Bob Calvano currently holds a position on AIGA’s National Board of Directors and has been providing thought leadership and design solutions for over 20 years. With a mind that never stops thinking about the creative process, he is always open to exploring new mediums and possibilities.

Calvano is currently the VP of Design at A+E Networks and oversees all creative and UX design for A+E Networks digital platforms including executions on desktop, tablet, smartphone and emerging platforms (Apple TV, Xbox, Roku etc.). He is tasked with establishing and developing a creative structure, process and team to deliver innovative solutions that result in incredible digital products that customers enjoy using and meet business needs. Bob is focused on strategy as well as generating a holistic design approach that fits A+E's portfolio of properties.

Prior to joining A+E, Bob was the Director of Merck’s Global Creative Studios, a full service in-house agency, and provided creative leadership and business solutions on a global scale. Bob also held positions such as Interaction Design Director at R/GA, and UX Design Director at Oxygen Media. In these roles he fine-tuned his talent for creating engaging brand experiences, as well as intuitive and elegant interfaces. He worked with diverse teams creating consumer-based software, interactive experiences, websites, print and television content.

Bob has won numerous awards for his work in advertising and design and has been recognized in both national and international design competitions. He has been published in periodicals such as Advertising Age, Graphic Design USA and HOW Magazine, as well as on aiga.org.

He received an Executive Education for Creative Leaders at Harvard Business School and has a BA in Fine Art. Bob has spoken at events such as the AIGA Pivot Design Conference, the FUSE Design Conference, presented HOW DesignCasts, and lectured at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. Read Less

Design is powerful. Done well, it can solve complex problems, make a difference in the world, unite people, communicate messages, and sometimes simply evoke a smile.

Today, there are an overwhelming number of messages we receive on a daily basis, making it harder to communicate effectively - your message needs to be clear, memorable and above all, make an impact.

Therefore, my philosophy is to…

• Ask questions to gain understanding
• Listen
• Promote simplicity
• Make a personal connection and an emotional impact
• Create desire, interest and appeal
• Create difference, not similarity
• Allow the most important elements to stand out
• Let the brand point the way
• Think Big
• Be entertaining

A guiding principal: The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing. Read Less