CoDesign Collaborative

Community Meetup: Third Space (PDX) - Collage Making
2026-04-09
Community Meetup: Third Space (PDX) – Collage Making
Connect with others, build relationships, and collage! Supplies provided, no artistic ability required.

Join us on Thursday, April 9, from 6:30-8:30pm PT for a Third Space gathering at Hi-Top Tavern in Portland, Oregon. As we continue to embrace analog making, this month’s Third Space is all about collage-making. We’ll provide sample prompts to get you started and the necessary supplies.
This program is inspired by and in partnership with Shashank Khandewal and Blue Tiger, who are hosting “Third Space” events. In sociology, a “third space” refers to a social environment that is distinct from home (the first place) and work/school (the second place). It’s a place where individuals can connect with others, build relationships, and foster a sense of community.
Our third spaces are physically and conceptually dwindling over time. We’re not giving ourselves enough permission to stop work, leave the home, and do something else. So, let’s continue our reimagining of a third space: a place, a time, and an activity. Come for the activity, stay for the conversation!
All are welcome!

Thursday, April 9, 2026
Hi-Top Tavern5015 NE FremontPortland, OR 97213
6:30 – 8:30 pm PT

FREE to Attend!

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Program Contributors

Melissa CasburnVP, Design at CoformaBoard Member, CoDesign Collaborative

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Workshop: Visual Thinking Strategies (PDX)
2026-04-09 09:00 - 10:30 (America/Los_Angeles)
Workshop: Visual Thinking Strategies @Blackfish Gallery (PDX)
Join us in Portland for a Visual Thinking Strategies session.

We’re partnering with Blackfish Gallery in Portland to host an in-person Introduction to Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) session on Thursday, April 9, from 9-10:30 am PT with Hailey Group VTS@Work-certified facilitator Josephine Holmboe. Recently, she was Vice President, Creative Director at the Fidelity Center for Applied Technology (FCAT).
Visual Thinking Strategies is an inquiry-driven discussion methodology that uses visual stimuli to encourage participants to develop critical thinking, observation, and language skills. By analyzing visual images in groups, participants learn to support their ideas with evidence, listen to others, and consider multiple perspectives.
In this 90-minute session, facilitator Josephine Holmboe will guide attendees through active listening, finding comfort with uncertainty, and creating an attentive, open, and inclusive space for all to contribute. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding and comfort with utilizing VTS in the workplace and in their leadership practice.
Introduction to Visual Thinking Strategies is not just for design and creative professionals. VTS has proven value across industries, from business to healthcare and education. It is a skill that helps leaders move away from a “command and control” approach to unlock their team’s collective potential by fostering inclusivity, psychological safety, and collaboration in the workplace. Teams that practice VTS are better equipped to respond to projects, peers, or clients in critical work conversations with understanding and intention.

Participation is limited to 20 attendees.

About Josephine Holmboe
Josephine Holmboe is a Director of Design Impact for the CoDesign Collaborative. Most recently, she was Vice President and Design Director at the Fidelity Center for Applied Technology. She has over 20 years’ experience leading design teams and creating user experience solutions, ranging from visual design systems for complex data to full product offerings.
Josephine has a passion for human-centered design and for mentoring and growing designers and business partners. As an experienced coach and facilitator, she employs a variety of techniques, such as design thinking and Visual Thinking Strategies. She leads and teaches co-designing with business sponsors and client partners to achieve solutions that provide the best user experience possible.

Thursday, April 9, 2026
9 – 10:30 am PT
Blackfish Gallery938 NW Everett StPortland, OR 97209

Workshop is limited to 20 participants

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FREE for CoDesign Collaborative Members and Partners and Blackfish Gallery artists. Email the Membership team for the promotional code.

Workshop Faciliator

Josephine HolmboeHailey Group VTS@Work-certified FacilitatorDirector of Programs & Board Member, CoDesign Collaborative

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The Current: Scaling Innovation for Development Impact
2026-04-14 11:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York)
The Current: Scaling Innovation for Development Impact
Join us for a virtual lightning talk on April 14 with Benjamin Kumpf, Head of Innovation @ OECD Development, and Parsons student Jarmilla Skare.

Join CoDesign Collaborative for a new episode of The Current. This virtual lightning talk series is student-led and highlights vital topics in design. On April 14, Parsons student Jarmila Skare will host Benjamin Kumpf for a conversation about the ways design thinking and innovation can move beyond small-scale pilots to achieve systemic development impact.
As global challenges become increasingly complex, the “innovation graveyard,” filled with successful pilots that failed to scale, continues to grow. Drawing on deep experience at the OECD, FCDO, and UNDP, Jarmila and Benjamin will discuss how organizations can move past the “innovation-as-usual” mindset. They will share insights on building the specific strategies, organizational cultures, and internal capabilities required to scale solutions in partnership with governments and deliver lasting, large-scale change. Join us to learn how we can design not just for novelty, but for enduring impact at the systems level.
Their conversation will delve into:

Why most innovative solutions stall and how to design for scalability from day one.
Building the organizational infrastructure and culture needed to support long-term innovation.
Effective models for collaborating with public institutions to integrate and scale impactful solutions.
How design thinking must evolve to address systemic challenges and deliver lasting global change.

