Events
Art Building Grand Opening Event
Please join us in celebrating the grand opening of the new home for the Jordan Schnitzer School of Art + Art History + Design at Portland State University.
Come experience this exciting new chapter in the arts at PSU, explore the spaces, and celebrate the students, faculty, artists, designers, and community members who make this school thrive as we kick off the academic year in our new home.
4:00pm–4:45pm – Opening Remarks
4:45pm – Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
5:00pm–8:00pm – Building-wide Open House Celebration with activities, making, performances, printing, music, exhibitions, and more.
Show & Tell: Adam JK
Photo by Lila Lee
It’s time to play the music! It’s time to light the lights! It’s time to learn some design knowledge during lunch because Show & Tell is back in the new Art Building!
Join us live Thursday, 10/15 at noon Pacific in our new home, ABX 260, for a talk from artist and author Adam JK!
Adam J. Kurtz ("Adam JK") is a Toronto-born, Honolulu-based artist whose illustrative work is rooted in honesty, humor, and a little bit of darkness. His books and journals including Things Are What You Make of Them have sold over a million copies in twenty languages.
Find them online:
Can't make it in person to the second floor of the new Art Building? Tune in to psu.gd/twitch to watch online!
What is Show & Tell anyway? It’s PSU Graphic Design’s long-time online lunchtime lecture series where working design professionals stop by to blow our minds with wisdom! Our lectures are hosted by the students of DES 125 Show & Tell! All talks are free and open to the public! You can learn more about the series and see the whole linup at psu.gd/showandtell! Check it out!
Promo by Deven Truong
Show & Tell: nia musiba, Freelance Artist/Designer + Risograph printer at Outlet PDX and nůn
It’s time to play the music! It’s time to light the lights! It’s time to learn some design knowledge during lunch because Show & Tell is back in the new Art Building!
Join us live Thursday, 10/22 at noon Pacific in our new home, ABX 260, for a talk from freelance artist/designer + risograph printer at Outlet PDX and nůn!
nia musiba [knee-uh moo-see-buh] is a Portland-based artist, designer, and best-friend-maker with a practice spanning painting, drawing, murals, ceramics, graphic design, and community-driven projects. Through bold color, symbolic forms, and playful figures, she builds a world that is personal yet universal, exploring themes of identity, heartbreak, connection, balance, cycles, and love. nia specializes in collaboration, experimentation, question-asking, and dreaming big.
Find them online:
Can't make it in person to the second floor of the new Art Building? Tune in to psu.gd/twitch to watch online!
What is Show & Tell anyway? It’s PSU Graphic Design’s long-time online lunchtime lecture series where working design professionals stop by to blow our minds with wisdom! Our lectures are hosted by the students of DES 125 Show & Tell! All talks are free and open to the public! You can learn more about the series and see the whole linup at psu.gd/showandtell! Check it out!
Promo by Deven Truong
Show & Tell: Sam Anvari, Associate Professor of Graphic Design at California State University, Long Beach
It’s time to play the music! It’s time to light the lights! It’s time to learn some design knowledge during lunch because Show & Tell is back in the new Art Building!
Join us live Thursday, 10/29 at noon Pacific in our new home, ABX 260, for a talk from Sam Anvari, Associate Professor of Graphic Design at California State University, Long Beach!
Sam Anvari is an interdisciplinary graphic and interaction designer with 20+ years of experience in interaction and mobile/web design. Sam holds an MFA in Graphic Design from Otis College of Art and Design, having studied under Kali Nikitas, Stuart Bailey, and Dr. Erik Spiekermann, and a BS in Biomedical Engineering. At CSULB, Sam teaches UX/UI, interaction design, mobile application design, typography/design systems, and human-centered methods—treating design as a bridge between art, systems, and language to make interfaces clear and universally understandable. In addition to teaching, Sam works as an independent graphic designer and UX/UI design consultant. Sam's projects include collaborations with agencies such as Edenspiekermann and Alice.Inc., as well as direct consulting on UX/UI for data-record systems, automotive car UI, and usability enhancements for medical devices. This mix of academic and professional practice keeps Sam's teaching connected to industry realities while delivering design solutions that are practical, accessible, and effective.
