Agency Spy has been working with the Egotist network of sites to profile the advertising and design scene in various American cities.
Portland got a look earlier this week, and while the article naturally mentions W+K, Grady Britton, BPN and other regulars, the thing I found interesting was the big batch of shops (mostly design shops) that I’d never heard of before.
- Feel Good Anyway
- The Felt Hat
- Grey Matter
- Roundhouse
- Harlo Interactive
- Incubate Design
- HUB
- Big Giant
Then, in the comments on the Agency Spy piece, Eric Hillerns of Pinch kicks even more facts. “Overall, you’ve got your eye on the ball but there are some significant omissions; Draplin is but one. Substance, Always With Honor, Bureau of Betterment, Parliament, Jolby & Friends, Scribble Tone, Yes Please, Duane King and Ian Coyle’s new (as yet unnamed) entity, and so many more. Some could be considered ‘freelancers’ but they’re all working as full studios.”
Speaking of studios, there’s one GLARING OMISSION from the list: Bonehook, run by yours truly. I also didn’t see Jelly Helm Studio mentioned, or Copious, Citrus, Frank Creative, Fiction, happylucky, Curiosity, makelike, Kamp Grizzly, The Great Society, Magneto or Austin Howe listed anywhere.
Nearly two years ago I wrote a similar piece for The Denver Egotist.
I concluded, “There’s immense respect for doing things the right way here. Combine that with the pioneering spirit in the people–just as present today as it was 150 years ago when the state of Oregon was conceived–and you have the ingredients for greatness.”