Bill Grant is Mayor of the City of Canton, Georgia and President and Chief Creative Officer of Grant Design Collaborative, an internationally recognized branding and marketing firm. In his design profession, Grant was the first designer from the South to serve as National President of AIGA, the Professional Association for Design, from 2005-2007 and was named an AIGA Fellow in 2005. While serving as AIGA President, Grant lead over 60 local chapters in advancing design as an economic, social and cultural force. His efforts included initiating the industry’s first Diversity Task Force and the creation of the AIGA Ethics Guide for Professional Designers. Graphic Design USA recently named Bill “One of the 50 Most Influential Designers Working Today.”

As a public servant, Grant was elected Mayor of the City on Canton in 2019 for a four-year term, 2020-2024. Prior to being elected Mayor, he served on the Canton City Council and as Mayor Pro Tempore from 2014 – 2019. As Mayor of Canton, Grant created the City’s first Diversity and Inclusion Task Force and CanTeen, a local youth civic engagement organization. Mayor Grant served as the Keynote Speaker for the International Interior Design Association’s Advocacy Symposium to share insight into how designers can drive advocacy efforts and contribute to local government initiatives.

Bill was born in Dalton, Georgia and graduated from Berry College with a B.A. in English and Psychology, summa cum laude. He has lived in Canton since 1996 when he relocated his business, Grant Design Collaborative, to downtown Canton. Both his home and office building have received the Historic Preservation Award by the Cherokee County Historical Society.

Successful Business Professional:

Bill is President and Creative Director for a highly acclaimed marketing firm, Grant Design Collaborative in Historic Downtown Canton.

Bill was the first National President of AIGA, the Professional Association for Design, elected outside of New York and San Francisco. The association has over 28,000 members and 70 chapters.

Bill was named an AIGA Fellow in 2005.

Bill helped author and produce the AIGA “Business and Ethical Expectations for Professional Designers.”

Bill assisted in curriculum development for the AIGA Harvard Business School program “Business Perspectives for Design Leaders.”

Bill was recently named one of Graphic Design USA’s “50 Most Influential Designers Working Today.”

Education:

Bill graduated with highest honors from Berry College in 1984 where he earned a BA in English and Psychology.

Bill completed the Harvard Business School Executive Education Program, “Business Perspectives for Creative Leaders”.