Find them online:
Can't make it in person to the second floor of the new Art Building? Tune in to psu.gd/twitch to watch online!
What is Show & Tell anyway? It’s PSU Graphic Design’s long-time online lunchtime lecture series where working design professionals stop by to blow our minds with wisdom! Our lectures are hosted by the students of DES 125 Show & Tell! All talks are free and open to the public! You can learn more about the series and see the whole linup at psu.gd/showandtell! Check it out!
Promo by Deven Truong
Show & Tell: Sophie Van Der Merwe, Art Director & Designer at NIKE
It’s time to play the music! It’s time to light the lights! It’s time to learn some design knowledge during lunch because Show & Tell is back in the new Art Building!
Join us live Thursday, 11/5 at noon Pacific in our new home, ABX 260, for a talk from Sophie Van Der Merwe, Art Director & Designer at NIKE!
Sophie Van Der Merwe is an Art Director, Designer, and 2019 PSUGD alum who has worked for brands like SKIMS, Nike, & Jordan Brand both agency side at Wieden+Kennedy Portland, and in-house at Nike.
Find them online:
Can't make it in person to the second floor of the new Art Building? Tune in to psu.gd/twitch to watch online!
What is Show & Tell anyway? It’s PSU Graphic Design’s long-time online lunchtime lecture series where working design professionals stop by to blow our minds with wisdom! Our lectures are hosted by the students of DES 125 Show & Tell! All talks are free and open to the public! You can learn more about the series and see the whole linup at psu.gd/showandtell! Check it out!
Promo by Deven Truong
Show & Tell: Bryan Yonki, Sign Painter at Well Done Signs
It’s time to play the music! It’s time to light the lights! It’s time to learn some design knowledge during lunch because Show & Tell is back in the new Art Building!
Join us live Thursday, 11/12 at noon Pacific in our new home, ABX 260, for a talk from Bryan Yonki, Sign Painter at Well Done Signs!
Bryan Yonki is an artist, sign painter, and instructor currently based in Portland, Oregon. His love for hand-painted signs began during his childhood in Santiago, Chile, where he grew up admiring the art adorning public transportation buses and witnessed the decline of this traditional craft with the rise of vinyl. Bryan moved to Los Angeles, California in 2014, where he taught himself the art of sign painting and eventually established his own sign studio called "Well Done Signs" in 2016 and is now a brick and mortar storefront in NE Portland. Embodying the motto "Always hand painted," he has dedicated himself to enhancing the urban landscapes of L.A. and Portland by creating numerous hand-painted signs and murals adorning storefronts throughout the city. Bryan actively shares his knowledge and passion for the trade through workshops, encouraging newcomers to contribute to the preservation of this traditional craft. He frequently travels and offers these workshops in various cities across the West Coast.
Find them online:
Can't make it in person to the second floor of the new Art Building? Tune in to psu.gd/twitch to watch online!
What is Show & Tell anyway? It’s PSU Graphic Design’s long-time online lunchtime lecture series where working design professionals stop by to blow our minds with wisdom! Our lectures are hosted by the students of DES 125 Show & Tell! All talks are free and open to the public! You can learn more about the series and see the whole linup at psu.gd/showandtell! Check it out!
Promo by Deven Truong
Viking Days Open House at the new Art Building!
As part of Portland State University's Viking Days, join the Jordan Schnitzer School of Art + Art History + Design in celebrating the start of the academic year and our new home.
New and returning students, faculty, staff, and the campus community are invited to explore the building through hands-on activities, demonstrations, and interactive experiences in our studios, labs, and classrooms. Meet faculty, staff, and students, take guided tours of the spaces, and discover the many creative opportunities available at PSU.
Presented as part of PSU’s annual Viking Days event. All Viking Days events are free and open to all PSU students and employees.
Mosaic: A Thesis Showcase
Mosaic: A Thesis Showcase
Come see the varied and engaging work of @psugd thesis students for one night only!
————
June 9th, 5–7pm at Volumes Design Library
426 SW Harvey Milk St.
It’s time for FRESH 2026, the PSUGD Senior Portfolio Show!
RSVP for your ticket!
Join 60 graduating Portland State Graphic Design seniors at Volumes Design Library on June 4th as we celebrate the next chapter of their creative journeys.