About Jarmila Skare:Jarmila is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a major in Strategic Design Management and minors in Economics and Creative Coding at The New School, Parsons School of Design.
About Benjamin Kumpf:Benjamin Kumpf is the Head of Innovation for Development at the OECD Development Co-operation Directorate. Prior to joining the OECD, he worked as Head of Innovation at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and led the Innovation Facility of the United Nations Development Program. In these capacities, Benjamin managed flexible funds to support experimentation, exploration and the scaling-up of development innovations, co-led programs on adaptive management and advised country offices and partners on strategic innovation opportunities.

Tuesday, April 14, 2026
11-11:30 am ET / 8-8:30 am PT
Virtual Lightning Talk

Registration is required.

Register Now

Students, Members and Partners register for FREE. Email membership@codesigncollaborative.org with questions.

Speakers

Jarmila SkareBBA Strategic Design and ManagementParsons School of Design

Benjamin KumpfHead of Innovation and Digital Transformation FacilityOECD

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The Current: Avoiding Jargon in Leadership and Innovation
2026-04-21 12:00 - 12:30 (America/New_York)
The Current: Avoiding Jargon in Leadership and Innovation
Join us for a virtual lightning talk on April 21 with communications expert Catherine Cruveillier and Parsons student Kanushi Rathore

Tune into another episode of The Current. On April 21, Parsons School of Design student Kanushi Rathore will host Catherine Cruveillier, an expert in operational excellence and leadership development, to explore how the overreliance on jargon in professional spaces obscures clarity, complicates decision-making, and stifles true innovation.
The language of leadership often becomes a barrier rather than a bridge. When we lean on buzzwords, we risk losing the human intent behind our work and alienating the very people we aim to lead. This conversation will unpack the necessity of communicating with intention and the courage it takes to embrace simplicity in complex innovation contexts. Kanushi and Catherine will discuss how stripping away the fluff allows for more transparent leadership, sharper strategic alignment, and deeper connection across teams. Join us to learn how to master the art of plain speaking as a deliberate lever for effective leadership and authentic impact.
Their conversation will delve into:

How technical and corporate shorthand can create “knowledge silos” and hinder inclusive decision-making.
Why the most effective leaders are those who can translate complex visions into clear, actionable, and human language.
Strategies for designers and innovators to advocate for clarity in high-stakes environments.
How to cultivate an authentic leadership voice that prioritizes understanding over sounding “expert.”

About Kanushi Rathore:Driven by a passion for strategic foresight and human-centric design, Kanushi Rathore is a student at Parsons School of Design focused on the intersection of innovation and inclusive leadership. With a background in navigating complex organizational structures, Kanushi is dedicated to uncovering how clear communication and intentional design can bridge the gap between high-level strategy and everyday impact. She believes that for innovation to be truly transformative, it must first be understood by those it serves.
About Catherine Cruveillier:Catherine Cruveillier is an international human development expert and leader with over 40 years of experience, including 11 as a leadership coach. She led projects that measurably transformed entire industries for the better worldwide by making humans adopt practices that create financial value from respecting natural life systems instead of destroying them. She understood that the core factor of success in any endeavor is mindful communication. She now shares her winning recipe through writing and holding “Socratic conferences”, where participants learn and practice the simplest yet most powerful words.

Tuesday, April 21, 2026
12-12:30 pm ET / 9-9:30 am PT
Virtual Lightning Talk

Registration is required.

Register Now

Students, Members and Partners register for FREE. Email membership@codesigncollaborative.org with questions.

Speakers

Kanushi RathoreMs Strategic Design and ManagementParsons School of Design

Catherine CruveillierExpert in Communication for Change • Speaker

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Membership starts at just $5/month.

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CoDesign Conversations: Creating Accessible Products & Services
2026-04-22 13:00 - 13:45 (America/New_York)
CoDesign Conversations: Creating Accessible Products & Services
Join us on April 22 for our LinkedIn Live conversation series exploring the dynamic intersection of public and private sector innovation.

