The AIGA Houston board is filled with passionate and creative volunteers, but have you ever wondered who they are and why they serve? Now is your chance to get to know your local board and committee members. __
Sara Iqbal
President & Co-operations Director AIGA Member since 2020 Term: July 2024–June 2026
WHO I AM I design Brands and Digital Experiences for small businesses and nonprofits. I love traveling, and I sleep just so I can get up and have coffee. I’m a boy-mom of 3, one of whom is a gray tabby.
WHY I’M HERE Volunteering with AIGA has always had its rewards, either as new resources, skills, or networks of peers and professionals who become your life-long friends. I want to continue leading the development of those programs, resources, and skills essential to the next generation of creatives. This is the best place to engage with fresh minds!
MY GOALS My goal is to advocate for design’s impact in driving social, economic, and cultural change, demonstrating its value to a broader audience through a robust, creative community of diverse voices. I want to strengthen our connections through collaboration and knowledge sharing.
Sabah Iqbal
Vice President & Co-operations Director AIGA Member since 2024 Term: July 2024–June 2026
WHO I AM Creative in a leading role. Currently serving as a Creative Director in a firm. My experience spans over various industries – from energy companies to industrial, healthcare, real estate and non-profit organizations.
WHY I’M HERE It’s time to rejoin the design community to give back the learnings and absorb new perspectives.
MY GOALS I’m here to support the development of programs, resources, and skills that creatives of today and tomorrow will have in place they can benefit from.
Arsala Khatri
Finance Director AIGA Member since 2024 Term: July 2024–June 2026
WHO I AM I am a CPA and I love to tell stories through numbers. Yes, accountants can be creatives too! My background is in Real Estate Finance, Financial Statement Analysis and Auditing.
WHY I’M HERE I am here to give back. As an immigrant, I have enjoyed the blessings of this city and community for the past 25 years. Now, it’s time for me to support its growth and well-being.
MY GOALS My goal first and foremost is to work with AIGA leadership to review monthly financials, and secondly to help the AIGA community with financial literacy, by expanding business partnerships and mentoring creative professionals on implementing accounting and tax strategies to improve their business profitability.
Melton Bell
Vice President & Co-operations Director AIGA Member since 2024 Term: July 2024–June 2026
WHO I AM I am a multidisciplinary designer.
WHY I’M HERE While I am very passionate about Art & Design as a discipline, I find helping new creatives develop into the catalysts for deep change in our society as an important step in making the world a better place.
MY GOALS I would like to help build a stronger community that is recognized to those outside of the creative space.
Sabrina Smith
Communications Director AIGA Member since 2018 Term: July 2024–June 2026
WHO I AM I am a graphic designer at the Houston Public Library. My hobbies include reading, watching movies, gaming, crochet/knitting, taking care of my houseplants and playing with my cats.
WHY I’M HERE Blessed with both introversion and social anxiety it has always been difficult to meet and connect with other designers. AIGA has been an amazing resource and helped me a lot in the past. I really want to give back all I’ve gotten by helping other designers find their way.
MY GOALS My biggest goal is to get more people knowing this resource is here, providing useful events and networking opportunities and the chance to meet other creatives.
Jim Mousner
Design Advocacy Director AIGA Member since 1991 Term: July 2024–June 2026
WHO I AM I am a director, consultant and advisor of design for brand systems and marketing programs. I am currently creating product brands for regional music artists and their product releases. I previously was the founding partner and creative director at Origin Inc (1997-2018), and co-founding partner at Tribe Design (1992-1987).
I have served the Houston design community for most of my career, a value which I learned and have carried since my days studying design at the University of Houston.
WHY I’M HERE Leverage my knowledge, experience and passion with other like-minded professionals in order to lead and bring value to the organization, its stakeholders and the communities we serve. Connect, learn and grow. All of which, I enjoy doing immensely!
MY GOALS To Lead – specifically, in the area of design advocacy. However, I believe deeply in servant leadership, and in helping foster a collaborative work environment so that ‘leading’ is also about listening and learning. To Elevate – There is always room for improvement, but recognizing baby-steps, as well as, home-runs. I believe growth is about the journey and not the destination. To Educate – Sharing knowledge and experience with others, especially when it benefits all involved. To Serve – This last one is a major driver for me personally.
Claire Elestwani
DEI Director AIGA Member since 2015 Term: July 2024–June 2026
WHO I AM I am a designer, educator, and artist working with data, textiles, and paper. Currently, I am one of the artists in residence at Asia Society Texas as a part of their Artists on Site program. I also publish zines on urbanism and the body under my Surely! Press imprint with Houston-based poet and urbanist, Grant Patterson.
WHY I’M HERE I believe diversity, equity, and inclusion should be embedded in all AIGA Houston efforts, and I’m here to assure that our governance and actions reflect our gorgeous, diverse community.
MY GOALS I would like to gather data on our design community and develop a roadmap to support AIGA Houston’s DEI journey at all stages of our work.
Emma Simoni
Membership Ambassador AIGA Member since February 2023 Term: July 2024–June 2025
WHO I AM I am a graphic designer transitioning back into instructional and UI/UX design! I have a background in game design and love dabbling in any and all creative pursuits.
