If you haven’t found Nemo yet, then you haven’t been looking hard enough. It has been in Portland, Oregon for quite some time. I refer to Nemo as “it” and not “the fish” because I am talking about the Nemo Design Studio. Please forgive me, I couldn’t resist referencing the popular Pixar film because I am extremely cheesy and corny. Aside from the horrible intro, I am writing about this company because of my visit there today. A good friend of mine who has been with them for almost 5 years brought me on board to help out with some of their extra work. I had visited the facility before because my BFA show was hosted there 5 years ago but I had forgotten how awesome the place was inside. As soon as I set foot through the door I was greeted by hallway full of great work which currently holds various custom painted bicycles and an assortment of prints. The work environment is made for a designer – artwork is flooded throughout the office and many desks are covered in toys, trinkets, books, posters, and various other novelties. Its easy to get distracted from all of the ornaments and items on display. In addition to the physical space, the team is very laid back and provides a great atmosphere for creativity to flourish. Surprisingly, this was the first time I have worked with a design team in an actual design studio since I have only worked in design departments within a company.
Beyond the shop there is also a photography studio, good sized kitchen, miniature library of design books, and last but not least……stylish bathrooms (updated from my last visit to the place). Bathrooms may seem typically boring but this is an exception, especially if you’re a nature lover. The walls of the entrance are canvased by dense forests that are printed on vinyl wallpaper – a beautiful sight that I wish I had an image to share. Organic, earthen wood paneling and minimalist fixtures decorate the restrooms inside, making your bathroom business that much more peaceful and relaxing.
Anyways, I wanted to try to give you a visual representation of the how sweet their setup is but you should definitely visit them for a tour to see for yourself, especially if you’re a designer. Portland has its share of design studios but the environment in this building really stands out in my mind. My friend also indicated to me that every 1st Friday of the month, Nemo holds an art show open to the public. Below is a video of one of their previous shows. Enjoy and drop by to visit the Nemo crew sometime. For more information, check out their website at http://www.nemohq.com/
Video from Todd Templeman
Tags: design studio, nemo design, oregon, portland
