About Us
Celebrating Chicago graphic design through community, kinship, and conversation.
Our History
In 2020, the Chicago Graphic Design Club, which was originally named The Chicago Design Book Club, was formed as a way to build community amidst the 2020 global pandemic. Our initial focus was to explore the meaning of our design practices and ways in which design could be used as an agent of change.
Shortly thereafter, we introduced lectures to our programming by welcoming notable designers, such as Ellen Lupton, Jessica Helfand, Gail Anderson, Carlos Segura, and Barnbrook Studio to share with us their design processes and stories.
Since then, we’ve extended our reach by providing our communities the opportunity to tour Chicago-based design studios, participate in art exhibitions, learn from others, and more.
In 2022, we launched Underscore, our podcast, and in 2023, we hosted our first art exhibition and panel discussion series. We continuously seek ways to collaborate with community leaders and engage in critical conversations about the role of graphic design.
Our Values
Belonging
We create welcoming spaces that recognize and celebrate the individuality of our community.
Curiosity
We ask questions that challenge convention and spark ideas that advance our practices.
Purpose
Leading with purpose and intention to make a positive change rooted in understanding.
What people say
The Chicago Graphic Design Club helps provide insight into the practices of my peers and folks that I’m inspired by.
Our Programming
Creating spaces that build culture, community, and connection.
Field Trips
Behind-the-scenes access to notable design spaces and practices throughout Chicago.
Panels & Lectures
Interactive conversations and lectures from the unique perspectives of visiting designers.
Exhibitions
Community showcases of digital and print work from a range of local designers.
Book Discussions
Inclusive book conversations with designers at various stages of their practices.
Underscore podcast
Exploring the craft, theory and practice of graphic through thoughtful conversations with designers.
Online Community
Discord and Substack platforms that enable connection and friendship through conversation.
Our Commitment
We champion diversity, equity, and inclusion by embracing community members with various viewpoints and perspectives. We recognize that these differences enrich our collective understanding and lead to true diversity — and we build equity by ensuring our community can access and participate in our offerings.
We strive to be an organization where people with differences of opinion can co-exist and connect through their mutual interests and similarities — and most importantly, create spaces that foster a positive attitude and a sense of belonging.
Our team
Christian Solorzano is the Founder of the Chicago Graphic Design Club, which he created as a way to build community focused on curiosity, belonging, and conversation. He thinks critically about design’s role within the landscape of culture and society and aims to create spaces that foster insight and collective wisdom. He enjoys engaging with others through conversation and collaboration and continuously adopts an attitude of abundance, optimism, and enthusiasm to create. He draws inspiration from Zen Buddhist philosophy, martial arts, music, and nature. Learn more.
Cheryl Bever joined the Chicago Graphic Design Club as a way to give back to the community that sparked new energy into her work and self. You can find her nurturing the conversation in the club’s Discord channel, crafting their newsletters and bringing her enthusiasm to the club’s mission. Outside of the club, Cheryl owns her own creative design business, CMB Image + Design where she works with small businesses to make their visions a reality. A dedicated wife and mother, she finds inspiration in life’s rich experiences. Learn more.
Hamid Alavi joined the club to gain experience in design and connect with our community. As a member, he assists in developing content for social media and promotion. He enjoys being involved in collaborative activities that foster learning and positivity. In his own time, Hamid works on freelance and self-initiated design/art projects in a variety of mediums. He is inspired by visual arts, music, and films. Learn more.
Sean Fermoyle joined the Chicago Graphic Design Club in 2024 to give back to the graphic design community in Chicago (and at large). Having worked in the industry for nearly three decades with an emphasis on branding, he now focuses on mentoring and sharing his experiences so that others might benefit earlier in their careers. He is also focused on assisting the CGDC with business development and branding aspects so that it might be more cohesive, focused, and differentiated. He’s inspired by all things that have to do with experimental type exploration, publishing, self-initiated projects, and knowing the rules so he can “break them”. Or, in more spiritual terms, evolve. Learn more.
Alexis Gonzalez joined the Chicago Graphic Design Club in 2024 to further cultivate spaces through in-person events and social initiatives that inspire and engage. She loves that the Chicago Graphic Design Club brings empathy, amiability, and discovery to enable growth within the Chicago design space. In her work, she draws inspiration from the world through the lens of abundance and authenticity. Outside of the club, you can find Alexis is pixel pushing for fun, rocking out to her favorite records, and kicking balls on soccer fields across Chicago. Learn more.
Jeffrey Hitchens joined the Chicago Graphic Design Club to take part, and to contribute to a community that asks questions and has conversations about what graphic design is and what it can be. He enjoys that the Club is a space that is welcoming to new ideas and challenging expectations and embraces curiosity. He’s inspired by creative and dedicated spirits, nature, physical movement, meditation, examples of masculinity that embrace being comprehensive, and sensory experiences.
