AIAP plays a complex role of representation, combining the issues of culture with those of the profession. It builds a consistent ‘association quality’ model in which professional needs, cultures and design theories are implemented into behaviour. It creates cultural value that translates into value for professionals and companies. Carries out advocacy activities around the issues of protection of the profession and promotes dialogue activities with institutions and other associations, in the scenario related to regulatory changes and provisions concerning design professions.

AIAP is also a publisher: it publishes the magazines ‘Progetto Grafico’ (the only Italian magazine specifically dedicated to visual communication design, active since 2002) and ‘PAD. Pages on Arts and Design’, books, catalogues and studies of scientific rigour, and the ‘Guida agli onorari’, an indispensable professional tool.

A place both online and at our headquarters in Milan, where you can buy specialised books and magazines, specially selected for members, professionals, students and researchers. Members can take advantage of special discounts reserved for them.

Since 2009, AIAP has institutionalised what was originally a small specialised library into a true place of preservation and study dedicated to graphic design. The Centre holds archives, funds and collections (constantly growing thanks to bequests, donations, deposits and direct acquisitions) as well as a rich library available to members, students and researchers.

AIAP makes its contribution on the issue of training by providing advice and support to schools and institutions on curricula, teacher training, identification of training paths, organisation of workshops and courses. It periodically organises workshops, summer schools and its own initiatives.

AIAP has always curated nd promoted initiatives, exhibitions and events to deepen and disseminate the culture of graphic design. In 2008 it curated the first and only Italian edition of Icograda Design Week in the context of the events for Turin World Design Capital, entitled Multiverso. Since 2009, he periodically organises the travelling event “Design Per – Settimana Internazionale della Grafica” (to date, 7 editions have been organised in Naples, Bologna, Cagliari, Treviso, Genoa, Milan and Rome).
Every year, AIAP curates and organises a series of workshops for in-depth analysis and professional updating.AIAP has always curated and promoted initiatives, exhibitions and events to deepen and disseminate the culture of graphic design. In 2008 it curated the first and only Italian edition of Icograda Design Week in the context of the events for Turin World Design Capital, entitled Multiverso. Since 2009, he periodically organises the travelling event “Design Per – Settimana Internazionale della Grafica” (to date, 7 editions have been organised in Naples, Bologna, Cagliari, Treviso, Genoa, Milan and Rome).
Every year, AIAP curates and organises a series of workshops for in-depth analysis and professional updating.

AIAP is active in the creation of an Italian design network through the activation of relationships and memoranda of understanding with: ADI Association for Industrial Design, AIPI Italian Association of Interior Designers, Politecnico di Milano, POLI.design (of which it is a founding member together with ADI, AIPI and Politecnico di Milano), ISIA (Urbino, Faenza, Florence, Rome, Pescara), IUAV (Venice, San Marino).
In 1963, together with other international design associations, AIAP founded ICOGRADA (International Council of Graphic Design Associations), today called ico-D. Together with ADI (Associazione Disegno Industriale) and AIPI (Associazione Italiana Progettisti d’Interni) AIAP represents Italy in BEDA (Bureau of European Design Associations).

AIAP organises national and international events and awards, including AWDA, an international award for women involved in visual communication design. The award is part of a line of research aimed to reconstruct the contribution that many women designers have made and continue to make to the world of design.
Participation in the Award is open to professionals, researchers and teachers, students, covering different stages of their professional life, in order to provide a complete overview of projects in this field of design. A lifetime achievement award is also offered. AWDA’s intent is to understand and promote the universe of women related to visual communication design, which is often little known, not with the rhetorical and self-referential objective of celebrating “feminine graphics”, but to research languages, poetics and different approaches to graphic design that would otherwise never be brought to light.

Progetto grafico is the international graphics magazine published by AIAP. Since 2003 a landmark for the culture of visual communication design in Italy, Progetto grafico in 2012 has been renewed and entirely translated into English. The magazine is as a place for critical reflection on graphic design; for this reason, a monographic layout was chosen, which allows a series of themes to be explored in depth, with contributions from inside and outside the world of the profession. The magazine is sent free of charge to members. The magazine is distributed in Italy and abroad.

The magazine, founded in 2003, was directed until 2011 by Alberto Lecaldano, from 2012 to 2014 by Riccardo Falcinelli and Silvia Sfligiotti, and from 2015 to 2017 by Silvia Sfligiotti and Davide Fornari, from 2017 to 2023 by Jonathan Pierini and Gianluca Camillini.