Accessibility is not a feature; it is essential. In Episode 9 of CoDesign Conversations, we will explore the creation of accessible products and services, from practical implementation to organizational responsibility. The episode will highlight approaches that broaden access and remove barriers for people of all abilities.
Moderated by Melissa Casburn, Head of Innovation and Experience at Coforma, the discussion will bring together designers central to innovative projects in the accessibility space. Guest speakers include:

Homer Gaines is a designer, UI engineer, and certified accessibility professional with over 30 years of experience. With a background in behavioral psychology and neurology, Homer focuses on leading, promoting, and advancing accessibility at every stage in the product development lifecycle.
Janna Kimel is a UX Research contractor with Ascension and the Executive Director of the Chronic Pain Project. Throughout her career, Janna has championed accessibility, including launching two employee resource groups focused on both employee and consumer inclusion. Notably, she previously designed custom apparel for people with disabilities at Accessible Threads and shadowed Stephen Hawking to inform improvements to his Intel-provided computer. With a focus on health technology and wearables, she has worked with Intel, Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield, Hinge Health, and Dexcom. Janna holds a master’s degree in industrial design from Georgia Tech and has published extensively on accessibility, behavior change, and user research.
Lauren McAuliffe is a neurodivergent designer and advocate for inclusive and accessible experiences. Though visual design has been my focus for over a decade, she continues to expand my practice in user experience and strategy. Lauren has worked on projects for several industries, including finance, education, and healthcare. She is especially committed to the health and wellness space, where she brings an inclusive lens and trauma-informed design approach to create support and a sense of belonging.

April 22, 2026, 1pm ET / 10am PT | Live on LinkedIn
Join us for a solution-forward conversation, presented in partnership with Coforma, about the critical role of design in shaping a more accessible and equitable world.

Wednesday, April 22, 2026
1-1:45 pm ET / 10-10:45 am PT
LinkedIn Live Event | FREE to attend!

Join Us On LinkedIn

This event is presented in partnership with Coforma.

SPEAKERS

Melissa Casburn
Head of Innovation & Experience
Coforma

Homer Gaines
Principal, Sustainability Director
Coforma

Janna KimelUS Research Contractor @ AscensionExecutive Director @ Chronic Pain Project

Lauren McAuliffeCo-Founder & Principal Designer7Magnolia

The Current: Strategic Impact Through Clientele
2026-04-28 12:00 - 12:30 (America/New_York)
The Current: Strategic Impact Through Clientele
Join us for a virtual lightning talk on April 28 with George Aye of Greater Good Studio and Parsons student Bella Corbin.

Tune into another episode of The Current. On April 28, Parsons School of Design student Bella Corbin will host George Aye, Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director of Greater Good Studio, to explore how the clients a design agency chooses to work with ultimately shape its ethos, positioning, and social impact.
In an industry often caught between the need for revenue and the desire for purpose, the “roster” is more than just a list of projects, it is a moral compass. The conversation will unpack the tension between revenue-driving work and value-aligned partnerships. Bella and George will discuss the strategic implications of client selection and how designers and strategists can leverage internal influence to shape an agency’s identity from the inside out. Join us to learn how to use client work as a deliberate lever for culture, ethics, and long-term systemic impact.
Their conversation will delve into:

How an agency’s portfolio functions as a silent declaration of its true values and social mission.
Navigating the difficult trade-offs between financial stability and mission-aligned partnerships.
How strategists and designers can influence agency culture by advocating for specific types of client work.
Best practices for establishing a rigorous framework for client selection that ensures long-term strategic impact.

About Isabella (Bella) Corbin:Empowered by a curiosity for understanding people, Bella Corbin believes that design has the innate ability to create and scale sustainable social change. Skilled in complex systems thinking, design research, and visual and written communication, Bella thrives in developing human-centered and social impact-driven solutions that balance empathy, business goals, and technical constraints. She strives to design and sustain meaningful change through an awareness and appreciation of the diverse ways people navigate the world.
About George Aye:George co-founded Greater Good Studio to use design to heal, to be just, to be restorative. Previously, he spent seven years at a global innovation firm before being hired as the first human-centered designer at the Chicago Transit Authority. Since founding Greater Good, he has guided clients and teams through complex projects that honor reality, create ownership, and build power. He speaks frequently across the US and internationally. George holds the position of visiting lecturer at Northwestern University and was formerly a Full Professor (Adj) at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Tuesday, April 28, 2026
12-12:30 pm ET / 9-9:30 am PT
Virtual Lightning Talk

Registration is required.

Register Now

Students, Members and Partners register for FREE. Email membership@codesigncollaborative.org with questions.

Speakers

Isabella (Bella) CorbinBBA Strategic Design and ManagementParsons School of Design

George AyeCo-Founder and Co-Executive DirectorGreater Good Studio

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Membership starts at just $5/month.

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The Current: Rethinking Museum Engagement through Care
2026-04-30 12:00 - 12:30 (America/New_York)
Content is protected.
