Design Obsession: Portland General Store

I have a soft spot for good, clean packaging design – and designers get bonus points for something with a vintage look. I suppose that’s not uncommon these days, but when I saw the feature on Portland General Store {and the companion women’s shop} on The Dieline I was seriously short of breath.

The packaging is reminiscent of the “good ol’ days” – simple and to the point. There’s no need for flashy designs or excessive color, and the lack of both of these things delicately emphasizes the equally minimal product.

Creator Lisa Brodar is a one woman assembly line, creating not only the product itself but also the packaging and presentation. The Dieline quotes Lisa saying: “I’ve always been interested in health and well-being, and that spilled over into the choices I made when I started Portland General Store, which focuses on high quality, organic, and vegan products using as few chemicals as possible. I also have a background in marketing, web development, and advertising, and a BFA in Illustration, all of which have been valuable assets to the growth of Portland General Store (all design, product development, and packaging are done by me). I’ve incorporated a vintage pharmaceutical look to my products that is reminiscent of the past when there might have only been one general store in town to get all of one’s goods.”

I’m eyeing up the men’s shop for both myself and my gentleman. Scents like “wood” and “tobacco” sound like they’ll send me on an olfactory journey through my childhood; a combination of my Pappy, the log cabin in his backyard, and the room at the back of the house filled with tools and sawdust. Thankfully Brodar’s prices are reasonable so I can order a few things guilt free!