For almost 150 continuous days, Portland has protested against the police killings of innocent Black men, women, and children. Amongst these protests, Portland’s Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) artists are creating—interpretive, honorary, subversive, moving—art.
Everyone in this curation exudes excellence in their own way and we encourage you to take time to immerse yourself in appreciating their talents and entrepreneurship in addition to all the folx that exist within the Mercatus ecosystem.
"Showing up to work with Black and Brown bodies, unique gender identities, and the experiences of living a life of oppression is radical and revolutionary in and of itself." – JOOP JOOP Creative Curator Fran Bittakis
"As we continue to navigate society amidst the current revolution, we seek the work of makers who have long incorporated equity and advocacy into their art, and continue to build upon generations-long traditions of action." – Portland in Color curators Celeste Noche and Emilly Prado
Maureen Towey, an artist working across many mediums, is the on-set director for the beloved Pop-Up Magazine. With their most recent iteration, "At Home," Towey and her team was faced with new challenges. She spoke with us about how they pivoted.
As a design organization, we recognize that the system is working exactly as it was designed. We recognize our part in the system and our shared responsibility to dismantle white supremacy.
This year, we're shifting to a virtual format with a tighter focus. Here's what you need to know about programming, timing, and ticketing.
Neon has a following. And Kate Widdows is a loyalist. She’s an independent letterer and typographer who designs everything from typefaces and record covers to GIFs and, you guessed it, neon signs. She’s also found a way to merge the two, having pioneered animated neon lettering for the web, work which has been exhibited internationally at design festivals and art galleries. We asked Kate a few questions about reaching peak neon fan status, and how that appreciation transitioned into her own bright work.
Design thinking is bullshit. It’s an opinion and a talk notable designer Natasha Jen is well-known for. And, sure, it’s a phrase that entices, piques curiosity. But it’s the experience behind the opinion—the years of exploring cultural intersections and divergence, design systems, philosophies, failures—that has made Natasha Jen a Name in the design world. Or rather, she has earned that reputation for herself.
Educators Kristin Rogers Brown and Kate Bingaman-Burt blessed us with a sunshine-filled chat on our Instagram Live about connection and showing your work. Here's an excellent resource guide on how to be confident with your portfolio, website, and outreach techniques.
Think back to your beginnings as a designer. Do you remember someone who took the time to review your work or offered a tip that helped you navigate your first steps into the field? You could be that person to someone else.
Based on our current research and understanding, we have made the hard decision to postpone Design Week Portland. The festival is now slated to run August 1-8, 2020.
