Bend Design Conference

The Bend Design Conference brings creative people from around the country to Bend for two-days of collaboration and inspiration. Hear from some of the top designers, writers, architects and more, and participate in workshops and pop ups all that inspire creativity and change.

Thursday, October 17 

Welcome Reception

5:30 | Scalehouse Gallery

Join speakers and sponsors at the Bend Design 2024 kick-off event! Grab your pass, enjoy a drink, savor some small bites, and explore the exhibition. It’s the perfect way to mingle and immerse yourself in creativity and innovation.

Friday, October 18

8:30 am – 6:00 pm

Grab a cup of coffee and connect with other creative thinkers before you start your day with the following presentations, panels, film and party. 

Speaker: Corey Martin, Architect

Drawing From a New Landscape

The Central Oregon Landscape is a relatively new (in geological time), and sublimely beautiful place that suggests a unique approach to designing buildings. Drawing from a New Landscape looks at what makes Central Oregon so special and explores ways that architecture and art can deepen connection with this place.

Panel: Designing for the Public: Human-Centered Approaches in Municipal and Public Art Projects

This panel will delve into innovative human-centered design strategies for the new City of Bend Public Works Campus, emphasizing the significance of designing spaces that cater to both functionality and community engagement. Join us to learn from experts and thought leaders on how to design municipal and public spaces that are efficient, sustainable, and reflective of the communities they serve, ensuring readiness for future challenges and opportunities.

Speaker: Jaihline Ramirez

Threads of Heritage: The Ribbon Skirt as a Contemporary Symbol of Indigenous Identity

Ribbon skirts have become a fashion staple around all of Indian Country. Although they are not “traditional” to any of the local tribes, women and girls have adopted the style to wear in lieu of more western formal attire. Each skirt, meticulously handcrafted, becomes a canvas for personal narratives and messages that hold deep significance for the artists who create them.

A runway show at the Wrap Cocktail Party will showcase the creativity and craftsmanship of the ribbon skirts

Panel: Discourse in Motion

As a maturing art from, Motion Design is playing a larger role in our everyday lives. Yet most people don’t even realize that there is a term for this field. From the early days of the Star Wars opening scroll to the recent rise of AI generated video, Motion has captured audience eyes and engages them into an unspoken communique. In this panel, 4 artists from varying backgrounds and eras of experience will discuss the start and rise of Motion Design as a communication method and will delve into the ever evolving field to see where it could end up in the not so distant future.

Speaker:Make it till you Make it 

Shantanu Sharma, Designer, Illustrator, Art Director

This talk will explore navigating designing in an industry that is growing to prioritize design and making space early in your career for creating the work you want to create.

Film: Squaring the Circle: The Story of Hipgnosis

Hipgnosis, founded in Cambridge amidst the cultural upheaval of the sixties, rose to prominence by redefining album art. They not only pushed the boundaries of what was possible visually but also played a pivotal role in making music visually accessible and culturally resonant. Their collaboration with artists allowed them to create album covers that became inseparable from the music itself, influencing popular culture and cementing their place in rock royalty.

The documentary promises an intimate look at their creative process, their triumphs, and their challenges. It celebrates their ability to conceptualize and execute visuals that captured the essence of the music they adorned, influencing not just the perception of the albums but also the broader artistic landscape of the time.

Happy Hour Wrap Party

4:00 – 6:00 | Scalehouse Gallery

End the day with music, drinks, food, Ribbon Skirt fashion show, new connections and exchange of ideas.

Learn more about the entire event here.