The Beauty Shop is a is a women-owned creative agency and graphic design studio located in Portland, Oregon specializing in branding, packaging, and Squarespace website design and development.
 
 

We’re a women-led team of interdisciplinary strategists, designers, developers, illustrators, copywriters, UX/UI experts, and project managers, who work together across and beyond job titles.

Our Directors

 
 
  • Strategy, New Business, Operations

    With truth and critical thinking as her guiding principles, Jen brings over two decades of experience to her role as Creative Director of The Beauty Shop.

    Jen holds a BFA from the California College of the Arts (2003), and has developed course curriculum as an adjunct professor at PNCA, served as the Executive Director of our non-profit organization Visible Studio, and has been a featured speaker at Design Week Portland, AIGA Women Lead, Bend Design, and Gray Magazine’s Design Minds, among others.

  • DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT, STRATEGY

    With over a decade of design experience, Liz holds degrees in Visual Arts and Communication Design from Columbia University and PNCA. Ranging from from fine art to digital development, Liz’s interdisciplinary background defines her approach to creative direction.

    Liz is a Co-Founder of the Natural Resonance Festival and has been a featured speaker at First Round, Design Week Portland, AIGA Women Lead, Bend Design, Gray Magazine’s Design Minds, and has served on the Advisory Committee of OK You.

  • STRATEGY, MESSAGING, OPERATIONS

    Kristin holds Bachelors of Arts degrees in English and Communications from UC Davis, and earned her Masters in Writing and Publishing from Portland State University in 2012. With a background in small press publishing, copywriting and editing, Kristin specializes in naming, brand positioning, and voice development.

    Kristin is 1/2 of Forrest, a responsive art project inspired by nature, and a founding member of Secret Room Press. Her poems have appeared in The Grits Quarterly and Sad Girls Club Literary Journal.

  • Design, Strategy, Accessibility, Development

    Guided by her passion for design as a tool for change and community empowerment, Denise is a master typographer and illustrator who is dedicated to making design accessible for all, in every project and interactive experience that she leads.

    With a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design from Portland State University, Denise is often a guest presenter at Comma PSU, where she provides mentorship and inspiration to the next generation of designers.

  • Development, Strategy, Design, Motion

    Fluent in WordPress, Shopify, and Squarespace CMS development, Ciera prioritizes strategy, user experience, and accessibility to create meaningful websites for meaningful missions. Ciera’s work is guided by the process of seeking and sharing understanding through design.

    Ciera holds a Bachelor of Science in Graphic Design with a focus in Interactive & Digital Design from Portland State University, and is an instructor for A&D projects at PSU.

 
 
 

Celebrating 10 Years

Founded in 2012 by Jen Thomas and Liz Gill Neilson, The Beauty Shop has had many iterations, studio locations, and the privilege to have worked with many beloved clients and team members.

 
 
 
The Beauty Shop's first design studio in Portland, Oregon.

2012: first studio in TenPod on Fremont

 

2013: at 811 E. Burnside studios

 
 
Liz, Julie and Chloe having fun while critiquing brand design directions.

2013: at 811 E. Burnside

Brand design critique taking place at The Beauty Shop, a women-owned creative agency

2014: at the Ash Street studio

 
Jen and Liz speaking at Bend Design Conference workshop, Beyond Trend

2015: at our Bend Design workshop, Beyond Trend

 
 

2015: at Bend Design

 

2016: at the Ash Street studio

 

2016: at the Ash Street studio

 
 
 

2017: at our legendary first Crusher Court studio

 
 

2017: installing campaign copy at the Dumbbell building

 
 
 

2017: at Design Week Portland on the Main Stage

 

2017: team photo at Crusher Court

 
 

2018: team aura photos by Radiant Human

2018: at the AIGA Women Lead workshop

 
 
 

2018: Lady Luck first appears at Crusher Court

 

2018: Gray Magazine Design Minds panel

 

2018: strategy brainstorm on International Women’s Day

 
 

2019: team critique

 

2019: serendipitous outfits

 
 
 

2019: team photo

 

2019: hilarious team crit

 

2019: Bend Design panel at Nemo

 
 
 
 

2020: conference room snack and work session

 

2020: our second studio at Crusher Court

 

2020: speaking at First Round

 
 
 

202o: at First Round

 
 
 

2021 remote for COVID

 

2022 remote and nation-wide

 
 
 
WE ARE VOLCANOES. WHEN WE WOMEN OFFER OUR EXPERIENCE AS OUR TRUTH, AS HUMAN TRUTH, ALL THE MAPS CHANGE. THERE ARE NEW MOUNTAINS.
— URSULA LE GUIN