Aug 2024
AIA opens for business
Emily Tong and Grace Zhou launch AIA and start taking design commissions from local businesses and student groups.
Our impact
The work speaks for itself
Every design here was made by AIA student members, for free, for a real organization.
From the sketchbook
Designs we've made
Click a page, use the arrows, or swipe to flip.
AIA · client work
The AIA
Sketchbook
designs we've made, 2024–now
click to open →
client no. 01
Bing Scientific
- what
- logo suite: a stacked mark + a horizontal wordmark
- when
- August 2024
- style
- a looping “B” monogram in a navy-to-periwinkle gradient
two versions, one brand ✓
client no. 02
AYLUS Bergen Branch
- what
- a social media post series: “What did AYLUS do this weekend?”
- style
- bold red + cream, hand-drawn characters, a phone frame to say “scroll me”
“The designs they delivered helped elevate our outreach and brought real value to our event.”
client no. 03
Intraspectrum Counseling
- what
- an introduction post for their social media
- style
- watercolor texture, warm brand colors, a script “Welcome to..”
soft + welcoming → perfect for counseling
client no. 04
Essentia
- what
- a full brand identity for a perfume-oil company: wordmark, “S” monogram and an EST. 2024 badge
- style
- chunky retro serif, deep cocoa + cream, little droplets that read as scent
subtle luxury, timeless fragrance ✦
client no. 04 · cont.
Essentia, in print
- what
- business cards + the dieline for a 3 × 2 mL discovery set: Lavender Grove, Woven Light, Emberleaf
print-ready ✓
client no. 05
StrongHER TogetHER
- what
- a summer merch logo, with 8 concepts to choose from
- the idea
- STEM icons hidden in the letters: engineering, chemistry, coding + biology
“They displayed outstanding creativity and thoroughness.”
the pick → #5 ★
client no. 06
BCA Filipino Club
- what
- a digital banner for their ube cupcake bake sale
- style
- all-purple everything (it’s ube!), chunky type, sparkles + cupcake illustrations
“Very good communication with on time delivery. 5 star review!”
client no. 07
BCA Entrepreneurship Club
- what
- a club logo in 6 colorways, plus posts like the “Tank Competition” announcement
- the idea
- a lightbulb that’s also an “e”, with a rising chart inside
idea → growth 💡
client no. 08
Global Brigades, BCA chapter
- what
- a “Meet the team” carousel introducing the chapter’s officers
- style
- big serif headline, navy + sky blue, swipe arrow to keep you scrolling
practice piece
“Greek Mythology and Nike?”
- what
- a practice ad by Emily T. about where Nike got its name: Nike, the Greek goddess of victory
- style
- torn-paper collage, grain, orange-to-black gradient
how we practice between clients ✂
what we make
Your turn?
- logos + brand kits
- social media posts
- banners, flyers + posters
- merch, packaging + business cards
always free for nonprofits + small businesses
the end (for now)
want more? follow along on Instagram
AIA · client work
The AIA
Sketchbook
designs we've made, 2024–now
click to open →
client no. 01
Bing Scientific
- what
- logo suite: a stacked mark + a horizontal wordmark
- when
- August 2024
- style
- a looping “B” monogram in a navy-to-periwinkle gradient
two versions, one brand ✓
client no. 02
AYLUS Bergen Branch
- what
- a social media post series: “What did AYLUS do this weekend?”
- style
- bold red + cream, hand-drawn characters, a phone frame to say “scroll me”
“The designs they delivered helped elevate our outreach and brought real value to our event.”
client no. 03
Intraspectrum Counseling
- what
- an introduction post for their social media
- style
- watercolor texture, warm brand colors, a script “Welcome to..”
soft + welcoming → perfect for counseling
client no. 04
Essentia
- what
- a full brand identity for a perfume-oil company: wordmark, “S” monogram and an EST. 2024 badge
- style
- chunky retro serif, deep cocoa + cream, little droplets that read as scent
subtle luxury, timeless fragrance ✦
client no. 04 · cont.
Essentia, in print
- what
- business cards + the dieline for a 3 × 2 mL discovery set: Lavender Grove, Woven Light, Emberleaf
print-ready ✓
client no. 05
StrongHER TogetHER
- what
- a summer merch logo, with 8 concepts to choose from
- the idea
- STEM icons hidden in the letters: engineering, chemistry, coding + biology
“They displayed outstanding creativity and thoroughness.”
the pick → #5 ★
client no. 06
BCA Filipino Club
- what
- a digital banner for their ube cupcake bake sale
- style
- all-purple everything (it’s ube!), chunky type, sparkles + cupcake illustrations
“Very good communication with on time delivery. 5 star review!”
client no. 07
BCA Entrepreneurship Club
- what
- a club logo in 6 colorways, plus posts like the “Tank Competition” announcement
- the idea
- a lightbulb that’s also an “e”, with a rising chart inside
idea → growth 💡
client no. 08
Global Brigades, BCA chapter
- what
- a “Meet the team” carousel introducing the chapter’s officers
- style
- big serif headline, navy + sky blue, swipe arrow to keep you scrolling
practice piece
“Greek Mythology and Nike?”