Thanks to our wonderful friends at Volumes, we’ll be taking over their beautiful space for an evening of design, conversation, and community.
Come explore a wide range of student work, connect with the designers, and enjoy snacks, good vibes, and a whole lot of creative energy.
Whether you’re industry, family, friends, alumni, or simply design-curious, we’d love to see you there.
Library Mural Visioning Workshop!
PSU students are invited to participate in a collaborative mural visioning workshop for an upcoming library stairwell mural project.
The workshop will be led by the selected artist and will help shape the direction of the mural through student input and discussion. Food will be provided!
Date: June 2
Time: 12:30–2:00 PM
This is a great opportunity for students interested in public art, mural-making, collaborative design processes, and community engagement.
🌟Launch Studio Residency🌟 Deadline: Monday, June 1st
This fall, the Schnitzer School of Art, Art History and Design will introduce the Launch Studio Residency, a new program supporting PSU alumni in their creative practice. If you are graduating this spring, that includes you.
The Launch Studio Residency supports Portland-based alumni of the PSU Schnitzer School of Art + Art History + Design as they transition into professional careers. Open to upcoming graduates and those within three years of completing their degree. The program supports the transition from school to sustained creative practice.
Residents receive a semi-private studio for nine months, along with access to media studios and labs. The residency runs from September 16, 2026, through June 10, 2027
The residency includes the following:
- A 9-month semi-private studio space with access to related media studios and labs
- Participation in the Fall Open House and other Open Studio event
- A public talk
- Teaching one workshop
- 5 hours of unpaid volunteer service per week, arranged in consultation with a faculty mentor
Move-in: September 16, 2026
Move-out: June 10, 2027
DUE: JUNE 1
To Apply: LINK HERE
COMMA × Thesis: MXR 2026 (Copy)
This year’s MXR will be hosted at Thesis.
Hosted by COMMA, MXR is an annual celebration of community featuring work, collaborations, and initiatives developed throughout the year. Join us for food, drinks, activities, and conversations around our mentorship programs with Thesis and Formation. Open to BIPOC students, designers, creatives, and allies.
This year’s MXR will be hosted at Thesis.
Friday, May 29
5–7 PM
2375 NW Savier St.
Portland, OR 97210
Interested in showing work at MXR? Fill out the interest form here!
Instagram: @psugd_comma
Check us out on the World-Wide Web: psu.gd/comma
Promo Design by @dio.xide
Join Design Club for their last get together of the year!
How well do you know your emojis? 🦅🔥🕺🏾🍑🐐💅💅🫦😈✍️🙏🏾✍🏿!!
Come Celebrate the last Design Club meeting in the old art building!!!
May 28th in AB 320 from 12:40-1:30.
Promo by Emily Ramos
ATTN: ART & DESIGN (BA/BS) MAJORS!
Interested in making a portfolio? Stuck on what you should include? Want some helpful resources? Come to our lunch and learn to hear all about portfolio best practices, project documentation, bookmark resources, ask questions, and eat some food!Whether you’ve got a bunch of projects or no idea where to start, we’ve got you covered!
Lunch & Learn: How to Make a Portfolio!
RM 320 (main art building) in at 12:40 PM on May 26.
Join virtually too! https://pdx.zoom.us/j/6810104366
Reach out to Bo-Linn (ibolinn@pdx.edu) with any questions.
Apply Now: The 14th annual Arlene Schnitzer Visual Arts Prize
Three Winners: Prizes $4,100
Deadline: Sunday, May 24, 2026 at midnight
More Info + Apply Here: https://bit.ly/apply-schnitzer
The Arlene Schnitzer Visual Arts Prize is the most important visual arts prize awarded annually by Portland State University’s Schnitzer School of Art + Art History + Design. It is meant to recognize excellence in visual art created by students pursuing undergraduate or graduate degrees from the Schnitzer School of Art + Art History + Design.
ELIGIBILITY: Students must be majoring in programs in the PSU Schnitzer School of Art + Art History + Design (Art Practice, Graphic Design, and Art History) and enrolled in half-time or greater status during Spring 2026. Prior winners of this award are not eligible. Winners will be announced in June 2026 and must be willing and able to display and help install their work at the exhibition held in their honor at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art at PSU in January 2027.
