Presidential Press Release

Chapter marks milestone leadership transition following two years of transformative growth under President Sarah Williams

NEW YORK, April 30th, 2026 —AIGA NY, the New York chapter of the professional association for design, today announced a leadership transition at the close of President Sarah Williams’s two-year term. Justin Wong has been appointed President-Elect, ushering in a new era of leadership for one of the design community’s most active and storied chapters.

A Chapter Reimagined

Powered entirely by a dedicated volunteer board and Executive Director Stacey Panousopoulos, the chapter repositioned and refreshed its identity, dramatically expanded its programming, and deepened its commitment to community. During Williams’s presidency and five years of board service, AIGA NY underwent a meaningful transformation. 

Key milestones of this era include:

• A full repositioning and visual refresh of AIGA NY’s brand and community presence
• The relaunch of the chapter’s mentorship program, now one of the most robust peer mentorship initiatives in the design industry—with over 400 participating members, including senior leaders and executives engaging in meaningful peer-to-peer exchange
• A sustained programming cadence of more than 50 events per year, serving New York’s diverse and dynamic design community

None of this would have been possible without the extraordinary efforts of our volunteer board and the tireless leadership of Executive Director Stacey Panousopoulos, whose dedication and operational stewardship have been foundational to everything the chapter has achieved.

“Serving as President of AIGA NY for the past two years—and as a board member for five—has been one of the great privileges of my career. What we’ve built together as a volunteer board, alongside Stacey, is something I’m deeply proud of: a repositioned chapter, a reimagined mentorship program, and a community showing up for each other more than 50 times a year. Design in New York is alive and powerful, and I know Justin will carry that energy into an even brighter chapter. The future of AIGA NY is in extraordinary hands.”

— Sarah Williams, Outgoing President, AIGA NY, Co-CEO, Beardwood

Introducing Justin Wong, President-Elect

Justin Wong brings a deep commitment to design education and community to his new role. As a leader of AIGA NY’s education workgroup, Justin spearheaded commitment to AIGA NY’s Fresh Grad program—one of the chapter’s most beloved annual highlights—and was instrumental in launching the Faculty Finder platform, a resource connecting design educators and institutions across the region. His work reflects a clear conviction: that investing in the next generation of designers is how the profession sustains and grows itself.

Justin is also an independent design lead and art director with nearly a decade of experience working in branding and campaign design for cultural and commercial clients. His work with Apple, BUCK, The Wall Street Journal, Lyft, Meta, Mother, Google, and more has been internationally recognized and exhibited by the One Club for Creativity, Type Directors Club, Print Magazine, Graphis, D&AD, and Communication Arts. He has offered his perspective through juries for the AIGA Worldstudio Scholarships, ADC Awards, and the Asian Creative Foundation, and through lectures and talks at universities and industry platforms.

“I’m honored and grateful for the opportunity to build on the legacy of Sarah’s work and that of all our past presidents. It’s an evolving moment for our industry: one that calls for stronger community, clearer resources, and open doors. I look forward to working alongside our board to cultivate a community that truly celebrates design as a force of culture and reinvigorates the people that make it.”

— Justin Wong, President-Elect, AIGA NY

A Call to the Community

AIGA NY has never been stronger—and the ambitions for what this community can become are bigger than ever. To continue growing and deepening its impact, the chapter is actively seeking support in two critical ways:

• Financial support.  The work of AIGA NY is powered by a single full-time staff member and an all-volunteer board. To match the scale of New York’s design community—and the ambitions we have for it—we need resources. Sponsorships, partnerships, and donations directly fund programming, mentorship, and the infrastructure that makes it all possible.
• Board nominations.  AIGA NY is now accepting nominations for open board seats. We are looking for passionate, committed design advocates who want to help shape the future of this community. If that’s you—or someone you know—we want to hear from you. Apply here.

The future of design in New York is brighter than ever. We invite you to be part of building it.

About AIGA NY

AIGA NY is the New York chapter of AIGA, the professional association for design. As one of the largest and most active chapters in the country, AIGA NY serves thousands of designers across disciplines through events, mentorship, education, and advocacy. We exist to champion design as a profession, a community, and a cultural force.

Contact: Stacey Panousopoulos | Stacey@aigany.org | 212.255.1856