The Portland chapter of AIGA—the professional association for designers—just completely revamped their web site, adding new featured content as well as a cosmetic refresh. Portland's long been known as a hotspot for graphic design (and interactive and experiential design, etc), and AIGA offers a lot of great opportunities for its members, from career tools and networking events, discounts on seminars, a "Portfolio Day" where designers can get feedback from respected industry figures, to profiles and features on exciting projects, lectures, and more.

(While it will occasionally, tangentially touch bases with fashion design (the Museum of Contemporary Craft's Namita Gupta Wiggers was recently featured), its association with people involved in the design of physical things (ADX is a regular name bandied about the site) seems to present a logical extension into that world, at least from an outside perspective. The need for a collective resource and community center in among Portland's independent fashion community is something that's been expressed many times over the years, and many have tried (and subsequently petered out) to make it happen—god knows I've sat in on some of those meetings over the years. In other words: jelz.)

Then again, those involved in marketing and branding are arguably in a better spot to fork over the $315 annual dues recommended for professional-grade members who have "practiced or taught in any design community for four years or more." Any design community? Hm.