Samantha Moya, Cameron Alvarez, and Christine Kaloudis

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MANUFACTURERS
WASHINGTON DC

As the National Association of Manufacturers in-house creative team, we play a key role in telling the story of the manufacturing industry through print pieces, live events, news publications, social media and video content.

The NAM is the voice of the nearly 13 million men and women who make things in America. Our work is centered around four values that make our industry strong and America exceptional: free enterprise, competitiveness, individual liberty and equal opportunity.

These pillars guide what we do every day, whether it’s standing up for manufacturers in Washington, D.C., inspiring the next generation of manufacturing talent, providing news and intelligence about the industry or helping members innovate and advance.

HOW AND WHY DID YOU COME TO USE DESIGN TO ADVANCE SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE AND/OR SUSTAINABLE PROJECTS, CLIENTS AND CAUSES?

The NAM’s Creative Team employs a sleek and modern design aesthetic to help change the common perception of the manufacturing industry. We challenge outdated assumptions about what manufacturing represents and inspire curiosity about the industry and its opportunities. This is most plainly evident in our recently launched Creators Wanted campaign, a multimillion-dollar capital campaign and national tour designed to narrow the skills gap and dramatically increase interest in manufacturing careers.

Design serves a critical function for society, as well as the human experience as a whole. Design enables more nuanced, meaningful and delightful interactions. The best design work helps to foster understanding, inspires curiosity and helps set the stage for innovation and growth.

We leverage design to tell the powerful stories of some of the most creative and innovative people on the planet: the men and women who make things in America. Modern manufacturing improves the human condition and raises our standards of living. It drives innovation and moves society forward. Manufacturers are always on the cutting edge, and we believe our design work should likewise push the boundaries of conventional storytelling. Our creative team strives to build content that is easy to navigate and facilitates comprehension of complex, nuanced concepts and systems.

We take great pride in the work we do with our workforce and education partner, The Manufacturing Institute. Through them, we promote an array of initiatives that are aimed at building and maintaining a diverse and skilled manufacturing workforce, including the STEP Women’s Initiative to bring more women into manufacturing and Heroes MAKE America, which provides a path for service members returning to civilian life to pursue careers in manufacturing.

DOES 2019 PRESENT ANY SPECIAL CHALLENGES, OPPORTUNITIES, URGENCIES, OBSTACLES IN DEVELOPING GOOD AND/OR SUSTAINABLE DESIGN?

We believe 2019 presents many new design opportunities. The ever-evolving digital and print landscapes continue to generate countless new canvases and technologies for visual expression. Also, with the constant flow of information and creative content, there is an abundance of inspiration for designers to tap into. The challenge is to identify ways to differentiate your voice through more relevant, inspired, novel and purposeful designs. We believe every brand has a unique voice, and it is the role of good design to remove the distortions of that voice. The increasing interconnectedness of design has allowed creatives to craft seamless brand experiences that can foster more intimate engagements between brands and consumers. Also, the increase in technological efficiency has resulted in less waste and fewer barriers to sustainable design systems. More photorealistic design proofing and simulation systems have resulted in fewer reprints and more room to experiment with design with minimal environmental footprint.