Target Industry Development: Design & Creative Services

CREATIVE SERVICES

Creative Services are Economically Key to Portland

Creative services firms pay well, contribute to the local and international economy, provide cultural benefits to the community and bring national and international visibility. These advantages let us compete with regions with similar concentrations, like San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, Minneapolis, Los Angeles and New York.

The Creative Services industry cluster includes firms and people creating communication in several media: advertising, graphic design, public relations, film and video, interactive media and software.

“Creativity has come to be valued because new technologies, new industries, new wealth and all other good economic things flow from it."

— Richard Florida, The Rise of the Creative Class  

Find out how well Portland is positioned to compete for the mobile and economically important workers known as the creative class: "The Young and the Restless: How Portland Competes for Talent."

Creative Services Industry in Portland

• 1,500 firms and a total of 14,000 employees
• Revenues of $2 billion and a payroll of $976,808,000 (1)
• Average creative services wage $66,663/yr. compared to regional average wage of $40,639
• Art directors, producers and directors, fashion designers, and multimedia artists and animators lead the high-wage, arts-related occupations in the state. Employment in these high-wage creative occupations is expected to add around 855 jobs by 2014. (2)
• Greater percent of freelancers or self-employed professionals than other industry clusters.
• More than half of the state's graphic design firms are concentrated in the Portland metro area.
• Creative Services fact sheet

Learn more about Portland's commitment to creative companies by reviewing the following resources or contacting specific creative associations listed below.

Portland's Economic Development Strategy: Creative Services (2002)

Original report on the Creative Services industry in Portland:
"Designing Portland's Future: The Role of the Creative Services Industry" (1999)

Portland Mayor's Office of Film & Video

Creative Industry organization links:

American Institute of Graphic Arts, Portland Chapter — www.portland.aiga.org
American Marketing Association, Oregon Chapter — www.ama-pdx.org
American Society of Media Photographers, Oregon Chapter — www.asmporegon.com
Developers Group Northwest — www.devgroupnw.org
Goto+Play online community — www.gotoandplay.net
Graphic Artists Guild, Portland Chapter — www.gag.org/portland
Internet Professionals Northwest — www.ipn.org
Media Communications Association, Portland Chapter — www.mcai-pdx.org
Oregon/Columbia International Association of
     Business Communicators — www.ociabc.org
Oregon Entrepreneurs Network — www.oen.org
Oregon Film & Video Office — www.oregonfilm.org
     Oregon Film Community Calendar — www.oregonfilm.org/calendar
Oregon Media Production Association — www.ompa.org
Portland Advertising Federation — www.portlandadfed.com
Public Relations Society of America, Portland Chapter — www.prsa-portland.org
Self Employed Creative Professionals — www.secppdx.com
Society for Technical Communication, Willamette Valley Chapter — www.stcwvc.org
The Software Association of Oregon — www.sao.org

FOOTWEAR/ACTIVEWEAR/OUTDOOR GEAR/CYCLING

Portland offers a wealth of outstanding outdoor recreation—world-class running, hiking, climbing, skiing, and cycling. The Portland region is also home to many of the world’s leading companies in the footwear, activewear, outdoor gear and cycling industries. The Portland advantage:

• More than 20 footwear companies—and nearly 50% of the US athletic footwear market
• More than 20 outdoor gear and active apparel companies
• Established networks of designers, distributors and materials suppliers
• An employment base of 10,000 state-wide
• International leaders such as Adidas, Footwear Specialties Inc., LaCrosse, Nike, Columbia Sportswear, Pendleton Woolen Mills, Leatherman Tools, King Cycle and Kinesis USA, among many others.

The Portland Development Commission, the Portland Regional Partners for Business and the State of Oregon work in partnership with business leaders to promote the growth of our region’s important industries. Love of the industry and the outdoor environment may bring a company here—then our public resources can help it grow.

A Tradition of Outdoor Excellence

Many Portland area companies in the footwear and activewear industries are household names. Pendleton Woolen Mills can trace its history back to 1863. Columbia Sportswear was born in 1938; Gerber Legendary Blades in 1939. Other companies have been established by more recent entrepreneurs. Leslie Jordan, Climb Max, Lifeline First Aid, and Montane Inc. are just a few examples.

A Closer Look

Innovation and commitment to customer service come from companies large and small. In addition to more recognizable firms, we are home to innovative entrepreneurs like those listed below, whose successful enterprises continue to thrive.

Climb Max — Climb Max/Climb Axe is a retailer of all things climbing—ropes, rock shoes, harnesses, headlamps, and items in between. Climb Max is part of a group of companies that distribute products nationwide.

King Cycle Group — Chris King first began to make the precision bicycle headset for which his company became famous in the 1980s. He founded King Cycle Group in 1991, and has continued to earn his strong international reputation. King Cycle Group is a relative newcomer to Portland , having moved from its former California home in 2003.

Leslie Jordan, Inc. — Leslie Jordan designs and distributes customized technical apparel and promotional items for companies and events. Ms. Jordan founded the company in Portland in 1986 by offering unique Tyvek athletic products. The company has produced thousands of designs and has continued to grow.

The Portland Development Commission is committed to helping business and industry create jobs and investment that provide a full range of employment opportunities and economic benefits to all residents of the Portland metropolitan area. A healthy business climate is central to our mission. We strongly support retention, expansion and recruitment efforts in the footwear, activewear, outdoor and cycling industries as a key component of the overall health and economic vitality of the region.

PDC Business Team Contact

Jennifer Nolfi at 503-823-0271 or by email

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