Trips

Join us for a packed week of hands-on workshops, inspiring talks, studio visits, guided tours, shopping and unexpected connections. Highlights include a RISO workshop at Outlet PDX, a lecture by Erik Carter, experimental workshop with Prem Krishnamurthy, AIGA Design Month events, portfolio reviews with industry leaders, and much more!

Shopping at Chess Club Magazine Shop1 / 17
Lecture by Erik Carter on his new book Designer Harder at Wieden + Kennedy2 / 17
Lecture by Erik Carter on his new book Designer Harder at Wieden + Kennedy3 / 17
Lecture by Erik Carter on his new book Designer Harder at Wieden + Kennedy4 / 17
Lecture by Erik Carter on his new book Designer Harder at Wieden + Kennedy5 / 17
A RISO workshop at Outlet with Kate Bingaman-Burt and Leland Vaughn6 / 17
A screening of Graphic Means Documentary with the director Briar Levit7 / 17
Past Words / Future Words Workshop by Prem Krishnamurthy8 / 17
Past Words / Future Words Workshop by Prem Krishnamurthy9 / 17
An afternoon with Designer/Illustrator/Educator - Jason Sturgill10 / 17
A talk about type with Future Fonts at Yun Shui Teahouse 11 / 17
Lizy Gershenzon of Future Fonts12 / 17
A shared meal at JeJu13 / 17
Hotel Zags Patio 14 / 17
Hotel Zags Room15 / 17
PDX Airport16 / 17
17 / 17

Itinerary

Lecture by ERIK CARTER on his new book DESIGN HARDER

RISO Workshop @ OUTLET PDX

Screening of GRAPHIC MEANS with the Director BRIAR LEVIT

Show and Tell with FUTURE FONTS

An afternoon with JASON STURGILL

PAST WORDS / FUTURE WORDS workshop and dinner with PREM KRISHNAMURTHY

AIGA Design Month Events

Tax Free Shopping at CHESS CLUB, HI BOOKS , MONOGRAPH BOOKWERKS

and Much More

Accomodations

HOTEL ZAGS – Private room with washroom

Public Transit Pass

This trip includes three days at the Tokyo Art Book Fair with book signings, lectures, and workshops. We’ll visit the Nippon Design Center for an exchange of work and ideas with Kenya Hara and his team, take a walking tour of Shibuya with a private lecture by Ian Lyman on Japanese graphic design history, and share tea with Troublemakers magazine. The itinerary also features visits to museums, galleries, and studios, plus an evening immersed in the interactive world of teamLab Planets.

Tokyo Art Book Fair1 / 13
Tokyo Art Book Fair2 / 13
Kenya Hara
Kenya Hara at the Nippon Design Center3 / 13
Nippon Design Center4 / 13
Shibuya/Shinjuku walking tour with Ian Lynam5 / 13
Talk by Ian Lynam on his new book Fracture: Japanese Graphic Design 1875-19756 / 13
An immersive evening at teamLAB Planets7 / 13
An immersive evening at teamLAB Planets8 / 13
Lunch on the rooftop at Tokyu Plaza 9 / 13
Tea and talk with Troublemakers magazine10 / 13
A visit to the Ginza Graphic Gallery 11 / 13
A visit to 21_21 Design Sight museum designed by Tadao Ando12 / 13
Snacks at SunnyHills designed by Kengo Kuma 13 / 13

Itinerary

Visit to the NIPPON DESIGN CENTER to meet with KENYA HARA, YOSHIAKI IROBE, & HARUKA MISAWA

Two days at TOKYO ART BOOK FAIR  @ Museum of Contemporary Art

Walking tour of Shibuya/Shinjuku and lecture with IAN LYMAN (author of FRACTURE)

A visit to 21_21 Design Sight and Ginza Graphic Gallery

A talk over tea with Troublemakers Magazine

An evening @ teamLAB PLANETS immersive exhibit

Shopping trips and much more…

Accomodations

Centrally Located Hotel TBD

Public Transit Pass

Join us for a journey through the Netherlands. The trip begins in Amsterdam with museum visits and studio tours, then continues by train through the countryside to Breda for a fews days at the Graphic Matters conference that will feature talks, workshops, and an exhibition by Civilization and Vocal Type. In Rotterdam, the itinerary includes studio tours, city walks, and more opportunities to connect, explore, and exchange ideas. Full itinerary and pricing coming soon.

Visit to the Stedelijk Museum 1 / 5
City walk of Rotterdam - The Luchtsingel a crowdfunded public walking bring by Studio ZUS 2 / 5
Train through the countryside. Rotterdam signage by Studio Dumbar3 / 5
Talk by Trè Seals of Vocal Type and Michael Ellsworth of Civilization at thier upcoming exhibition 4 / 5
3 Sec Gallery designed by Rem Koolhaas 5 / 5

This week-long retreat in Zimbabwe is led by designer, educator, and author Saki Mafundikwa, who literally wrote the book on Afrikan Alphabets. Through stories, workshops, and shared conversations, Saki and friends will inspire your work and offer new ways of thinking to help you decolonize your perspective. More info coming soon.

Saki Mafundikwa Lecture1 / 3
Afrikan Alphabets by Saki Mafundikwa2 / 3
Great Zimbabwe3 / 3

Travel Through A Design Lens

designTRIPS brings small groups together for design-focused travel to cities around the world. A major design event often anchors itineraries and includes studio visits, lectures, workshops by notable creatives, and time to explore. Travel groups are comprised of students, professionals, and design enthusiasts who want to experience new places, spark inspiration, and connect with the community and one another.

Who We Are

For years, we’ve traveled the world attending design events, meeting with clients, touring  collaborator’s studios and exploring new places. designTrips is our way of sharing those experiences and building on them with others.

Founded by Trish Chua and Michael Ellsworth, designTRIPS builds on two decades of experience in design, recruiting, curation, and community building. The program was formerly known as Designer’s Bootcamp, originally founded by Frankie Ratford.

Michael is the co-founder and creative director of the award-winning studio Civilization. For 25 years he has designed for advocacy and advocated for design. He has produced programs that bring global design voices to the Pacific Northwest. He also teaches in the design program at Portland State University, where he helps lead the university’s lecture series.

Trish has worked as a creative recruiter, consultant, and account manager, helping place talent across advertising, tech, and culture. She has reviewed thousands of portfolios, advised design programs, and mentored emerging designers. With a long-standing passion for travel and gathering people together, she brings both professional insight and hospitality to each trip.

FAQ

Step 1. Submit application form

Step 2. We’ll contact you within 48 hours

Step 3. If you are selected 50% of the trip fee is due immediately

Step 4. We will have a group video conference for everyone to get to know each other

Step 5. You book your own flight(s) to the destination

Step 6. Trip balance due 14 days prior to trip

Step 7.  We meet at the hotel and start the trip

A hotel room, a public transportation pass, event tickets and a few shared meals. Additional details will be provided before deposit is required.

12 guests plus two guides is the maximum amount of people on a designTRIP

It is not included in the designTRIP fee.

Yes, they are.

Meals are not included. That said, there will be planned group meals indicated in the itineraries that are included in the fee.

English will be the primary language spoken or translated

Absolutely! There will be down time and some itinerary items are optional.

Please email us at info@trips.design