities.
• The courage to stand up and contribute leads to meaningful connections.
• Hiring managers value community engagement.
• Design advocacy and education is a continuous effort.
• Opportunities for community building are waiting to be discovered or created.
• Technology can be a powerful tool for building and sustaining community.
• Unstructured, organic community building fosters authentic relationships.
• Letting go of expectations can open doors to new possibilities.
• Some experiences, like spending a day with Stefan Sagmeister, are priceless.
• Investing in a community can yield immeasurable personal and professional rewards.

Episode Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction
• 01:18 Josh Silverman: A Shared Love of Community & Leadership
• 02:15 Early Days: Pre-AIGA and the Logo in a Square Rebrand
• 10:12 AIGA: The Backbone of the Design Community
• 13:23 First Leadership Retreat: Phoenix, AZ
• 15:48 A Moment with Debbie Millman in Omaha
• 17:49 Why Community is Still Essential
• 20:57 The Role of Education and Advocacy
• 24:12 ConFig: A New Model for Community Building?
• 26:25 Integrating Learning into Leadership
• 29:17 AFTA in Boston
• 30:20 How Many Pyramids?
• 31:10 How AIGA Leadership Shaped Josh Today
• 34:16 Producing the Stefan Sagmeister Lecture
• 35:33 Raising Your Hand: The Power of Taking Initiative
• 36:45 Wrap-Up

Featuring

• Guest Josh Silverman, connect on LinkedIn | PeopleWork Partners
• Host Erik Cargill, connect on LinkedIn
• Host Rachel Elnar, connect on LinkedIn

Support the Show

• Theme music: Loose Ends by Silver Ships Plastic Oceans
• Produced by Chapter 2 Media
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