I started working with Design Portland back when it was Design Week Portland in 2015 as a volunteer focused on the annual festival. Throughout the years, I played many roles. My work for the city-wide festival often spanned the fall through spring and included running the festival’s registration, managing events’ and organizers’ digital listings, organizing attendee information, training volunteers, and running festival check-in. I also copywrote event descriptions for 300+ events and open houses.

I later took on a larger role as the copy editor for DWP’s now-retired monthly online publication, The Journal, which covered design-related topics shaping the future of our quickly changing city.

In 2019, I became a regular contributor to The Journal, which was later rebranded as Design Week Portland became simply Design Portland, and we covered design-related issues year-round. As a writer, I interviewed more than two dozen Portland-based creatives about their crafts, missions, and visions for Portland.

Design Portland made the tough decision to close its chapter in 2021 after the pandemic continued to cause hardships on live events. But my time with the nonprofit remains one of the most special opportunities I’ve had while living and working in Portland.