(All photos by George Delgado except above right, by NY Portraits)

Even the most severe recession in recent history can't keep great design down. "No matter how bleak the situation into which we have been thrown by the global economy—it does offer opportunities. Designers need only invent them," said AIGA president Debbie Millman in a speech welcoming guests to the annual AIGA Design Legends Gala, held earlier this month at New York's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. "By understanding our living and working context, we blow open avenues of opportunity and innovation not yet charted or explored." The highlight of the design star-studded evening was the presentation of the 2009 AIGA Medals to designers Pablo Ferro, Carin Goldberg, and Doyald Young.

AIGA medalists past and present take to the stage.

Steven Heller presented the medal to Ferro, draped in his signature red scarf, for "introducing narrative and nonlinear dimensions to design for films, changing our visual expectations, and demonstrating the power of design to enhance storytelling," while Paula Scher did the honors for Goldberg, who was lauded "for her exquisite ability to join intelligence, craft, and an eye for the evocative image in designing iconic pop-cultural and literary artifacts, and for her commitment to design education." Young, who just turned 83, was recognized for "demonstrating the power of a lifelong love of the craft of calligraphy, type, and graphic design, for his contributions as an author, and for his dedication as an educator" and received his medal from Deanna Kuhlmann-Leavitt. JetBlue and Patagonia took home the the AIGA Corporate Leadership Award, and 22 designers from around the country were honored as AIGA Fellows.