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Cheers & Tiers: Paul Mendoza on Building Design Communities with Joy

This episode highlights Paul’s formative experiences at AIGA leadership retreats, particularly his first in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 2015, and recounts his show-stopping karaoke performance that made him instantly recognizable among AIGA leadership.

Author

Rachel Elnar
March 31, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutes

In this episode of Cheers & Tiers, Erik and I welcomed Paul Mendoza, an LA-based event producer whose infectious energy and golden voice have been leaving lasting impressions on the design community for years.

Finding His AIGA Family

Paul’s journey with AIGA began in 2013 when a professor at UCLA Extension suggested he get involved with the student chapter. What started as co-presidency quickly evolved into volunteering with AIGA LA and eventually joining the board.

The turning point came in 2015 when Paul attended his first AIGA Leadership Retreat in Grand Rapids, Michigan. “There was something in the water in Grand Rapids,” Paul recalled. That first retreat showed him the possibilities of who he could become as a designer, leader, and community builder.

From there, Paul’s AIGA involvement expanded dramatically—serving on the LA board, joining the Chapter Advisory Council, and eventually producing the AIGA Design Conference from 2016 to 2023.

The Karaoke Legend & After-Hours Magic

At his first retreat, Paul stunned everyone at a bowling alley's karaoke night with his incredible voice. “I’m pretty lethal at karaoke,” Paul admitted with a smile. “Once this happens, there's no going back.”

When asked about his favorite after-party memory, Paul highlighted the unofficial traditions—particularly the “6AM Club” on the last night and “gAyIGA,” the gathering of queer members at a local gay bar.

The 2016 retreat in Raleigh stood out the most. That year, North Carolina’s controversial “bathroom bill” had nearly caused many chapters to boycott. What started as a chain of people walking from the official party to a gay bar turned into 30-40 AIGA members filling the space—both queer members and allies.

From AIGA to Amazon

Paul’s AIGA connections led directly to his recent role as program manager for Conflux, Amazon’s annual in-house design conference. He helped expand the conference to three livestream cities while focusing on bringing joy to the proceedings.

“There is a very large appetite for a creative profession to infuse joy and a breath of fresh air,” Paul explained. His television background also came in handy as he wrote the show and coached speakers, particularly supporting early-career designers.

As the conversation wrapped up, Paul hinted at potentially offering coaching services for designers looking to improve their presentation skills. “The designers who I admired the most were masterful in their communication,” he noted.

Want to hear more stories like Paul’s? Subscribe to Cheers & Tiers on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. We’ll have more episodes featuring your friends and your favorite design leaders, sharing their journeys, challenges, and triumphs.

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