Houston TX: Joe Duffy: Designing Your Brand Apart, February 22 at Historical Heights Fire Station

Joe Duffy researched the most effective branding case histories for his new book "e;Designing Your Brand Apart."e; In this event hosted by the AIGA Houston, he reveals the inside story on the branding successes of companies such as Nike, Harley Davidson, Citibank and Starbucks.

Contact: aigahouston.org

Boston MA: Living In Motion, Hosted by Ellen Lupton, February 23 at The Institute of Contemporary Art, 955 Boylston Street

The AIGA Boston and Institute of Contemporary Arts. Inspired by its exhibition "e;Living in Motion: Design and Architecture for Flexible Dwelling,"e; curator Ellen Lupton and designers Bill Stewart and Gian Pangaro from IDEO will discuss how designers address a world in motion.

Contact: www.icaboston.org

Seattle WA: Bal Masque: A Northwest Take on Mardi Gras, February 24 at the Fisher Pavillion

AIGA Seattle combines their annual membership party and Design-o-Rama. While you sip on cocktails and nibble on hors d'oeuvres, vendors will showcase new product and services and donations will be accepted for the New Orleans creative community.

Contact: www.aigaseattle.org

Washington DC: Good Design is Smart Business 9, February 28 at the Carnegie Institution, 1530 P St. NW

Ed Gold, professor at the University of Maryland, discusses sports design with two top designers in the field: Todd Radom of Radom Designs and Marcus Stephens of Under Armour.

www.aigadc.org/events

Madison NJ: The InSource Spring Breakfast Event, March 1 at Wyeth

Tap into real-world strategies that corporate creative managers need to manage today's challenges. Sponsored by InSource, the most important new organization for the advancement of the corporate inhouse design business.

Contact: in-source.org

New York NY: Caples Awards, March 2 at Metropolitan Pavillion, 125 West 18 Street, Manhattan

The John Caples International competition and ceremony awards individual members of direct and interactive marketing teams. Tickets are required for the ceremony. Xerox, Direct Marketing Association and Draft are among key sponsors.

Contact: www.caples.org

Atlanta GA: Work Shop Series: Press Checks Part 1, March 2 at The Creative Circus, 812 Lambert Drive NE

8:30 am Breakfast, 9am Program. This AIGA Atlanta workshop will start with an interactive discussion on color proofing, press check and quality standardization. Directed towards creatives, production and print buyers.

Contact: www.aiga-atl.org

Kansas City MO, Another '60s Revolution, March 10 at Kansas City Art Institute

This one day symposium and exhibition presents three legendary designers who joined Rob Roy Kelly in the '60s to trigger the seismic Swiss revolution in American graphic design.

Contact: another60srevolution.com

Boston MA: Graphic Communications Day, New England, March 22 at Boston Marriott Copley Plaza

This is a one day celebration of print including technical seminars, keynote addresses, and 50 exhibitors from the print manufacturing supply chain. Cap off the afternoon with a networking seminar. No cost to qualified print buyers, but preregistration is a must.

Contact: www.pine.org

New York NY: P3 Luminaire Awards, March 23 at the Pierre Hotel

The Luminaire Award recognizes outstanding achievements and personal dedication of five people in the graphic arts community. P3 is New York metro area's nonprofit professional and educational organization.

Contact: p3-ny.com

New York NY: GROW: Design for Sustainability, March 25 at Lighthouse International, 111 E. 59 St.

This AIGA New York summit explores the question of what is the role of design in making sustainable growth possible and preferable to the alternative.

Contact: aigany.org

New York NY: Fashion In Colors, Through March 26 at Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, 2 East 91 Street, New York NY

The exhibition "e;Fashion in Colors,"e; is organized by the Kyoto Costume Institute (KCI) Japan. It explores color as a design element through 300 years of Western fashion.

Contact: www.cooperhewitt.org

Philadelphia PA: DesignPhiladelphia April 1-April 9 at various sites

Philadelphia's Spring Citywide Design Initiative makes the city an arena of exhibitions, lectures, graphic design studio and gallery tours, book signings, parties and workshops, all under the DesignPhiladelphia Banner.

Contact: www.designphiladelphia.org

Chicago IL: Picturehouse Chicago April 6 at Preston Bradley Hall, Chicago Cultural Center

An intimate and friendly way for art directors, designers and other photo buyers to see many of the top stock visual agencies all in one place.

Contact: www.picturehouse.org/chicago

New York NY: Surtex, May 21-23 at The Jacob K. Javits Convention Center

Over 370 exhibitors set up on two floors, selling and licensing diverse art and design for all kinds of products and merchandising. Exhibitors include top artists, designers, studios and licensing firms.

Contact: surtex.com