- what
- a practice ad by Emily T. about where Nike got its name: Nike, the Greek goddess of victory
- style
- torn-paper collage, grain, orange-to-black gradient
how we practice between clients ✂
what we make
Your turn?
- logos + brand kits
- social media posts
- banners, flyers + posters
- merch, packaging + business cards
always free for nonprofits + small businesses
Cover
60+Student membersAIA CORAL · ED6A5A
$3,000+Raised for our programsAIA YELLOW · FFC847
20+Organizations helpedAIA BLUE · 70C1FF
$0Cost to our design clientsAIA NAVY · 2F326B
Milestones
The AIA story so far
-
-
Aug 2024
First logo delivered
A full logo suite for Bing Scientific: a stacked mark and a horizontal wordmark.
-
Sep 2024
Chapter applications open
Students can apply to start AIA chapters, starting with Bergen County Academies.
-
2024
Candid Bronze Seal of Transparency
AIA earns Candid's Bronze Seal as a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
-
2024–25
Client roster grows
AYLUS Bergen Branch, StrongHER TogetHER, BCA Filipino Club, Intraspectrum Counseling, Global Brigades, Essentia and more.
-
May 18, 2025
PPO Picnic booth
A community booth with spin-the-wheel, a gachapon machine and a table of handmade keychains.
-
Jun 17, 2025
AIA Youth Innovation Workshop
70+ students, a keynote from David Lin and breakouts with Michael Bryzek, Jessica Wang and our own investing team.
-
2025
Bergen County Youth Poet Laureate
Emily Tong founds the Bergen County YPL, a local chapter of the National Youth Poet Laureate Program.
-
Sep 2025
2025–26 chapter applications
School chapter applications open for the new school year.
-
Oct 19, 2025
Design 101 at Bergenfield Library
A free hands-on workshop for middle schoolers: color, fonts, layout and designing an on-brand Instagram post.
-
2026
Back at the PPO Picnic
AIA returns to the PPO Picnic for a second year.
-
Today
60+ members, 20+ organizations
$3,000+ raised and 20+ organizations helped with free design.
Featured event · June 17, 2025
AIA Youth Innovation Workshop
“Impact Within Business and Innovation” · 4–6 PM · Bergen County Academies, Hackensack
Our first big in-person event: an afternoon with industry professionals from JPMorgan, Flow Commerce and L’Oréal, hands-on breakout sessions, and a lot of food. We designed everything ourselves, from the posters and banner to the brochures and merch.
70+attendees
3guest speakers
3breakout rooms
$300+fundraising + signups
The speakers
Keynote speaker
David Lin
Founder & CEO of Linvest21; former CTO of JPMorgan’s Global Investment Platform; Columbia Business School alum
Session: Keynote + Q&A on innovation in big companies vs. startups
Breakout: Tech & startups
Michael Bryzek
Co-founder of Flow Commerce and Gilt Groupe (former CTO); MIT graduate
Session: AI in Business
Breakout: Design & branding
Jessica Wang
Marketing Director at L’Oréal and BCA alum (joined virtually)
Session: “Beauty That Sells: What It Really Takes to Build a Brand”
Breakout: Finance & investing
Max & Gevan
AIA student leaders
Session: Investing 101: types of stocks and how investing works
How the afternoon went
- 4:00Opening remarks
- 4:15Keynote: David Lin + Q&A
- 4:45Break: sushi, pizza, cookies + the keychain & merch stand
- 5:00Breakout rooms: tech, branding, investing
- 5:45Closing, raffle + goodie bags
Snapshots
Our recap post
Case studies
Three projects up close
CASE STUDY 01 · COMMUNITY SERVICE
AYLUS Bergen Branch
- We made
- A social media post series: “What did AYLUS do this weekend?”
- Result
- “The designs they delivered helped elevate our outreach and brought real value to our event.”
CASE STUDY 02 · BUSINESS · AUG 2024
Bing Scientific
- We made
- A logo suite: a stacked monogram and a horizontal wordmark
- Delivered
- Two versions for every use, from social icons to letterhead
CASE STUDY 03 · SMALL BUSINESS
Intraspectrum Counseling
- We made
- An introduction post for their social media
- Style
- Watercolor texture and a hand-lettered welcome to feel warm and approachable
Out in the community
Snapshots from the PPO Picnic
May 18, 2025: spin-the-wheel, a gachapon machine and a table of keychains handmade by members.
Partners