Tomorrow night the AIGA Hampton Roads will host their first-ever Design Derby at AJ Gators. We spoke with Director of Communications Krystal Werner about the event. Here’s what she had to say.

How did the idea for the Design Derby come about?

A friend of mine saw some photos on Flickr of another AIGA chapter’s take on the Pinewood Derby and shared it with me. I thought it looked like a lot of fun and would be a great event to see what our local designers and artists could come up with.

Did you build a pinewood derby when you were a kid?

Well me being a lady and never a Cub or Eagle Scout, I never got a chance to. I think that might be why I am so enthusiastic about getting this event going—to give us late bloomers a peek into the crazy world that is the Pinewood Derby. In talking with friends who have built them as kids it was an unforgettable event for them.

What can we expect at the event? Will there be an actual track at Gators?

Expect excellent company and conversation with designers and non-designers alike, some pimped out blocks of wood, prizes, and maybe some trash talk. Oh, and there will be some drinking… after all, it is at a bar. There will definitely be a regulation size track, with much thanks to our local boy scout troop.

Graphic design is normally thought of as 2-D. How do you think designers will respond to the challenge of designing in 3-D?

I don’t think the 3D aspect will be a challenge at all for designers. A lot of graphic designers are hands on and like to experiment with various media and do fine arts on the side. People forget that graphic design also entails things like packaging and out-of-home. Also, with the popularity of 3D design, more and more designers are starting to think in Z space. I think the real challenge will be time. It is difficult to get designers (and non-designers for that matter) to find the time to break away from their workload, clients and families and commit to a fun project for themselves.

And how do you think they will respond to the challenge of designing to the laws of aerodynamics and velocity? Part of me thinks that a few industrial design classes in school would make them relatively adept. Part of me fondly thinks of designers as much more aesthetically focused.

I am sure industrial design classes would not hurt at all, but it all comes down to a problem and a solution. It is often thought that graphic designers just make things pretty but that is just the most obvious end result of our work. We identify problems and goals and develop the best solution. We don’t just jump in with our pen tool and color swatches! We also do research and evaluation. That said, this is both a design competition and a race, so aesthetics count. I am sure that the experienced derby racers will no doubt work on engineering their car for optimum performance.

How can local designers encourage the average person to appreciate and think more in terms of design?

The average person can learn more about design by simply looking more closely at the world around them—at the brands they choose to buy, the food they choose to eat, and so on. Just about everything we see has been touched by design. Design plays right into these choices and opinions whether we notice it or not, so it can only help to notice it. It is rare that a product, company or an idea becomes popular without a strong design concept behind it. When you think about the top products of our time, or the most popular, you are thinking about their design in some way. That works the same way for designers looking for work. If your portfolio is strong and appealing, you will most likely get more work.

How do you think good quality design affects the quality of life for the average consumer?

Great design absolutely affects quality of life. It educates. It improves function and form. It advances causes. It stimulates business. Look around you right now, and you’re likely surrounded by the work of great designers.

How will the derby’s design winners be determined?

For the design competition, everyone present will vote for the best overall car and prizes will be awarded to the first, second and third place winners. We are also going to have a vote for the following titles: Most Creative, Peoples Choice and Fastest Looking. For the race, portion, it’s winner-take-all with a single award for the fastest car.

For event details visit: www.aigahamptonroads.com

Date: Thursday, May 13th
Time: Registration 6:30pm, Race 7:15pm
Location: AJ Gators, 244 Granby St . Norfolk, VA