Also in the AIGA Communique was a blurb about the upcoming National Design Conference "Voice". They are running an essay contest. One of the topics is How Information Design Can Strengthen Citizen Participation

"Lend your "Voice" and register for AIGA National Design Conference

"Voice: AIGA National Design Conference" takes place September 23-26, 2001 in Washington, D.C. Watch for the registration brochure in your mailbox at the end of July! In the meantime, members who have not yet registered may take advantage of a special offer until July 31: submit a 150-word essay on one of four topics and receive a $150 discount. Your voice may be incorporated into the fabric of the conference in a number of ways, including: within the website, in our lobbying campaign, during breakout sessions and even on the main stage!

Choose one of the following topics and submit your essay when you register online:

- How information design can strengthen citizen participation

- How I fulfill my desire to do socially responsible work without going bankrupt

- How I find my voice as a designer

- The most powerfully socially or politically motivated piece of design that I've ever done or seen

For information about more than 70 speakers and 30 breakout sessions, visit the "Voice" site"

Some interesting topics particularly if you followed the whole butterfly ballot thing and all the design and usability solutions that were offered up after the fact. The AIGA is lobbying on Capitol Hill to create a national Design agenda and have design involved in all major reform areas. This is a conference that should prove to be very interesting.