Alison K. Mason, President 
president@atlanta.aiga.org

Alison Knowlton Mason is the Founder and Principal Creative of Lilacs on York Creative Studios, a creative agency that helps education nonprofits, consultants & schools achieve clarity on the story of their impact and increase their reach with intuitive storytelling, strategy & design. Alison brings a unique perspective to her work, having spent the bulk of her career dedicated to education in various roles. Through Teach For America, she taught young minds in Atlanta classrooms for four years. She then honed her creative skills, studying Graphic Design at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). Returning to Teach For America, she spent nine years contributing to internal communications and operations efforts across multiple teams and locations. She’s grown Lilacs on York from a solo venture into a team of designers and strategists. The team partners with mission-driven organizations focused on systemic equity and institutional change, delivering the strategic storytelling and design required to translate complex stories into compelling, consistent communication that drives action. Beyond her work, Alison is an avid thrifter, a ceramics fanatic, loves to play pickleball and always up to some sort of home design project.

Tiffany “TJ” Prater, Vice-president
vp@atlanta.aiga.org

Jin Young Lim, Secretary
secretary@atlanta.aiga.org

Born and raised in Seoul, South Korea, Jin is a graphic designer with over 25 years of professional experience and 12 years of teaching at the college level in both the United States and South Korea. Her work spans movie posters, K-pop albums, packaging, interactive media, and corporate marketing collateral for a variety of clients. She earned her MFA in Graphic Design from the Savannah College of Art and Design in Atlanta, where she expanded her research and experimentation in design. Alongside her professional practice, Jin teaches at the University of North Georgia and is passionate about mentoring students. She has taught courses in interactive design, typography, branding, portfolio development, and digital tools such as Adobe Creative Cloud and Figma. Committed to advancing the field, she continues to bridge professional practice with design education.

Jerry Rodriguez, Treasurer
treasurer@atlanta.aiga.org

Jerry Rodriguez is an Appraisal Review Analyst and Officer for Ameris Bank. Ameris is a community bank headquartered in Atlanta, GA. Founded in 1971, Ameris Bank has a long, rich history and is fiercely committed to bringing financial peace of mind to the communities it serves. In addition, Jerry is a state-registered appraiser trainee and a practicing affiliate of the Appraisal Institute. He continues to take appraisal courses through the Appraisal Institute while working towards becoming a state-certified general appraiser. Jerry attended the University of Georgia and earned a B.B.A. in Real Estate. He’s a big Dawgs fan and supporter of Atlanta Sports. Jerry learned about AIGA through a colleague at the bank who served on the AIGA Board. He has a great respect for graphic designers and creative thinkers. Serving on the AIGA board is a welcomed opportunity to meet entrepreneurs and creatives in the AIGA community.

Morgan Hayes, Communications Chair
communications@atlanta.aiga.org

Morgan Hayes is a Georgia-based multidisciplinary artist, designer, and educator whose work centers Black joy, cultural memory, and contemporary storytelling. Hayes blends classical art influences with Black American pop culture to create work that feels both timeless and boldly modern. Her practice spans fine art and mixed media, allowing her to merge traditional techniques with contemporary materials. Hayes’s work often incorporates jewels, plaster, flowers, wire, fabric, and layered textures, unified through a distinctive palette of blues, golds, and magentas. This richly ornamental approach reflects her interest in symbolism, identity, and visual storytelling. By trade, Hayes is a graphic designer and multimedia communication specialist with over seven years of professional experience. She has worked with national and regional brands including Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Keurig Dr Pepper, Augusta University, and numerous local businesses, developing visual identities, campaigns, and multimedia content. In addition to her studio practice, she has co-produced podcasts, art directed film and commercial projects, and currently teaches motion graphics at the collegiate level. Through both her artwork and design practice, Hayes is committed to creating visually compelling work that celebrates culture, creativity, and connection.

Sharmia Crawford Education Chair
education@atlanta.aiga.org

Sharmia Crawford is a Creative Design Manager in the Building Products industry. With several years of professional design experience, she has also held roles as a certified K-12 art teacher and design professor. Her educational background includes a Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design and a Master of Fine Arts in Integrated Design. Her research primarily centers around design education in K-12 settings, and she has had the privilege of leading studio classes with organizations like MODA. Throughout her career, she has maintained an enthusiastic advocacy for our profession.

Julian Mancini, In-House Chair
inhouse@atlanta.aiga.org

Julian Mancini is a designer creating visually powerful and intellectually elegant graphics and brand identities. A born-and-raised New Yorker, his background in typography, print design, and data visualization has led him to work with clients across food & beverage, QSR, higher education, tech, luxury goods, publication, and government. He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and a guest critic and lecturer at the University of North Georgia. His work has been featured by Domus Magazine, the Massimo Vignelli Center, Aprender Design, and TYPEROOM. He’s currently stewarding the Chick-fil-A brand toward becoming a world-class center of design excellence as a Senior Designer on the internal creative team in Atlanta. Also a typography enthusiast, twentieth-century design junkie, and Spotify playlist curator, as well as the host of the AIGA Insider series, a webinar that spotlights local in-
house designers and their teams.

