AIGA Arizona Names Morgan Vice President to Advance Design for Good
Morgan is a desert native who grew up in a town of just 3,000 people—so she knows the magic of small, tight-knit communities. A software designer by day (and woodworker by night at the Phoenix Forge), she’s fueled by coffee, sci-fi, and conversations with strangers who become friends. Her creative journey began at ASU’s InnovationSpace, where she discovered design’s real power: care, collaboration, and making life better for others. Now, as AIGA Arizona’s Vice President, she’s driven by her north star—design for good—and is dedicated to building a creative community that thrives together.
Curious about what drew Morgan to AIGA Arizona, and her new role as Vice President? Join us for a discussion on sci-fi obsessions, design for good, and why coffee shops are Morgan’s love language.
Let’s start from the beginning! For those just meeting you, what’s the story behind your creative journey, and how did it lead you here?
For me, it all really started my senior year of college, when I swapped a traditional studio class for something called InnovationSpace—a year-long course that paired students across disciplines to simulate a real-world startup. Each team had a graphic designer, an industrial designer, a business student, a sustainability student, and an engineer. We were matched with a client — ASU Women in Philanthropy in my case — and tasked with researching different disabled communities, building empathy for their lived experiences, and designing something that would meaningfully improve their daily life.
That early experience permanently reshaped the way I thought about design. It wasn’t just about aesthetics or usability—it was about care. The project demanded deep collaboration between people from wildly different backgrounds who were all nerdy in their own way, all passionate about solving something hard. And what really made it click was that everyone had a personal connection to the work.
In the end, we created a therapy tool, disguised as a toy, to help children with autism explore and express emotion. The concept was inspired by my roommate, a music therapist, who was using outdated tools like emotion flashcards in her sessions. She wanted something playful for the kids she was working with, and we made that happen.
Since then I’ve found myself working on products that help kiddos (and parents and schools…because it takes a village). Families are often an overlooked community with massive unmet needs. I’m sure I don’t need to tell anyone that twice. So I always use design for good as my north star. It hasn’t steered me wrong yet.
“I always use design for good as my north star. It hasn’t steered me wrong yet.”
It sounds like ASU really shaped your perspective about interdisciplinary collaboration. In your opinion, how does interdisciplinary collaboration affect the creative process?
In my opinion, it adds more empathy to the process. More people means more life experiences being shared. More points of view being added. And likely, more fun.
In this age of AI you see a lot more people being removed from the process. And I understand companies perceive the need for fast paced environment and trying to level up with AI. But what that often looks like in practice is one person doing the job of five, working in a silo, cranking out work with minimal resources and zero collaboration. And if you do that enough times, you will need to increase your daily dose of zoloft (speaking from experience).
I think everyone, whether they identify as creative or not, needs to draw from some sort of inspiration. You have to refill your creative cup before you can pour anything out of it. And more often than not, the refill doesn’t come from staring harder at the screen. It comes from the people around you. That’s what interdisciplinary collaboration does, it fuels the work with connection. It reminds you that you’re not creating in a vacuum. And when it’s working well, it makes the work feel less like a job and more like hanging out with your buds.
Looking back on the early days of your career, what were some of the biggest challenges you faced, and how have they shaped your leadership approach today?
Oh man, I would tell young Morgan to speak up! I was so afraid of saying the wrong thing that I didn’t say anything at all. I sat on my hands in meetings, convinced that what I had to offer wasn’t valuable enough, or that someone else would say it better. Looking back, I wasn’t lacking insight, I was just lacking confidence. And honestly, that held me back more than anything else.
So today, in any environment, I make it a point to invite people in (especially the ones who seem a little quieter). Because real leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about creating space for other people to share theirs. And often, the best answers are the ones you almost didn’t hear.
…”real leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about creating space for other people to share theirs.”
It seems like so much of your work and passion as a designer involves design as a tool for good. In your opinion, how can design be a catalyst for change?
As cheesy as it sounds, everything is by design (good or bad). Making our physical spaces more inclusive (good) or making social media more addicting (bad) are examples of how design has changed our world. I have a whole diatribe about this but please go read Mismatch: How Inclusion Shapes Design by Kat Holmes (thank you Lisa Peña for the rec, I’ve shared it with so many).
A quick glimpse into the book: Kat Holmes explains how design can unintentionally create exclusion, but also how it can actively remedy it. By designing with—not just for—people who are often left out, we create solutions that work better for everyone. It’s such a simple idea, but one that still feels radically underused.