Please note that this applies only to Art + Art History + Design majors
creating visual work.
Design Club final field trip: Studio Butch.
Design Club is going to Studio Butch!
This is open to Portland State Graphic Design students only, so please use your PDX.edu address when registering.
What is Studio Butch?
We specialize in helping brands grow consumer connection IRL through short-term activations and permanent spaces. Paired with digital integrations, we create impactful omni-channel experiences for the "phygital" world.
Don't miss this opportunity to explore the world of Studio Butch and end the term with a bang!
Sign-Up Here: Studio Butch Feild Trip!
Join us for our last comma hotline of the term AND in the art building! 🥺
This Thursday, May 21st from 12:40-1:20, come to AB320 for some good company and good vibes!
Promo Design by @dio.xide
Show & Tell: Nate Corrado, Senior Art Director at Öpinionated (and our last ever lecture in the old Art Building!)
Are you just having lunch, but wish you were having a side of DESIGN KNOWLEDGE with it??? Why not bring some food and chow down right at season finale of the Show & Tell Design Lecture Series!
Join us live Thursday, May 21 at noon Pacific in AB 320 for a talk from Nate Corrado, Senior Art Director at Öpinionated.
Nate Corrado is an Art Director, Designer, and artist working in his hometown Portland, Oregon. He’s been lucky enough to work with an awesome list of brands and clients and has even won a couple of awards.
Find them online:
THIS WILL BE OUR LAST EVER SHOW & TELL LECTURE IN AB 320 (or any part of the old Art Building), so BE THERE!
Can't make it in person to AB 320? Tune in to psu.gd/twitch to watch online!
What is Show & Tell anyway? It’s PSU Graphic Design’s long-time online lunchtime lecture series where working design professionals stop by to blow our minds with wisdom! Our lectures are hosted by the students of DES 125 Show & Tell! All talks are free and open to the public!
You can learn more about the series and see the whole linup at psu.gd/showandtell! Check it out!
Promo by Amon Watson
The Placemakers Exchange is calling all designers, thinkers, & community-builders.
Join PSU Planning, Sustainability & Logistics on May 20 for a day of ideas, collaboration, and real-world impact—featuring poster showcases, roundtables, breakout sessions, and guided placemaking tours across campus.
Got a project, intervention, or experiment in shaping space?
Submit a poster by May 11 and share your process—wins, challenges, and everything in between. No polish required—just thoughtful storytelling and a willingness to contribute.
Let’s co-create what our campus can be!
Hey Mentees! The last Mentorship critique event of the year is next Tuesday!
Portfolio review is just around the corner, but you are not alone! Come get some critique from peers, mentors, and faculty Tuesday, May 19 during community Hour (12:40-1:30) in AB320. This is the last mentorship event before the due date, so make the most of it!
Featuring special guests, Mallary Wilson and Nicole Marsh! Don't miss out on some rare one-on-one critique with these GOATs.
We'll have 8 PIZZAS! See you there!
Join Ann Cudd for a COTA Student Listening Session:
Your Voice Shapes PSU!
Join Ann Cudd for a COTA Student Listening Session: Tuesday, May 19 | 12:30–1:20 PM | LH 115
Share your experiences, perspectives, and ideas with university leadership in an open conversation centered on student life and the future of COTA.
All COTA students encouraged to attend.
Promo Design by: @Jes
Hey PSUGD Design Club! Let’s visit Instrument, where big ideas get built!
Instrument is a Portland-based studio where design, technology, and storytelling come together to create bold brand experiences, thoughtful products, and campaigns that connect with people.
This is a chance to see how a creative team turns ideas into real work.
For the first time, we’re going to an open house! Let’s join Instrument at their new location and show our support.
Sign up Here: Instrument Field Trip
Show & Tell: Jessica & Craig Winslow of Winslow Studio
Are you just having lunch, but wish you were having a side of DESIGN KNOWLEDGE with it??? Why not bring some food and chow down right at the Show & Tell Design Lecture Series!
Join us live Thursday, May 14 at noon Pacific in AB 320 for a talk from Winslow Studio’s Jessica Winslow (Photographer & Creative Strategist) & Craig Winslow (Experiential Light Artist)!
