This year, the Portland multi-disciplinary design firm Mayer/Reed, Inc. is recognizing two anniversaries—a thirtieth and a fortieth. This unusual milestone marks the firm’s establishment by Michael Reed, FSEGD, in 1977 as a visual communications and product design studio; then he formed a partnership ten years later with Carol Mayer-Reed, FASLA, who added landscape architecture and urban design services. The more recent addition of principals Kathy Fry, SEGD, and Jeramie Shane, ASLA, enables the award-winning studio and its staff of 28 people to evolve into the future.

Rather than compiling a traditional retrospective of firm project images, Mayer/Reed has chosen to reflect on its work through a different lens: from the perspectives of its users. Mayer/Reed is celebrating the 30/40 anniversaries with a curated photographic exhibit titled “Beyond Opening Day.” Using content collected from photo-sharing social media platforms, designers are taking a fresh look at past work and considering its value over time. Images reveal people’s casual interactions with design along with profound social connections. The exhibit provides insight into how projects have taken on a life of their own through the character-defining features that are captured by those who occupy the places.

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