Cheers & Tiers: The Design Leadership Journey with Amanda Hovest

This episode highlights the lessons learned from leadership retreats and the collaborative spirit that defines the design community.

Author

Rachel Elnar
March 01, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutes

In our latest episode of Cheers & Tiers: Design Leadership Tales Retold, Erik Cargill and I had the pleasure of reconnecting with Amanda Hovest, a Pittsburgh-based graphic designer whose journey through AIGA leadership offers valuable insights for anyone in the design community.

From Member to Leader: Amanda’s AIGA Journey

Amanda’s path to leadership began in 2014 when she joined the AIGA Los Angeles board as Membership Director. What started as attending a few events quickly evolved into a five-year leadership journey that culminated in her role as chapter President.

Her entry into leadership wasn’t planned—it came through mentorship and encouragement. “My mentor and boss, Kim Baer from KBDA, was like, ‘Hey, you seem like you want to do things,’” Amanda recalled. This gentle nudge into leadership demonstrates how important mentorship is in developing the next generation of design leaders. Thank you, Kim Baer! ❤️ 

One of the most compelling moments in our conversation came when Amanda reflected on the challenges of leading a volunteer organization: “It was probably one of the hardest things I've done... especially when you're directing 20 to 50 people on what to do and you're not paying any of them.” Ohhhh yeah.

The Power of Design Community

Like most of us AIGA lifers, board connections have shaped Amanda’s career and personal life. After relocating to Pittsburgh, she immediately reached out to the local AIGA community: “I’m moving there. Would you have drinks with me?” This simple outreach led to immediate connections in her new city. 😀 

As Amanda put it, “Some of the best projects and jobs and people I work with today all stem from AIGA connections... I get to work with my friends all the time.”

From Design to Community Building

Amanda’s AIGA experience transformed her career trajectory in unexpected ways. Beyond design skills, she discovered talents in event production and community management that now show up in her work.

“I’m starting to go into roles where my role is to be an event producer, my role is to be a community manager,” she explained to us. “I learned that I liked more than design, or design in different ways. Design about the people.”

Amanda captures the essence of what makes design leadership so special—the relationships formed, the skills developed, and the lasting impact on our careers and communities. Thanks, Amanda.

Want to hear more stories like Amanda’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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