The Chicago Graphic Design Club held its first art exhibition at the multi-disciplinary design studio MNML.  In 2020, we began our group as a community focused solely on getting together virtually to discuss design books. Nearly three years later, we hosted our first exhibition, which had nearly two hundred people in attendance. It is a milestone for the CGDC and the inspiration that drives us to move forward with what we do. We measure our success based on the compliments we receive and the kind reciprocity of our community.

Program notes

Our focus is to speculate what the future of Chicago can look like and to foster a container of inquiry, dialogue, and critical thinking centered around the perspective of multiple Chicago-based designers. We invite you, the viewer, to consider alternate realities for our city — realities where everyone can prosper and play a role in shaping the future of Chicago. We desperately call for you to embody the spirit of the art on display — sure, it is all beautiful, but what is it saying? How does it speak to you, and how does it show up in how you exist within this city?

Chicago’s Tomorrow, Today, is a call to action aimed at existing far beyond these walls. We look forward to seeing you again real soon and keeping this conversation alive. We bow deeply to you and believe together, we can reorient our priorities toward skillful means of change.

We are beyond proud and humbled to exist as a space that allows designers to gather together for conversation and belonging. Throughout the night, many people expressed enthusiasm and excitement for the programming we are creating — but none of this would be possible without the continuous support and collaborations that we’ve had since our inception. 

We’re community-focused and community-led — our mission is to provide programming that speaks to people and offers a sense of belonging. Our goal is to be the opposite of an elitist collective — we promise to forever maintain a grassroots spirit that co-designs, collaborates, and is actively engaged in the things that matter the most to Chicago’s design community. That is my promise to you.

I also want to give huge thanks to the CGDC team that made everything possible — that includes Cheryl Bever, John Hatherly, Galyna Kravets, Patrick Smith, Hamid Alavi, and of course, Jay Byrnes of MNML. They worked tirelessly to make all this possible.

And, of course, special thanks to all the artists who contributed art pieces to the show: Alex Fuller, Bud Rodecker, Carson Koppin, Cheryl Bever, Christian Solorzano, Craighton Berman, David Sieren, Dustin Amery Hostetler, Eileen Tjan, Galyna Kravets, Hamid Alavi, iickomique, Jay Byrnes, Jeffrey Hitchens, Jeremy Hlinak, Jillian Tackaberry, John Hatherly, John Pobojewski, Matthew Hoffman, Nick Adam, Nick Haas, Patrick Smith, Rich Alapck, Scott Wilson, Shawn Smith, Steven White