First AIGA Fellow Award

The Santa Barbara chapter of the American Institute of Graphic Arts, AIGA, will bestow local, Santa Barbara County designer, Mark Oliver with its highest honor and first Fellow Award at this year’s Holiday Gala.

The AIGA Santa Barbara award ceremony and Cottage Children’s Hospital Benefit hosted by supporter Brooks Institute will honor the significant contributions Oliver has made in his design career, in addition to celebrating a year of inspiring programming brought to the design community by AIGA SB. The Holiday Gala is at 6:30 p.m. on December 5 at Brooks Gallery, 27 E. Cota St., Santa Barbara.

“It is a great honor to be presented with the Fellow Award,” Oliver said. “I am thankful for how wonderfully receptive the design community has been in appreciating my work and I have much gratitude for AIGA Santa Barbara.”

A member of AIGA since 1983, Oliver’s design career has spanned more than three decades. As the owner of design firm, Mark Oliver, Inc., his clients are found throughout the United States. In addition to receiving more than 450 national and international awards, his work is included in the Hiroshima Museum of Art, Japan and the U.S. Library of Congress.

Over the years, Oliver has contributed to the Santa Barbara community by working with more than 20 local non-profits and co-founding the Santa Barbara Film Festival. He is the President of the Santa Ynez Valley Alliance and a member of the Board of Trustees of Brooks Institute.

President of AIGA Santa Barbara, Patty Devlin-Driskel, has been inspired by Oliver’s achievements in the design community, she said.

“I am delighted that AIGA Santa Barbara is bringing forward the Fellow Award to recognize our legendary creatives. Mark Oliver is a perfect fit for this honor, demonstrating that great design has no regional boundaries.”

Devlin-Driskel is looking forward to AIGA’s Holiday Gala, which will benefit Cottage Children’s Hospital, she said.

AIGA Santa Barbara is asking attendees to contribute to the season by bringing a unwrapped toy (board game, plush item or art supplies) to fill a Radio Flyer Town & Country wagon to benefit the Cottage Children’s Hospital. AIGA will take $10 off the ticket price for entry with a toy donation. Ticket prices start at $15 for AIGA SB Members, $25 for non-members and $10 for students. For more information and to purchase tickets go to sbaiga.com.

About AIGA Santa Barbara:

AIGA, the professional association for design, believes designers serve a critical role as communicators, educators and innovators. AIGA sets the national agenda for the role of design in economic, social, political, cultural and creative contexts. Founded in 1914, AIGA is the nation’s largest professional association for design, with 22,000 members. AIGA Santa Barbara is one of 66 chapters and has a Board of Directors consisting of 11 people, dedicated to developing diversified programs and connecting AIGA members with people in the community with design needs. AIGA Santa Barbara focuses on being a resource for design students in our area and connecting with our local Santa Barbara community.