Inform Magazine

Inform Magazine celebrates the diverse individuals and organizations that contribute to Virginia’s rich culture of architecture and design.

By provoking dialogue about design in our state, we inspire curiosity about the spaces we inhabit.

About the Publication
Autonomously published since 1990 by AIA Virginia, Inform Magazine features projects, profiles, research, essays and award-winning work.

Views and opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of AIA Virginia. Content is for informational purposes only and should not be viewed as professional advice. All information is provided in good faith; however, there is no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability or completeness. Inform Magazine reserves the right to remove, replace, or move images or content without prior announcement.

Inform Magazine contains paid advertising and partner links. External links are not monitored or checked for accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability or completeness.

See an archive of the physical publication, beginning with the premiere issue, at US Modernist.

Contribute to Inform’s Upcoming Travel Issue

We’re seeking contributors and insights for the upcoming Travel Issue of Inform Magazine.

What are your favorite destinations in Virginia? Let us know! Just send the destination name to Rhea George. And, if you have the inclination, feel free to elaborate on what makes it special.   

Do you work on Hospitality projects? We know this sector has been hit hard by the pandemic – but we also know that Virginia firms have produced incredible work.  Tell us about your recent projects or innovations.  

Articles should be between 300-1,000 words (depending on the topic) and may link to outside sources — including your firm or university website. Content may be edited for style and accuracy.

Let us know if you want to contribute by June 30.  The content deadline is July 16. Questions? Contact Rhea George.   

Content Guidelines

Our goal is to help highlight our members’ contributions to the built environment to each other and to the public, so it is ideal to highlight methods, research, and materials that elevate the overall understanding of a particular typology or approach.

We ask our contributors to avoid marketing or sales-oriented language (as well as “archi-speak”) in submitted pieces, however you are welcomed —even encouraged — to credit consultants or products that contributed to the overall success of the project.

We’d ask you to share images of your work or research. We prefer images to be at least 650 pixels wide and ask that you include any necessary image credits.

Inform celebrates Virginia’s rich culture of design and the diverse individuals who shape it.

Help Complete the Archive

US Modernist is seeking a few old issues of Inform Magazine and Virginia Record to complete the publication archive. If you’ve been cleaning and purging like many of us, US Modernist is asking you to keep your eye out for the following issues:

1958: Issues 8 and 11
1959: Issues 4 and 9
1961: Issue 1
1963: Issues 8 and 12
1964: Issue 12
1965: Issue 7
1966: Issue 10
1967: Issues 7 through 12
1968-1975: all issues
1978: Issue 2
1980: Issues 6 and 7
1984: Issue 11
1986: Issues 1, 7 and 11
1988: Issues 9 and 11
1989: Issues 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11
1990: Issues 1, 3, and 5
1991: Issues 5, 7, 9, and 11
1992: Issue 1
1993: Issue 1
1997: Issue 1
2002: Issue 4
2007: Issues 2 and 3
2009: Issue 4
2010: Issue 1

US Modernist will pay for shipping and you can rest assured that these old treasures will find a new life on the web – free and available to anyone! Contact George Smart to add your issues to the archive.

Contribute to the Equity Issue of Inform

Inform Magazine launched on Earth Day with the Energy Issue and the Wellness Issue premieres soon.

We’re now seeking contributors for our Equity Issue.

Are you an expert in accessibility, universal design, or affordable housing? Do you have insights to share on equity, diversity, and inclusion in the profession or the built environment? What is the architect’s role in advancing social justice? Add to the discourse on these topics by becoming a contributor.

Articles should be between 300-1,000 words (depending on the topic) and may link to outside sources — including your firm or university website. Content may be edited for style and accuracy.

Content Guidelines

Our goal is to help highlight our members’ contributions to the built environment to each other and to the public, so it is ideal to highlight methods, research, and materials that elevate the overall understanding of a particular typology or approach.

We ask our contributors to avoid marketing or sales-oriented language (as well as “archi-speak”) in submitted pieces, however you are welcomed —even encouraged — to credit consultants or products that contributed to the overall success of the project.

We’d ask you to share images of your work or research. We prefer images to be at least 650 pixels wide and ask that you include any necessary image credits.

Let us know if you want to contribute by May 29.  The content deadline is June 15. Questions? Contact Rhea George.   

Inform Magazine celebrates Virginia’s rich culture of design and the diverse individuals who shape it.

Inform Seeks Contributors for Wellness Issue

Inform launches this month with the Energy Issue and we’re excited to profile the incredible work being generated in Virginia.

We’re now seeking contributors for our Wellness Issue.

Articles should be between 300-1,000 words (depending on the topic) and may link to outside sources — including your firm or university website. Content may be edited for style and accuracy.

Content Guidelines

Our goal is to help highlight our members’ contributions to the built environment to each other and to the public, so it is ideal to highlight methods, research, and materials that elevate the overall understanding of a particular typology or approach.

We ask our contributors to avoid marketing or sales-oriented language (as well as “archi-speak”) in submitted pieces, however you are welcomed —even encouraged — to credit consultants or products that contributed to the overall success of the project.

We’d ask you to share images of your work or research. We prefer images to be at least 650 pixels wide and ask that you include any necessary image credits.

Let us know if you want to contribute by April 30.  The content deadline is May 13. Questions? Contact Rhea George.   

Inform celebrates Virginia’s rich culture of design and the diverse individuals who shape it.

Inform is Coming

Over the past several years, we’ve been re-imagining Inform Magazine as a digital publication that celebrates Virginia’s rich culture of design and the diverse individuals who shape it. Inform will live at the intersection of designers and clients, serving as a nexus for idea-exchange and relationship cultivation. We’ll profile projects and designers — as well as the research and products that help them realize their vision.

Want to Contribute?

Do you regularly blog or post to LinkedIn about architecture and design? Are you an authority in your sector or a typology expert? Do you have design research to share? 

As we prepare to launch, we’re seeking content contributors. To express interest, contact Rhea George. Feel free to include any relevant writing examples.

Want to Pitch a Story?

All of our content will be Virginia-based. We’ll feature award-winning design, news from academia, industry best practices, product and designer profiles, key takeaways from signature events, and member-generated content — all with a connection to the Commonwealth. We’ll also highlight pathways into the profession and champion the industry in Virginia. If you’ve got a compelling story idea, send it to Rhea George.

Want to advertise?

If you’re interested in reaching an audience of Virginia-based designers and design-minded members of the public, contact Judy Cheadle to learn more about advertising opportunities and launch rates.

The History of Inform

Inform was launched in January 1990 as a vehicle to promote good design, covering everything “the human hand shapes [in] the visual world.”  It existed as a physical publication — issued up to 6 times a year — until early 2015 when the board made the critical decision to consider a more sustainable mode of operation. Over the next several years, the board and outreach council worked to evaluate Inform’s purpose, scope, and coverage area and envision its future. Below are a few key milestones:

A task force conducted marketplace research and evaluated member communication preferences. This research, coupled with a thorough budgetary analysis, led to the recommendation that we transition to a digital publication.

In partnership with the non-profit US Modernist, a digital archive of the physical publication was created.

An online firm directory was launched to serve as an important public resource. Firms are searchable by name, ZIP code, and areas of practice.  

In August, a refreshed identity was finalized with our partners at 903 Creative and BCS Website Services began development on a new website shortly afterward.

Work is currently underway to populate content, and the publication is expected to launch in the coming months.