Design Week Portland is back, and bigger than ever before. This annual occurrence offers hundreds of ways to connect with creative professionals in the Portland metro area – from candle makers, to wood workers, to creative agencies. The event lasts an entire week and is comprised of open houses, cocktail parties, panel events, and more. The community is invited to learn about multiple creative disciplines by visiting studios, engaging in conversation, viewing work samples, and gaining a sense of what goes into the creative process.
“Design Week Portland traverses every discipline, creating important moments of overlap that stoke the flames of innovation and impact,” said festival director Tsilli Pines, who views creative work as a cultural and economic resource for Portland. “The festival exists to galvanize the creative community and aims to fuel the city’s rise as an important design center.”
Visual effects artists of all disciplines will find this year’s edition particularly interesting, as DWP2016 marks the highest number of visual effects related events in the history of the festival. With open houses occurring at VFX studios around the city, as well as a number of other related events, there will be plenty to do that week. Here’s a brief run-down of all the VFX happenings this year at Design Week:
Monday April 18th
Reel Review + Alphabest
Come see a showcase of local talent as their reels are projected and reviewed for all to see. Whether you’re an artist yourself, a creative director, or a casual viewer, the talent on display, as well as the constructive feedback being dished out, is sure to please!
Schedule for the night – Alphabest screening, Reel Review, Alphabest screening encore.
Monday, April 18th, 6:30-10:00pm
Artist Repertory Theatre
1515 SW Morrison
Cost: $10
Click here for more information about this event, and to RSVP
Wednesday April 20th
9iFX Open House
9iFX is a VFX/Animation studio located on the SE waterfront near OMSI. They specialize in high-end visual effects and motion graphics for film, TV, big brands, live event visuals, and music videos. They’ve collaborated with corporate clients like Nike, Intel, and Puma; TV and broadcast networks ESPN, the SyFy Channel, and MTV; and a number of independent feature length films and music videos. Their open house will feature retro video games, snacks, beer, and an impressive cheese plate.
Wednesday, April 20th, 4:00-7:00pm
211 SE Madison ST #23
Cost: Free
Click here for more information about 9iFX, this event, and to RSVP
Bent Design Lab Open House
Bent Design Lab is a newly launched brand from the creative folks at Bent Image Lab. Bent is a long- time pillar in the film industry in Portland, and this latest venture is already producing stunning projects. Their headquarters is located on Division St. in SE Portland. They’ll have a gallery of work samples projected on a 25’ screen and a dance party starting at 7pm.
Wednesday, April 20th, 4:00-??
2729 SE Division St.
Cost: Free
Click here for more information about Bent, this event, and to RSVP
Thursday April 21st
Wacom Experience Center Open House
Vancouver-based tech company, Wacom, is making inroads into downtown with their new experience center. Wacom is the leader in digital drawing hardware and the company behind industry tools, like the renowned Cintiq and the ever-useful Intuos. Their new space in The Pearl aims to become the living room for Portland’s creative community. Their open house will feature an exhibition of local artists and product testing, as well as some snacks and local brews.
Thursday, April 21st, 4:00-7:00pm
1455 NW Irving St.
Cost: Free
Click here for more information about Wacom, this event, and to RSVP
Friday April 22nd
Hinge Digital Open House
Hinge Digital is an award-winning production-studio-gone-creative-agency based in SW Portland. Their specialties include live action, animation, and visual effects, and they have worked with big brands like Bayer, Amazon, and Microsoft. Their open house will feature facility tours, snacks, drinks, and friendly conversation.
Friday April 22nd, 4:00-7:00pm
740 SW 21st Ave
Cost: Free
Click here for more information about Hinge Digital, this event, and to RSVP
Know about any other VFX related events happening during Design Week? Tell us about them in the comments!
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