As we usher in a new decade we at AIGA Portland would like to reflect a bit on 2009, a roller-coaster year for Portland creatives.

On the plus side, we have a new US president that strongly endorses community involvement and the power of design as a medium through which positive change can be promoted; on the minus side, we saw compression in our economy that left many agencies and freelancers reeling and lead many of our clients to reassess how they market their businesses. Wherever you looked, people sought ways to work smarter and cheaper, doing more with less.

In a nutshell: business-as-usual flew out the window in 2009 (unless you’re a large bank, in which case it flew right back in). We charted territory as we moved through it: rewriting rules where necessary, redefining roles, looking at the world with fresh eyes. It was simultaneously frightening and exhilarating.

And where has 2009 left us? Now more than any time in recent memory, smart, sustainable brand building is center stage. Clients are hungry for guidance as they navigate the rocky terrain of our recovering economy, and designers are frequently called upon to provide this guidance. It’s a sign of the times, and in many ways it’s our time to shine.

To whet your appetites for what’s to come in 2010, here is an overview of what we did in 2009, together.

Throughout 2009, AIGA Portland has been there with you—not just feeling your pain but also providing opportunities for inspiration, celebration, education, and participation in our incredible design community. And we have every intention of doing the same in 2010.

• Through our education programs, we will teach you skills to help you help your clients.
• Through our monthly and quarterly gatherings, we will keep you connected with your peers.
• Through our events, we will keep you inspired, current, and experimental.

To hint at what’s to come in 2010, here is an overview of what we did in 2009:

AIGA Portland’s quarterly series, Designspeaks, entered its sophomore year under the direction of Vice President Eric Hillerns, and has become one of our highlight events. This year, AIGA Portland explored the impact of poster art in post-WWII Poland with Andrea Marks; applauded Patrick Coyne, founder of Communication Arts; laughed with Jelly Helm (who is Jelly Helm); and listened to the tall tales of Aaron Draplin.

In August, under the command of Programming Chair, Heather Dougherty, and a team of volunteers, AIGA Portland rocked your world with Design a Trois, a three-part event series exploring rock poster art, book cover design and typography. Of special note was the highly opinionated and often opposing post-documentary rock poster panel, made up of Art Chantry, Dan Stiles, Guy Burwell, Mike King, and Lloyd Winter.

For tangible, practical hard-core business and design information, AIGA Portland continued to offer Career Tools, a quarterly Breakfast series. For our February Career Tools event we hosted a dynamic and seasoned panel of local design professionals to share advice on surviving the economic downturn. A lively and poignant discussion ensued. Thanks to event director Lindsey Hammond, and her keen talent scouting skills, for making this event such a success. Look for additional Career Tools events in 2010.

2009 also introduced a new Board position into the mix. Lisa Holmes enthusiastically took on the role of Sustainability Chair, and formed the Green Team committee – a group of volunteers dedicated to sustainable design resources, initiatives and events. Lisa’s Green Team launched its first successful Green Salon, an event that allowed a selection of speakers to present their sustainable design solutions in 5-minute presentations.

Of course, AIGA Portland’s staple networking event—the beloved dMob—has stayed strong through 2009. Three new volunteers took the reigns of this creative meet-up this year, and have many new ideas to add to the fun. Together we helped many local drinking establishments survive the recession with the motto, “Can I buy you a drink?”

Events aside, AIGA Portland has been active in the community. We led a team of creative groups to help inform and reform the City of Portland’s proposal for their website redesign. Jennifer Green, AIGA Portland’s newly appointed Partnership Chair, has been a busy bee collaborating with other creative groups in town and working to support the establishment of a trade association as well as a design council to advise local government.

Last but not least, this year welcomed Nicole Conant as the new AIGA Education Chair. Together with Vice President Kristin Rogers Brown, she partnered with re:active, a local nonprofit, arts-education program for youths 15-19, on the local component of Create, Don’t Hate! for Design Ignites Change. We brought together four generous designers/firms to volunteer their time working with youth, developing art for Create, Don’t Hate! billboards to be displayed all over the city.

AIGA Portland has a big agenda ahead for 2010. Along with continuing Designspeaks, Career Tools, Green Salons, and dMob series, look for special events such as: ReSource Green Vendor Expo, AIGA Portfolio Day for students, and an AIGA Tree Planting community service event. AIGA Portland is also expanding its reach in Education and Partnership, with the formation of new committees to further develop relationships with schools and other creative organizations in town to make a more powerful and connected community.

We welcome you to help our cause by providing your comments and suggestions, or by supporting AIGA through sponsorship and volunteering. If you are interested in volunteering with AIGA, please contact Melissa Delzio at mdelzio@portland.aiga.org. For sponsorship, please contact Joaquin Lippincott jlippincott@portland.aiga.org.

We wholeheartedly thank the amazing team of volunteers who make up AIGA Portland’s Board and committees.

AIGA Portland Board
President – Johnny Levenson
Vice President – Kristin Rogers Brown
Vice President – Eric Hillerns
Secretary – Angela Reat
Treasurer – Erik Ratcliffe (outgoing: Lenore Hart)
Programming – Heather Dougherty (outgoing: Steve Potestio)
Membership – Tiffany Jackson
Volunteer – Melissa Delzio (outgoing: Ryan Smythe)
Communications – Dave Selden
Education – Nicole Conant
Sustainability – Lisa Holmes
Sponsorship – Joaquin Lippincott
Partnership – Jennifer Green

Communications Committee Members
Email: Shona Lepis
Print: Steve Harkin
Web: Ryan Smythe
Twitter: Matthew Marosz
Facebook: Martin Gee (outgoing: Stephanie Wagner)
LinkedIn: Mary Lafleur
Photography: Sarah Hutchinson
Video: Mike Lepis
Flickr: Darius Kuzmickas
Calendar: Sam LaRoe

Green Team Committee Members
Caitlin Weber
Genevieve Margherio
Jala Smith-Huys
Jane Pellicciotto
Kristin Casaletto
Martha Koenig
Travis Fulton

Programming:
Programming Committee Director: Diego Diaz
Career Tools: Maggie Bethke (outgoing: Lindsey Hammond)
dMob Committee: Alissa Thiele, Andy Portello, Jason Duerr
Designspeaks: Michael Buchino, Emily Fitzhugh

Sponsors:
We would like to thank 52 Ltd. and The Ace Hotel for their support of Designspeaks.

AIGA Portland wishes you all a Happy Holidays!