Mia Lestori, Mentorship Co-chair
mentorship@atlanta.aiga.org

Anna Christian, Mentorship Co-chair
mentorship@atlanta.aiga.org

Mary Celeste Patterson, Programming Chair
programming@atlanta.aiga.org

Hey there! I’m Mary Celeste, a graphic designer and creative based in Atlanta. I’m passionate about using design to bring people together and believe the best ideas often come when we least expect them. When I’m not working or hanging out with my amazing partner Rebekah, you can probably find me upcycling clothes, hunting for hidden treasures on Facebook Marketplace, or plotting my next side project. After finding my footing in my professional career, I am back in full force and reconnecting with the design world and rediscovering the magic of collaboration and community. I’m equal parts curious, committed, and Redbull-fueled, with a love for fun, experimental layouts and bold color palettes. Whether it’s designing brand identities, creating event programs, or geeking out over the creative process, I’m always all in.

Kaidesh Forrester, Membership Chair
membership@atlanta.aiga.org

Cyprus Meraz, Partnerships Co-Chair
partnerships@atlanta.aiga.org

Cyprus Meraz is a passionate design and art enthusiast based in Atlanta, Georgia. She loves exploring the city’s creative scene, connecting with others at art and design events, and volunteering behind the scenes to help make those experiences memorable. With a background in digital animation and studio art, Cyprus appreciates both tactile and digital approaches to art and design. She is especially inspired by Renaissance and Greek art, as well as the works of Warhol and Van Gogh. Curious, collaborative, and detail-oriented, Cyprus enjoys creating inclusive and engaging spaces where creativity can flourish and meaningful connections can spark.

Katina Johnson, Partnerships Co-Chair
partnerships@atlanta.aiga.org

Katina is a passionate problem-solver and creative visionary whose designs consistently align with client goals and elevate brand storytelling. With more than 11 years of experience in graphic design, corporate branding, and marketing communications, she brings both artistic flair and strategic insight to every project. A proud Atlanta native, Katina earned her Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design from Georgia State University in 2013. She began her career at a well-established marketing communications firm, where she played a key role in supporting the creative team on high-impact projects for a diverse range of clients. Driven by her commitment to purposeful design, Katina later launched her own freelance career, partnering with businesses and organizations to deliver innovative visual solutions that connect, inform, and inspire. Her expertise spans strategic branding, marketing development, and community engagement. Katina approaches every project with creativity, clarity, and an unwavering focus on helping clients communicate their stories effectively and authentically.

Nikita Pope, Co-President Emerita & AIGA Fellow
presidentemeritus@atlanta.aiga.org

Nakita M. Pope is the Chief Chick and Principal Brand Strategist of Branding Chicks, a boutique branding agency in Atlanta, GA with clients all over the United States. Branding Chicks specializes in brand strategy, development, consulting, and management for femme-owned businesses and femme-focused brands. She helps clients narrow their focus, gives their brands a voice, slingshot their confidence, and clarifies their message to resonate directly with their audiences. She also helps businesses large and small to brand or re-brand to attract and grow customer bases for new products and professional services through custom, creative, relevant brand-promoting strategies. Over the past 25 years, she has worked as a brand strategist, graphic designer, creative director, and brand manager, giving her experiences that inform how she works with her clients. Her passion for brand strategy also extends to her advertising strategy, branding, and design professorship at The Creative Circus for 13 years. In 2019 she also took on an additional role as their Diversity & Inclusion Advisor and, a year later, the Design Department Senior Advisor role. In 2020 she was also named one of Graphic Design USA Magazine’s People to Watch and then 2021 she was honored as an AIGA Atlanta Fellow, which recognizes her contributions to the design community locally and nationally. She is involved in several professional and non-profit organizations including AIGA,  African-American Graphic Designers (AAGD), and Good Thinking Atlanta. Along with her work and passion projects, she now gets to share her knowledge and experiences with diverse audiences on the international speaking stage for organizations like WPP Global, BBDO Atlanta, Phoenix Design Week, The One Club, Maryland Institute College of Art and the Georgia Tech College of Business. As always, her goal is to wield her crayons for good.

Lucas Alvarez, Co-President Emeritus
presidentemeritus@atlanta.aiga.org

Lucas Alvarez is the Design Director of Governance & Accountability Institute. He focuses his passion on creating meaningful designs for brands to advance their understanding of sustainability strategy within a wide range of fields. He has close to a decade of experience in developing brand strategy and creative that connects people to the design to create a lasting impact. Lucas’ work has included a wide range of B2B and B2C branding projects — from community districts, such as Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, to creating internal campaigns explaining complex processes for Coca-Cola Enterprise. This wide breadth of experience helps to inform his process in building creative that fits the client’s specific needs. Lucas holds a BFA in Graphic Design from Georgia State University and stays active in his community. In his free time, Lucas takes his skills in design to work on a passion project, such as the collaborative development of the abstract strategy game Hermetica.