More than 13 years ago, the Iranian Graphic Designers Network (IGDN) was an active and influential organization, playing a significant role in the growth of graphic design in Iran. The founder of IGDN, Pouya Golestaneh, along with one of the prominent diamond members, Mohammad Ardalani, helped guide and support the network’s members during the 2012 Italian International Social Poster Design Competition. This competition was an important milestone in the Iranian graphic design scene, acting as a revolution for the industry in Iran.
The 2012 online Social Poster Design Competition, hosted on the Social Design Poster website, invited graphic designers from all over the world to participate. With the unwavering support of IGDN, Iranian designers were encouraged to showcase their talent on the international stage. It’s important to note that during a phone call with Pouya Golestaneh, Sergio Olivotti from Italy expressed a deep admiration for Iranian graphic design and hoped to see a large number of submissions from Iranian designers. To foster greater engagement, IGDN shared Sergio Olivotti’s Facebook page, along with some selected artwork for showcase, offering further visibility to Iranian designers.
To promote the competition and increase participation, IGDN placed advertisements in prominent Iranian art magazines such as Tandis Magazine and Graphic Magazine. They also secured media sponsorships from influential Iranian online platforms, including Majidonline, Kargah, Blogfa, PersianWeb, Rasm, Persian Graphic, and many other websites and design communities. Additionally, IGDN placed posters on the boards of Tehran Art College to inform students and encourage their involvement in the competition.
Pouya Golestaneh, the founder of IGDN, always made sure to host workshops for Iranian graphic designers free of charge, ensuring that all designers could benefit from these learning opportunities. IGDN consistently offered training workshops and classes without charging members, reflecting its commitment to fostering the development of the graphic design community in Iran.
To further contribute to this movement, the Iranian Graphic Designers Network took the initiative to organize specialized workshops focusing on poster design. These workshops were led by some of the most accomplished and renowned poster design instructors, further empowering Iranian designers and helping them hone their skills for international competitions. This event marked a pivotal moment for Iranian graphic design, signaling a new era of recognition and participation in global design platforms. We hope to see new activities from Italian artists soon and continue the momentum of international exchange.