Winslow is an experiential design studio specializing in the creation of immersive experiences that blend traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology. Winslow is creatively led by light artist Craig Winslow, who has a foundation in branding, 3D art, and industrial design, giving him a refined eye for sweating the details. His career began at the award-winning brand studio JDK Design, was awarded the 2016 Adobe Creative Residency, and has worked with Adobe, Tim Burton, Coca-Cola, NikeLab, The Neon Museum, and more. Managing the studio’s operations is Jessica Winslow who brings decades of experience with strategic direction, production, and community building at Instagram and Go Get Em Tiger. Her artistic eye as a commercial photographer has created vibrant work with Disney, Apple, Adobe, Google, Canon, and more.
Find them online:
Can't make it in person to AB 320? Tune in to psu.gd/twitch to watch online!
What is Show & Tell anyway? It’s PSU Graphic Design’s long-time online lunchtime lecture series where working design professionals stop by to blow our minds with wisdom! Our lectures are hosted by the students of DES 125 Show & Tell! All talks are free and open to the public! You can learn more about the series and see the whole linup at psu.gd/showandtell! Check it out!
Promo by Amon Watson
Design Club Presents: Shortcut Trivia
Design Club Presents:
Shortcut Trivia
Think you know your way around Adobe? Come test your shortcut knowledge with Design Club’s Shortcut Trivia, a fast, fun challenge focused on the Adobe tools we use all the time: Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.
Whether you’re a keyboard shortcut pro or still clicking through every menu, this is a great way to learn new tricks, sharpen your workflow, and maybe flex a little in front of your design friends. Expect helpful tips, friendly competition, and plenty of “wait, that shortcut exists?” moments.
Join us Thursday, May 14th from 12:40–1:30 PM in AB 320.
Come hang out, play, learn, and leave with a few shortcuts that might actually save your life during finals week.
Mentorship Photo Workshop with Special Guest, Eli
Hey Sophomores!
The portfolio review is almost here! That means it's time to produce and photograph your work...not sure where to start? Mentorship is hosting a photo workshop with Eli on Tuesday, May 12 in AB 320 during Community Hour (12:40 - 1:30).
Learn how to utilize your phone to take high quality photos of your work! Take advantage of your resources and remember...
you are not alone!
See you there!
OLD SCHOOL: Brown Bag Lunch Meet-Up!
Join us for a May 11 brown bag lunch meet-up!
A casual gathering for ART, ARH, A+D, and DES students who are returning to school or
navigating PSU as adult learners.
Let's create space to connect, share experiences, and build peer support across programs. Open to all returning and older students in the Schnitzer School community at Portland State University.
Bring your lunch and come as you are!
Machine Embroidery Workshops! (Copy)
What’s the Stitch?
Join us for hands-on machine embroidery workshops in the Sewing Lab, happening Fridays throughout the term. Learn the basics, explore creative techniques, and bring your designs to life with stitched detail.
Our first workshop begins next Friday, May 8th in FHM 243 on the 2nd floor!
All skill levels welcome!
PSUGD Kemeny Lecture Series Presents: Tereza Bettinardi
Kemeny Lecture Series Presents Tereza Bettinardi
Join us on Tuesday, May 12th for a talk from @terezabettinardi following the release of Alphabettes Soup: Feminist Approaches to Type (via @bikini.books) designed by Teresa herself!
Tereza Bettinardi is a designer and editor who lives and works in São Paulo, Brazil. She founded Clube do Livro do Desgn, a virtual book club turned into a publishing house devoted to expanding the range of design writings available in Portuguese.
Free Tickets Here
COMMA Hotline!
COMMA HOTLINE—PIZZA PARTY!
Our Next Hotline meeting! This Thursday May 7th at 12:40 pm in AB 320
Join us for pizza, snacks, and good company!
+bipoc only+
Show & Tell: Emy Su, Designer & Illustrator
Are you just having lunch, but wish you were having a side of DESIGN KNOWLEDGE with it??? Why not bring some food and chow down right at the Show & Tell Design Lecture Series!
Join us live Thursday, May 7 at noon Pacific in AB 320 for a talk from Emy Su, Designer & Illustrator!
