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Dear ASID Community, I hope this note finds you well, and ideally crossing paths with fellow members as the season of gatherings unfolds. One of the great privileges of this role is the opportunity to connect in person, and I’m very much looking forward to seeing many of you at ICFF in New York, NeoCon in Chicago, and especially at Gather Catalyst this September. These conversations and moments of connection, both formal and informal, are where the strength of our community of designers and friends is most visible, and they continue to shape the priorities I carry into this year of work on behalf of the Society. As we move through my term as Chair, my focus is centered on two parallel efforts that are foundational to the continued growth of ASID and to our collective success as members. The first is a sustained focus on how ASID can most effectively support members. At a time when the design industry and the broader economy continue to evolve rapidly, we are investing in tools and strategic support designed to help designers strengthen their businesses, adapt to change, and navigate an increasingly complex marketplace with confidence. Across education, business resources, research, and professional development, ASID is advancing several important initiatives this year, including a new learning management system, the Business Basics Checklist & Resource Guide, the Down to Business newsletter, and the Economic Outlook report, all designed to help members better anticipate and respond to rapidly shifting market conditions. The second, and equally important, is a renewed investment in how we support learning and growth across the membership. The upcoming launch of a new Learning Management System (LMS), alongside a robust pipeline of content, is intended to strengthen both technical capability and strategic thinking. The goal is not simply to provide education, but to build resilience—preparing members to navigate their work with confidence and clarity. These efforts are closely connected. By aligning what we invest in with what members most need, we are able to ensure that our resources, programs, and learning platforms work together to strengthen both individual practice and the profession as a whole. As always, I welcome the opportunity to hear from you. If our paths cross at an event in the coming months, I hope you’ll say hello. These conversations - brief or extended - continue to shape the direction of our work in important ways. I look forward to what we will build together. With gratitude and excitement, Elizabeth Von Lehe, ASID, NCIDQ |