Oen Hammonds of AIGA Austin and Carlos Estrada of AIGA Detroit: The Silo Busters

Cheers & Tiers Podcast
Written By Rachel Elnar

I’m still thinking about this conversation Erik and I just had with Oen Hammonds and Carlos Estrada.

First of all, they’re hilarious. Carlos kept reminding us that we called him an OG and leaning into it hard (“Come here, youngin’. Let me tell you something.”) And Oen is out here dropping wisdom like “you have to be a silo buster” with the kind of calm confidence that comes from actually doing the work for years.

But here’s what really got me: they didn’t just share retreat memories—they broke down exactly how retreats became the cornerstone (Carlos’s word, and he’s right) that held AIGA together.

When Your Chapter President Calls Ahead

Carlos made this point that made us all pause: “The retreats to me, I don’t think have been a pillar of AIGA. I think they’ve been a cornerstone.”

Retreats weren’t just nice-to-have professional development. They were where movements were born. The DEI Task Force? Started at a Denver retreat when a group of leaders sat in a circle and said, “We’re sticking out like sore thumbs here. The professional association needs to look different.” Unidos? Born at the Atlanta retreat in 2019.

The retreat gave everyone fuel and energy to “plow through whatever you had to plow through in your region” for the entire year. Everything that mattered came from people connecting at retreats and saying, “We can do better. Let’s do this together.”

The Cornerstone, Not Just a Pillar

Carlos made this point that made us all pause: “The retreats to me, I don’t think, have been a pillar of AIGA. I think they’ve been a cornerstone.”

Retreats weren’t just nice-to-have professional development. They were where movements were born. The DEI Task Force? Started at a Denver retreat when a group of leaders sat in a circle and said, “We’re sticking out like sore thumbs here. The professional association needs to look different.” Unidos? Born at the Atlanta retreat in 2019.

The retreat gave everyone fuel and energy to “plow through whatever you had to plow through in your region” for the entire year. Everything that mattered came from people connecting at retreats and saying, “We can do better. Let’s do this together.”

The Silo Buster Mentality

Here’s where they really got me. Oen started talking about being “the silo buster”—someone who doesn’t stay in their bubble, who goes and gets the information they need to move forward.

Carlos did exactly that at Herman Miller. He was contracting there, started talking to everyone during his coffee breaks (because “after two hours of sitting, you need to walk”), and ended up connecting with people across the entire ecosystem. That’s how he raised money for AIGA West Michigan. One VP literally said, “We’ve got $5,000 in petty cash. You want it?” They used it for three events.

But the real lesson? You have to break down silos. You have to put on your best outfit and go ask for money—not for yourself, but for the invitation you’re extending to be part of something bigger.

The confidence comes from representing something greater than yourself. As I told Carlos, when you’re asking on behalf of AIGA, it's not “Hi, I'm Rachel, give me money.” It’s “I’m with AIGA Los Angeles, and here’s the community we're building.” That opens doors.

Reeducating the Value of Design (Again)

Both of them brought up something I’ve been feeling: we’re back to square one in some ways.

Oen’s saw it at IBM. There was a time when everyone wanted designers on their teams. Design had a seat at the table. Now we’re back to explaining what design does.

It’s the same with chapter sponsorships. Companies that used to say yes are now reluctant. Carlos has literally had sponsors give money and then take it back.

It’s a time for reeducating. Not just asking for money, but providing value. Going to companies and saying, “Let me show you how you’re not using your designers to their fullest potential.”

It’s exhausting. But as Carlos said, “That doesn’t mean you can’t overcome it.”

The Pyramid That Reached the Balcony

Okay, we have to talk about Grand Rapids because both of them brought it up unprompted.

The dance party. Eighties retro. They danced for three to four hours straight. Carlos woke up the next morning SORE and genuinely confused like, “All we did was dance. Why can’t I move?”

And that wasn’t even the last night.

The last night, they built a pyramid in the hotel lobby that reached the balcony. Oen estimated it was 12-13 feet high. Carlos said, “That’s old architecture.” The hotel staff had to stop them because they literally reached the balcony with human bodies stacked on hands and knees.

And then? The 6 AM club. Carlos: “There’s like 30 adults trying to find something to do just so we could be a part of the 6 AM club. No sleep till 6 AM. Insanity, but so much fun.”

Meanwhile in Baltimore, the Detroit chapter got a VIP room at a Peruvian restaurant. They had extra seats and started inviting smaller chapters that didn't have plans. “At the retreat, the mentality is you can just say, you’re with us. Let's go.”

Why This Still Matters

After we finished recording, I sat with this for a while. Both Oen and Carlos are still showing up for community even though their official roles have shifted. They’ve said goodbye to major leadership positions, but they’re still here. Still offering to talk to chapter leaders one-on-one. Still dropping gems about confidence and silo-busting.

Carlos sent his board member to a retreat during the pandemic because he could see them burning out. “I have this power and this platform now. You are coming with me. Because I can see what’s happening with you right now in your career. And you can blame me for calling favorites. Do whatever you want. It’s already done.”

That’s leadership. That’s what retreats taught them. That’s what they’re still giving back.

We need more silo busters. We need more people who will walk into the coffee shop and talk to everyone until they find their tribe. We need more leaders who will look at someone burning out and say, “You're coming with me.”

The retreats gave us that fuel for a year at a time. Now we figure out how to keep that fire going.

Want to hear Carlos explain why he doesn't drink but still can't remember half the retreats? Or Oen break down exactly how to present design's value to business leaders? Or any story about that Grand Rapids pyramid? Listen to the full episode wherever you get your podcasts.

And if you've ever been a chapter leader, both Oen and Carlos said they're available for one-on-ones. These are the OGs who will actually pick up the phone.

If You Loved This Episode, You Might Also Like:

Episode with Carolyn Colonna and Taylor Nall of AIGA Charlotte: More retreat stories, more pyramids, and the legendary mullet meter

Rachel Elnar
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