We are AIGA Portland and so are you.

We support and advance design careers, connect members of all experience levels, celebrate our achievements, and amplify all that is unique in the PDX metro and throughout Oregon.

Our inclusive community includes members, non-members, and design enthusiasts. All are welcome to events, resources, and volunteer roles. AIGA membership is optional; design is for everyone.

Programs

  • dMob

    Networking without pretense. All are welcome.

    VIEW

  • AIGA Portland's Mentorship Program

    Connecting students and professionals.

    VIEW

  • Portland Design Month 2025

    October 3 - 24

    VIEW

  • AIGA Design for Good

    Design is art with a job to do.

    VIEW

  • AIGA Women Lead

    Empowering women in design.

    VIEW

Board Members

  • President Emeritus (He/Him)
    ronbronson.design

    Ron is a design leader focused on rethinking how complex public systems work for people. He was Head of Design at 18F, the U.S. government’s digital services agency, and is currently Design Director at Nava PBC. In 2025, Ron founded Portland Digital Corps, a volunteer digital sprint connecting technologists with local non-profits. He also teaches as an Assistant Professor of Practice in Urban Planning at the University of Michigan’s Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning.

    Away from work, Ron is a successful high school tennis coach and was named Oregon State Coach of the Year in 2023. He has also served on the Portland Historic Landmarks Commission. Earlier in his career, he sat on the board of AIGA Indianapolis and founded Indy Design Week.

  • President (He/Him)

    vimeo.com/venturacastro

    Equal parts executive producer and creative director, Ventura has been a force behind the scenes of the motion graphics industry for the last 15+ years. As Creative Director for NBC ArtWorks Studio, he leads the in-house agency for brand and package design across all news/documentary properties for on-air and streaming platforms. An avid cinephile, Ventura has taught at the EPFC and given talks at SCAD, SVA, and NYU.

  • Design for Good Director (She/Her)

    www.designbyallyssa.com
    @designbyallyssa

    Allyssa is a Multidisciplinary Designer and Art Director with over 8 years of experience in advertising, social media, and building brands. Passionate about making the world a better place, she specializes in crafting creative solutions that span social impact projects, brand systems, digital products, and websites. She continues to explore new ways to bring ideas to life while staying true to her mission of creating meaningful, impactful work.

  • Programming Director (She/Her)

    Natalie’s approach as a graphic designer is guided by research and empathy. She relishes finding efficiencies, while knowing that the best way from A to B is sometimes the way with the best views. Natalie thrives in roles that leverage her strengths in creative problem-solving and storytelling to craft compelling visual brand narratives. She enjoys a long run and walking to coffee shops with her dog Scout.

  • Women Lead Director (She/Her)

    Carmen is a multidisciplinary designer with a background in e-commerce, marketing, and advertising. Her involvement with AIGA started with the Chicago chapter in 2008 and has moved with her to Portland. Before moving to Portland, she owned and operated a photography business for 12 years. In her free time, she enjoys ceramics, drawing, photography, and the camping and hiking of the Pacific Northwest.

  • Operations Director (She/Her)

    lauramerriman.com

    Laura is a designer and creative director working at architecture/engineering firm Otak in Portland. Originally from Indiana, she started her career in the publications and digital marketing industries. She previously served on the Indianapolis chapter's AIGA board as secretary and was involved in her college AIGA chapter. With a background in gardening and landscape architecture, she loves exploring the trails, waterfalls, and coasts of the Pacific Northwest.

  • Treasurer (He/Him)

    Alex is an accountant with over five years of experience in finance and accounting at marketing and apparel companies. Currently, he works as an Associate on the Corporate Accounting Team at Fisher Investments. He seeks to combine his skills in finance with his passion for design to assist AIGA’s Portland chapter. In his free time, Alex enjoys playing guitar, running in Forest Park, and snowboarding at Mt. Hood.

Program Chairs

  • Mentorship Co-Chair (She/Her)

  • Newsletter Chair (She/Her)

    janetgonzales.com

    Originally from New York, Janet is a UX Designer who splits her time between Utah and Oregon. Janet loves design because every day is different and provides the opportunity to create something truly impactful. She works with a diverse range of clients and especially loves solving the UX challenges associated with complex tech. When not designing, Janet travels, runs, figure skates, and spends time with friends and family.

  • Education Chair (She/Her)

    hallecisco.com

    Halle is an art director, designer, illustrator and educator with experience working with creative clients in e-commerce, education, retail, healthcare, publishing and technology. Originally from Ohio, she pursued a career in design in NYC before coming to Portland in 2016. She taught at PNCA and the Art Institute Online while working as a designer and volunteering at AIGA, Caldera, The Right Brain Initiative and Big Brothers Big Sisters.