What we’re about
PDT is a community of creative problem solvers advancing human-centered design literacy through high-quality events, lively conversation, and practice-based development.
We're made up of all kinds of people: practitioners who use human-centered design methods and mindsets every day, designers and researchers, design strategists, Agile scrum leaders, urban planners, and many more who use or appreciate Design Thinking.
One way to define design thinking is that it is a mindset, approach, and set of tools and techniques for problem-solving and innovation anchored around human-centered design. Design thinking is different from other innovation and ideation processes in that it’s solution-based and user-centric rather than problem-based. This means it focuses on the solution to a problem instead of the problem itself. Design thinking is the essential ability to combine empathy, creativity, and rationality to meet human needs and drive business success.
Typically, we meet monthly, mostly virtually, and occasionally in person. Our monthly meetings, announced through MeetUp, may be webinar-style, or interactive and focus on some topic of interest to our community.
But we're about more than just meetup events.
You can find information about our upcoming events as well as links to recordings of past events on our website [PortlandDesignThinkers.com](portlanddesignthinkers.com).
We have an active, private Slack workspace – it is a thriving online discussion space for all things design thinking. Please join us there --[ https://bit.ly/2JuQ2V6](https://bit.ly/2JuQ2V6).
We also have a private LinkedIn group. Please join us there as well – https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13997019/.
PDT is a volunteer-run organization. We rely on sponsors and donations to help us offset these costs. If you or your organization is interested in sponsorship opportunities, please contact Deb Mrazek (debmrazek@gmail.com ).
Upcoming events
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Ephemeral by Design
·OnlineOnlinePortland Design Thinkers are excited to welcome Leksi Kostur, Ephemeral by Design.
This talk explores the role of biodegradable materials in the future of design. Drawing from work in festivals, weddings, and funerary contexts, Leksi examines design situations where short-lived and single-use objects are not failures, but appropriate and even advantageous choices. Rather than positioning biodegradability as a universal solution, she focuses on material logic and circular design practices, aligning purpose with lifespan. She also looks at whimsy, imagination, and references to nature as intentional design choices, framing optimism as a designer’s responsibility at a time when environmental fatigue and resignation are widespread. Designing with nature becomes a way to counter eco-nihilism and imagine more regenerative futures
About our Speaker:
Leksi Kostur is a biodesigner whose work explores how material innovation can connect design with nature. Trained at Central Saint Martins in London, Leksi creates wearable works and ceremonial designs using biodegradable materials she develops from seaweed and other natural sources. Her practice bridges design, social science, and material research, merging scientific inquiry with storytelling and symbolism. She has applied her material knowledge to design displays, sets, and stages with re:right design—the UK-based studio she co-founded—and has showcased her work at Glastonbury Festival, New York Design Festival, London Design Festival, and the Science Museum London. In addition to her design practice, Leksi has lectured in biodesign at leading institutions, including University of the Arts London and the Royal College of Art. Rooted in her Pacific Northwest upbringing, Leksi’s work reflects a deep respect for natural systems and the belief that design can bring us into alignment with them.
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If you have any questions or would like to connect with other members of PDT, join our Slack community.
PDT is a volunteer-run Oregon nonprofit organization, and as you can imagine, organizing events can be expensive. We rely on sponsors and donations to help us offset these costs. If you would like to help, we accept donations through Venmo @PortlandDesignThinkers.20 attendees
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