"DESIGN IS DEAD; long live design." Who uses an oxymoron as a branding scheme? eROI does, and they know what they're talking about. As a branding, marketing, and creative development company, they have to capture the zeitgeist, and maybe even get ahead of the curve. Their concept, of course, is way more in-depth than a single contrary statement, and to elaborate (and entertain) they're participating in Design Week by hosting a six-part series called Mortality of Design (MOD) about the birth, death, and rebirth of design.

The series kicks off with the interactive Old Town Walking Design Tour and Design Trivia (Mon Oct 6, 11 am-1 pm). Throughout the rest of the week eROI will also host four panel discussions and an art show/open house to benefit p:ear (a local nonprofit that mentors homeless youth), with hosted bars and free food throughout.

For those getting into the educational/practical side of Design Week and seeking hard information, MOD's panel discussions are a must. Stop, Collaborate, and Listen (Thurs Oct 9, 5:30 pm) features panelists Kelley Roy (ADX), Kim Malek (Salt & Straw, which is also—here's a tip—giving out free ice cream at the event), Pippa Arend (p:ear), and Van Havig (Gigantic Brewing).

eROI's Tatiana Mac explains the collaboration panel's focus: "Gone are the times where one singular artist represented all of the art for a company; everything from breweries to fashion houses can evolve season to season, [and] the right artist can be hired to represent [each] theme... to maintain authentic branding, but keep their work fresh." The aim of the panel, moderated by eROI Creative Director Gerry Blakney, is to, as Mac puts it, "explore experiences working with local artists, the importance of collaborative culture in all their fields, and how to initiate and further develop these collaborations."

Meanwhile, Death of the Design Comp (Fri Oct 10, 3 pm, free) and Selling Ice Cubes to Eskimos (Wed Oct 8, 5:30 pm, free) explore current changes in the world of design, from modular design replacing design comps to the slow of brick 'n' mortars as e-commerce continues to rise.

Attendees will be gifted a notebook at each of the six events, printed with original skull designs. (A seventh notebook has a design by Sara Jackson, who won a design contest, and can be acquired by attending four Mortality of Design events.)

Skeletal motifs aside: Don't let design die. Keep it alive with Salt & Straw ice cream, free booze, food, creative learning, and a design-minded walk through Old Town, which in and of itself is sure to entertain.


Mortality of Design A six-event series at eROI, 505 NW Couch, #300, Mon Oct 6-Fri Oct 10, free, see designweekportland.com and mortalityofdesign.com for details