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At least one of us, anyway. As president of the Charlotte chapter of AIGA, the professional association for design, I’m excited to visit über-hip Portland and learn what designers from across the nation have been working on within their own local Chapters. The retreat is an opportunity for the organization’s leaders to meet together, compare notes, and discuss the future. This year’s leadership retreat is particularly important, as we will be discussing the findings from a six-month process of ascertaining what board members, chapter leaders and members believe is the appropriate course for AIGA as we approach the organization’s centennial in 2014.

Called “Sea Change,” the 2009 retreat will be held June 4–6 in downtown Portland, Oregon. I will be one of five members representing the Charlotte graphic design community. There will also be some folks from Raleigh advertising agencies there representing our neighboring Raleigh Chapter. I’ll take plenty of pictures, sample the craftmade beers for which Portland is famous, and be sure to report back on what trends are developing for AIGA and the future of brand and identity design.