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 strategists, designers, developers, illustrators, copywriters, UX/UI experts, and project managers, who work together across and beyond job titles.

Our Directors

 
 
  • Strategy, Operations, New Business

    From strategic concept development to visual brand direction, Jen has been guiding brands to success for over 20 years. With expertise in both leadership and design, she directs business development for our firm and oversees creative processes with efficiency and vision.

    Jen is the former Executive Director of Visible Studio, the nonprofit organization founded by TBS in 2016, and developed design course curriculum as an instructor at the Pacific Northwest College of Art. She has been a featured speaker at Design Week Portland, AIGA Women Lead, Bend Design, and Gray Magazine’s Design Minds, among others. Jen holds a BFA from the California College of the Arts.

  • DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT, STRATEGY

    With over a decade of experience in brand development and e-commerce at every level of the customer experience, Liz leads our creative team to produce award-winning work for our clients.

    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, and Gray Magazine’s Design Minds. Liz served on the Advisory Committee of OK You, and holds degrees from Columbia University and PNCA.

  • STRATEGY, MESSAGING, OPERATIONS

    Specializing in naming, brand personification, voice development, and copywriting, Kristin’s approach to brand strategy has been described as “holding up a mirror” for our clients.

    Kristin is co-creator of Forrest and a founding member of Secret Room Press. Her poetry has appeared in Grits Quarterly and SGC Literary Journal. She holds a BA in English and Communications from UC Davis, and an MS in Writing and Publishing from Portland State University.

  • Design, Strategy, Accessibility, Development

    With a talent for creating visually stunning brand worlds, Denise directs brand development projects with a considered dedication to accessibility, ensuring inclusive and beautiful experiences for every audience group.

    Denise brings her passion for design as a tool for community impact to create brands for nonprofits, purpose-driven organizations, and pro bono client projects. She holds a BA in Graphic Design from Portland State University.

  • Development, Strategy, Design, Motion

    Fluent in WordPress, Shopify, and Squarespace CMS development, Ciera prioritizes strategy, user experience, and web accessibility in her work. From motion graphics to interactive problem solving, Ciera brings our clients’ brands to life with a solutions-oriented approach to development.

    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.

 
 
 

Our History

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