The Design Week Portland opening party was as beautiful and laid back as you'd expect for Portland. Staged at the historic and dramatic Staver Locomotive building, the scene was split between the odd-old and brightly modern. Entering through a blinding mirror-striped walkway visitors arrived in a huge moodily lit ex-industrial warehouse. Model train tracks wound through parts of the space and acted as unusual counters for drinks vending. The vaulted ceiling was hung with lights and live video installation pieces. Meanwhile outside, fire pits and food carts kept people close and sociable.

Back inside, guests lined up for their chance in a "live photobooth": a seat in front of a two way mirror, behind which artists scribbled frantically for 90 seconds to produce their portraits. A large glossy black open sketching wall invited anyone to add their own work to the communal pool, with predictably yearbook-like results. The other interactive highlight of the night was Set Creative's video installation, a pair of dazzle-painted boxes labeled "Fear Of Missing Out" into which viewer peered to watch the crowd around them... and their own darting eyes projected onto pyramid screens above.

All in all, a sweet and visually enjoyable start to a colorful week.