In the elections for the Presidency and Board of Directors of the Graphic Design and Visual Communication Association of the FAD (ADG-FAD), the "ADG Impulsa" candidacy has been declared the winner, chaired by the designer and creative director Alex Govern, the only one who had been presented, who will lead the association until 2026.
The new Board of Directors has four very clear strategic objectives: to represent and articulate the needs and concerns of professionals, students, companies and institutions related to graphic design and communication; to promote actions that encourage and develop the professionalization of the sector; to dignify, make visible and disseminate the work of professionals, studios and agencies; and to strengthen the association as a representative entity of the sector.
The entity will continue to promote key aspects for the profession that have been consolidated during the previous mandate, such as the defence of the call for fair and responsible competitions for the professionals involved, which promote transparency, equal opportunities and fair remuneration, as fundamental bases to ensure the sustainability and recognition of creative talent in the field of graphic design and visual communication.
The new Board of Directors proposes specific initiatives to promote the growth of the entity in three strategic areas: education, territoriality and external collaborations. In the educational field, a representative figure is incorporated for the first time in the governing body of the association, with the aim of bringing the involvement of centres, teachers and students closer to the entity, as an opportunity to provide new and innovative views and perspectives in a context of social and technological change. The second area is directly related to the territoriality of ADG-FAD, an association that works from a State level through the ADG Laus Awards and other initiatives to claim and represent professionals at a national level.
The proposal of the new Board of Directors is aimed at expanding the territorial representation of the association through a network of territorial representatives representing different geographical realities and professional areas, as a tool to strengthen alliances with associations that work from the provincial level.
Likewise, the promotion of external collaborations is considered essential to strengthen the entity's connection with key players in the sector, whether through the entity's presence at key events at the State level, alliances with design and visual communication groups and the exchange of synergies between associates.
“We want to build an open and participatory space, in which the diversity of voices helps us generate synergies and shared solutions. We aspire to lead debates that enrich our professional practice and position graphic design as a driving force for cultural and social change. At the same time, we want the results of this process to be shared, disseminated and accessible, so that each step in this evolution has the support and participation of our community,” says the new president, Àlex Gobern.
A career dedicated to graphic design and visual communication
A graduate in design, Àlex Gobern has 25 years of experience in the world of graphic design and visual communication. His career has allowed him to specialize in the discipline of branding, visual identity and the management of creative teams. He currently holds the position of Chief Creative Officer at the Morillas agency, where he has worked for brands such as Nike, La Caixa, Seat, Mohet Hennessy, Spanair, Generalitat de Catalunya, Pepsico, Osborne, Esade, Sara Lee, The Coca Cola Company, FC Barcelona, ACB, Unilever, Renfe or NH, among others.
His work has brought the agency several national and international awards. He combines his work as a designer with that of a master's degree director and teacher at various design schools in Barcelona.
Defending the interests of the sector
The president of the outgoing Board of Directors, Esther Agustench – who is a member of the new Board – states that in recent years the entity has always worked “to defend the interests of graphic design and visual communication, seeking to give it recognition and visibility, both locally and internationally.”
In this last period, long-standing projects have been consolidated, such as the prestigious ADG Laus Awards, the awards that, after more than fifty years, have become the benchmark for quality and excellence in the sector, and an initiative for the exchange of knowledge has been consolidated, such as the ADGTalk cycle, monthly meetings of associates around a topic of interest. Likewise, the recently launched event, FinalOK_V24.adg, aims to be the meeting and exchange point between professionals and students to investigate the work processes that are hidden behind the production of a design project.