Emily Suvanvej (aka Emy Su) is an award-winning, Thai-American designer & illustrator who lives at the crossroads of visual mischief and lovingly-crafted imperfection. Formerly an Art Director at BUCK, she’s worked with top brands like Spotify, Nike, YouTube, and The New Yorker, and was recently a core creative force behind BUCK's first game called Let’s! Revolution!. Take a peek at Emily's work at emy-su.com, or send her your favorite lost media on IG at @emy_su.
Can't make it in person to AB 320? Tune in to psu.gd/twitch to watch online!
What is Show & Tell anyway? It’s PSU Graphic Design’s long-time online lunchtime lecture series where working design professionals stop by to blow our minds with wisdom! Our lectures are hosted by the students of DES 125 Show & Tell! All talks are free and open to the public!
You can learn more about the series and see the whole linup at psu.gd/showandtell! Check it out!
Promo by Amon Watson
A Different Kind of Here
Step into the worlds middle school and college students imagined & built together.
In this Friendtorship Project, PSU A+D, PSUGD and Walt Morey Middle School students collaborated to create mini-worlds filled with castles, cat people, fantastic cowboys, snakes, merpeople, star-hidden factories, secret civilizations, and a Magic School Bus.
Frientorship is an ongoing collaboration between Portland State University Art + Design students and Walt Morey Middle School students, uniting college and middle school voices through shared creativity, curiosity, and exchange.
MK Gallery, Second Floor, PSU Art Building
2000 SW 5th Ave
Celebrate with us: May 6 | 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Mentorship Event for the Sophomore Portfolio Review!
It's time to get feedback on your projects and start building your portfolio deck, but you're not alone! Mentorship is hosting a critique event happening during Community Hour (12:40-1:30) in AB320. Bring what you have and get valuable critique from your class mentors and faculty team.
You got this!
PRIVATE LABEL: A Thesis Exhibition by Julia Sax
PRIVATE LABEL: Curating identity through the medium of camp
Join us in the 1st Floor Gallery for Private Label, a thesis exhibition by Julia Sax, on view April 30 through May 8.
Through an installation that reimagines domestic space and media consumption, Private Label explores queer expression, identity formation, and Camp as both aesthetic and language.
Blending humor, artifice, and cultural critique, the work considers how identity is constructed, performed, and packaged.
For more work from the project and designer, visit privatelabel.tm and ju1ia.makes
Be Honest at Wieden + Kennedy!
TAKE YOUR SEATS! The show awaits!
Be Honest is PSUGD’s annual student showcase, where design students of every grade level get to show off the cool stuff
they’ve made in the program.
Stay tuned for more updates on student sign-ups!
Calling all Artists, Art Lovers, Students & Faculty in Art History, Art Practice, & Graphic Design!
Come help us make a bunch of weird, beautiful, meaningful stuff that’s going to get run over by a steamroller this fall.
(We’re serious.)
We’re kicking off a collaborative art-making event to create drawings, textures, and layered materials that will become part of a giant steamroller print event in our new building. Your marks = part of the final prints.
No pressure, no experience needed. Just show up.
Not a “maker”? Perfect. Bring scraps, photos, printed things, notes, ephemera...anything you’re into, and we’ll fold it into the mix.
What’s happening:
• Drawing
• Collaging
• Experimenting
• Hanging out
• Snacks + good energy
What happens to the work:
Everything made will be transformed into large-scale carved prints and printed using a literal steamroller (more on that later )
Details:
5:30–7:30
Shattuck Annex
Free + open to all (bring a friend!)
Let’s say goodbye to the old building by making something big, messy, and unforgettable together.
Marks Portland: Folio Nights
“Folio Nights” invites emerging creatives to connect directly with the Marks team through 1:1 portfolio reviews across Experiential, Graphic, Technical, 3D, and Environmental Design. The evening will also include talks and casual conversations with industry professionals.
Not ready to present work? No problem. A happy hour will run throughout the event, making space to meet people across client services, project management, and more—no portfolio required.
Location: 120 SE Clay St, Suite 102, Portland, OR
Date: Thursday, April 30
Time: 5PM
Space is limited— so save your spot now!
RSVP: https://forms.gle/hB9JFVnEQifKgEdD7
Portfolio Submission: https://forms.gle/ShENbhuv66trH4VJ7