The STA has a long and prestigious history as a professional association for designers in Chicago. Originally established in 1927 as the Society of Typographic Arts the organization existed until 1989. The New STA emerged in 1990 resurrected by a small group of former officers and board members of the STA and other affiliated organizations in Chicago who wanted to continue to focus on local and regional issues as well as on any global issues that might affect Chicagoland designers.