The Industrial Designers Society of America
IDSA is a national organization of 2500 industrial designers, manufacturers, industrial design representatives,writers, publicists, design critics, educators, and students. Founded in the 1930's, IDSA promotes the industrial design profession and provides services and programs to help individual designers grow and develop professionally. The organization of the IDSA is as follows: National, District (5 in US), and Local.
IDSA National Conference - September 13-16, 1995
IDSA National
- 1142 E. Walker Rd.
- Great Falls, VA 22066
- telephone: (703) 759-0100
IDSA National is responsible for the society's records and goals. They publish Perspectives, a monthly newsletter and Innovation, a quarterly design news magazine. IDSA National also organizes an annual ID conference, the annual IDEA awards program which is published in Business Week magazine in June, and the Student Merit awards. The IDSA Mentor program is also organized by IDSA National.
IDSA Northeast District
IDSA, Northeast District is one of five IDSA districts in the country. The district is organized as a coalition of six chapters; Boston, Central New York, Mid Atlantic, New York City, Philadelphia, and Southern New England. The district organizes an annual two-day conference for all IDSA member schools in the district. The conference is held at a different school each year. At the conference, the Student Merit Award winners from each school present their work in slide format to other students and professionals. Portfolio reviews are also held for all students.
IDSA New York
IDSA, New York Chapter publishes a quarterly newsletter with pertinent information for New York area designers. The chapter also arranges four local events with speakers and the annual Bronze Apple Award honoring an outstanding contributor to the ID community.
IDSA Student Chapter - Pratt Institute
All undergraduate and graduate Pratt ID students are IDSA student members. The ID department pays all fees. The Pratt student chapter of the IDSA is part of the Greater New York chapter which is in turn part of the Northeast district. The Pratt Student IDSA Chapter sponsors lectures, organizes field trips to design offices, production facilities and the IDSA regional conference, and holds monthly meetings in Pratt Studios to discuss IDSA activities and other issues.
IDSA Mentor Program
The IDSA manages this mentor program to network student chapter members with industrial design practitioners. Mentors donate time to be speakers at IDSA Student Chapter meetings, give portfolio reviews, and provide insight and general advice on industrial design as a career.