WHY I’M HERE I wanted to get more involved with AIGA after attending the design conference in NYC last October. Because my undergraduate was affected by COVID, I felt that I missed out on many connections with other creatives and was very excited to experience that with AIGA.
MY GOALS I have always loved connecting others and helping to broaden the experiences of those involved in any organization I have been a part of and am excited to help enrich the experiences of others and myself in AIGA.
Felicia Mesadieu
Membership Chair AIGA Member since 2023 Term: July 2024–June 2025
WHO I AM I am a creative and designer who loves color, donuts, boxing and listening to an insane amount of Kaytranada.
WHY I’M HERE To connect with fellow designers and build the organization.
MY GOALS To increase the membership of AIGA and show potential members how fun it is to rock with AIGA.
Isabel Almaguer
Membership Coordinator AIGA Member since 2021 Term: July 2024–June 2025
WHO I AM Outside of the membership coordinator for AIGA, I volunteer as a “Big” for Big Brother Big Sister and am a practicing Martial Artist. I have a Black Belt in Kuk Sool Won but have since moved on to Capoeira. I also travel a lot for my Canadian based company.
WHY I’M HERE To give back. AIGA was one of the resources I used when making a career change.
MY GOALS -Increase membership by 20% within my term -Make AIGA more diverse -Have a positive impact while doing all this
Stephanie Areche-Franco
Partnerships Chair Term: July 2024–June 2025
WHO I AM I am a strategic thinker.
WHY I’M HERE To be in community with other creatives while sharing my skills and experience in brand partnerships.
MY GOALS My goal is to help AIGA build partnerships that bring purpose and human-centered values into the working relationship.
Alan Nguyen
Communications Chair AIGA Member since 2017 Term: July 2024–June 2025
WHO I AM Somebody who’s done a little bit of everything before somewhat doing what they’re doing now semi-well.
WHY I’M HERE I’ve worked in and with so much in this community that I feel obligated to give something back.
MY GOALS To inspire just a little bit of confidence in anybody who is pensive about doing something worthwhile in this field.
Rita Jia
Communications Chair AIGA Member since 2020 Term: July 2024–June 2025
WHO I AM I’m a graphic designer and visual communicator. I’ve been in love with graphic design since I started in college, and it’s been 10 years now. I love art, crafts, crochet, collage, film photography, yoga, and my tuxedo cat Luna.
WHY I’M HERE Since I’ve been a member, I’ve gained a lot of benefits from AIGA. I’ve made friends, expanded my design vision, grown my network, and even found a job once. I think it’s time to give back and help more creatives see how AIGA can benefit them.
MY GOALS My goal is to use my abilities and skills to enrich the community, and help more outside creatives find us.
Jocelyn Randolph
Design Advocacy Coordinator AIGA Member since…srsly what year is it? Term: July 2024–June 2025
WHO I AM I have owned and run Control Shift Video with my husband for almost seven years. When I’m not a project manager/owner, I create concepts, edit scripts and videos, craft strategies, and dabble in storyboards. I like to bring kindness, empathy, and positivity wherever I go.
WHY I’M HERE I’m a listener and a helper… I’ve seen many people struggle in the industry, and I want to help build a bridge to success that can be used for generations to come.
MY GOALS Widen AIGA’s audience to include motion, web, interactive, and industries that apply design to their craft. Become a go-to source for resources, community, and support. Celebrate various forms of diversity, including disability, in various design-oriented fields.
Ingrid Rincon
Programming (DEI) Chair AIGA Member since June 2024 Term: July 2024–June 2025
WHO I AM Proud Colombian, Houston-raised. Music and art fuel my passion. I thrive on collaborating with like-minded souls who vibe with my energy. Collective synergy is key & essential. I’m all about serving my community and tackling challenges with unique visual flair. Oh, and I’m also a new mom to baby Sophie—embracing the mommy life to the fullest!
WHY I’M HERE Volunteering for AIGA is my chance to make a meaningful impact on the design community while gaining valuable experience and industry connections. I’m eager to play a crucial role in advancing design as a professional craft through my contributions. Whether I’m organizing events, sharing my expertise, or fostering collaboration among members, I’m committed to shaping the future of our club and enhancing the creative landscape in our city. I can’t wait to get started and make a difference!
MY GOALS I’m eager to lend a helping hand and offer my project management skills to amplify our ‘24- ‘25 club’s mission.
Amy Truong
Programming (Education) Chair AIGA Member since 2024 Term: July 2024–June 2025
WHO I AM I’m a Vietnamese-Chinese-American visual designer and photographer. I love taking photos and documenting moments, traveling, biking, playing tennis, and trying out new restaurants and coffee shops. And sometimes I make prints, zines, and stickers.
WHY I’M HERE I have always really enjoyed organizing community events. During college, I would seek out cool design and creative events to go to every week—so now I want to do the same for the Houston creative community! I love meeting new friends at our AIGA events.
MY GOALS I am striving for more diverse, quality programming to further enrich our creative community and to push the boundaries of the programming that we usually do. I want to reach and engage with newer audiences, especially students from all the universities and community colleges in Houston.