To me, design becomes a catalyst for change when we treat it as a responsibility. It’s a tool for listening, including, and building a world that works better for more people. That starts by inviting more voices into the process—not fewer. If more creatives saw themselves as stewards of that belief system, I think we’d see a lot more positive change in the world. And hopefully, a lot more joy too.
“…design becomes a catalyst for change when we treat it as a responsibility. It’s a tool for listening, including, and building a world that works better for more people.”
Wow — couldn’t agree more. So, I understand you’ve been in various roles with AIGA Arizona for eight years! Stepping into the Vice President seat is a big move — what inspired you to say “yes” to this new chapter?
Honestly? Not to pander too much, but it was really Cory Skaaren, our AIGA Arizona President. When he joined as VP last year, he jumped in with so much intention and heart. He was meeting 1:1 with every board member—mine lasted about two hours (which, believe it or not, was on the shorter end). You could just tell he genuinely cared about building a creative community that actually knows each other, talks to each other, and shows up for each other.
And that’s all I’ve ever wanted for this little creative community of ours. After eight years on the board, I knew how much potential AIGA Arizona held, and I felt energized by the chance to guide us closer to our core values and the community we serve. Cory had been on the board twenty years ago, so he came in with a long view and a deep love for what this organization could be. And he struck me as someone who would actually put his money, and more importantly, his time, where his mouth is. So I said “I’m in if you are” and the rest is a lot of long days in coffee shops and in Zoom calls.
But even though change is slow, we’re seeing momentum. We have a Movie Night with Julian Curi coming up at the Forge and 80 PEOPLE ARE REGISTERED! Insane. Unheard of. Are you kidding me?
So the long days and calls are worth it when we’re seeing everyone come together like this around a shared passion for design.
I’m so excited for your potential to bridge AIGA’s future with the past! With that said, what is one thing from AIGA’s history that you would like to bring forward?
This one is near and dear to my heart and that is our Design for Democracy committee. AIGA is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization so we’re not here for political squabbles, I swear. In the past, we’ve hosted Get Out The Vote workshops. That help creatives learn how to build and launch effective voter awareness campaigns. Because whatever you’re designing, that design has the power to inform, inspire, and engage.
And especially now, I think it’s more important than ever for people to be informed at the local level. What district are you in? Who’s on your city council? What issues do they support? These things affect your everyday life way more than most people realize.
But just as important, who’s your neighbor? Who lives on your street? Who cares about this city the way you do? Getting to know the people around you builds a deeper sense of connection and accountability, because that’s community.
Sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is put down our phones, step outside, sip some coffee, and have a real conversation with the people right here with us. That’s where change starts.
“Sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is put down our phones, step outside, sip some coffee, and have a real conversation with the people right here with us. That’s where change starts.”
Beyond your work with AIGA, what personal or professional creative projects are currently fueling your passion? What excites you?
OooOooh well, let me tell you. I am a proud member of the Phoenix Forge. There, you can build things in the woodshop or metalshop, do some laser cutting, sew some clothes, make some jewelry and 3D print whatever you want. So I have an endless list of things I’m trying to make there. I just finished some spoons, spatulas and a cutting board in the woodshop. My next step is laser cutting them with a little logo I made to represent my partner and my home (it might be cat related for anyone who knows me).
What excites me is getting away from my computer and meeting new friends. I am a software designer so I stare at the computer to make things for computers. So I initially went to the Forge to start making things with my hands and get a break from screentime. After I started going for a while, I made friends (and found old ones) at the Forge. Now I spend about half my time there chatting and the other half sanding wood.
And really what excites me is I get to learn new skills in the process and walk away with something I needed with the help of these new friends. I’m someone who cares a lot about buying local and supporting my community. And this shop enables me to do this and take my money and give it back to the creative people here in my backyard.
What sets AIGA Arizona apart from other creative communities, and why do you believe others should consider getting involved?
I am so biased but I’ll do my best to sound as impartial as possible.
Phoenix is the best little patchwork city in the country. We’ve got some of the overflow cool vibes from L.A., the kindheartedness of Midwesterners, and the grassroots activism of the Pacific Northwest. Our designers drink iced coffee year-round because the majority of us have never actually known what it’s like to feel cold. And while most things struggle to survive in the desert—we thrive in it. +1 for desert rats.
So… that wasn’t impartial at all. But truly, I think this city has something for everyone. And AIGA Arizona is one of the best ways to find what your something is.
Also, if you’ve made it this far in the article, please let me buy you a coffee! You’ve read all about me and I haven’t even gotten your name yet (so rude of me). Shoot me a message, let’s meet up and talk about what makes this community so special.
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