The Four Principles of Plazm
1.

DESIGN IS PROBLEM-SOLVING IN A BEAUTIFUL WAY.

Aesthetics alone are not enough. The beauty in Plazm’s design work arises from our commitment to a deeper understanding of strategic and branding concerns.

2.

STORIES CONNECT PEOPLE & ENRICH LIVES.

Engaging with any story—from a raw memoir to a carefully constructed brand narrative—can be exhilarating, surprising, informative, challenging. Plazm’s collaborators bring an uncommon breadth of narrative experience to client projects, thanks to our decades of work as publishers, visual artists, editors, filmmakers, writers, and community builders.

3.

TRUTH IS THE MOST POWERFUL FORCE IN MARKETING.

Not snake oil. Not “innovation.” Not a few weeks’ worth of good social media metrics. Truth. The true core of a company is built on its people, products, services, and the impact it has on the world. We have experience helping people and organizations center on their truth and communicate it with confidence and clarity.

4.

WHAT WE DO MATTERS.

Every day, every person alive makes hundreds of decisions about how to invest their time, energy, and passion. We believe the work we do—and the work our clients do—can benefit our planet and the beings who live on it. Together with our clients, we make meaningful messages, pursue excellence in creative work, and embrace environmentally sustainable production practices.

The History of Plazm
Plazm is a creative studio founded in Portland, Ore., in 1991 with the launch of Plazm magazine. Together with our clients, we solve problems, tell stories, and seek out truth.

Context
Plazm magazine started as a cooperatively published, not-for-profit periodical that sparked a nascent creative community in early 1990s Portland. As the magazine garnered accolades and awards, it spawned a commercial design and branding firm whose clients have included Nike, LucasFilm, and MTV, along with local businesses and nonprofits such as PICA, the Northwest Film Center, and Fort George Brewery.

Plazm Design co-founder Niko Courtelis moved back to Portland from NYC a few years ago. He and Joshua Berger have relaunched the studio with some of their long-term collaborators in fields such as font design, editorial content, and public policy. Plazm magazine is now published by the 501c3 nonprofit New Oregon Arts & Letters, under Josh’s leadership as founding Art Director.