Since 2021
About the Cascadia Design Summit
More than a convention - a three-day, city-wide design experience stretching across Portland and Pearl Cove, Oregon.
Five Years of Design at the Coast
The Cascadia Design Summit is the Pacific Northwest's annual gathering of designers, developers, illustrators, studio leaders, and curious makers. Since 2021, we've brought the design community together every March in beautiful Portland, Oregon for a weekend that goes far beyond a typical conference.
This is not a single-venue, sit-in-your-seat event. CDS spans 6 venues across two cities, running from morning workshops through late-night studio visits. Attendees can learn from working practitioners during the day, watch talks from industry leaders on the main stage, and then head out after hours to real working studios across the coast.
Each year, new locations and experiences are added. The conference has grown from a small gathering into a multi-day destination event that draws visitors from across the West Coast and beyond.
The 2026 Conference at a Glance
A City-Wide Experience
The Portland Convention Center is home base - main stage speakers, the vendor hall, and most daytime classes happen here. But CDS extends well beyond one building.
Evening studio visits and special events take place at off-site venues across Portland and Pearl Cove, including historic buildings, inns, and locations with documented design activity. Some are a short walk from the convention center. Others require a drive up the coast to Pearl Cove.
Off-Site Venues
What to Expect
Main Stage Included with GA
19 presentations from designers, developers, and studio leaders. Topics range from typography to motion design, brand systems to indie publishing and beyond. All included with your General Admission ticket.
Classes & Workshops Separate tickets
49 hands-on sessions taught by practicing professionals. Learn typography, layout, motion design, portfolio review techniques, and more. Small class sizes for real instruction, not just lectures.
After Dark Separate tickets
Real studio visits at working shops, collective crits, evening portfolio reviews, and social events. These happen after the convention center closes for the day, at off-site venues across the coast.
Vendor Hall
103 vendors offering prints, zines, design tools, handmade crafts, books, and unique gifts. Many vendors are also instructors - meet the people behind the classes.
Join Us in 2026
March 27-29, 2026 in Portland, OR. General Admission is just $20.