Straightaway at Portland Airport

In our research, we looked to the Golden Age of air travel (1930s-1970s), when flying was a thrilling affair. Optimism of this new technology permeated society, with futurist imaginings making their way into popular culture, especially in airport interior design. We were also inspired by Northwest Regional style, a midcentury architectural philosophy valuing simplicity and a connection to the natural environment with roots in our Portland hometown.

These two points of inspiration came together in a concept we called Northwest Futurism, ambitious optimism that looks to the stars while staying grounded in beautiful Pacific Northwest nature.





Visions of the Future

Important inspiration for this project are Futurist art and design movements from the 1930s-1970s, from art deco to the atomic age. Dynamic and imaginative, the visuals of these movements included sweeping lines and echoing shapes, mixed with a textural richness that brings depth to paintings and interior design alike.

We looked to airport restaurants and lounges from that era, as well as previous versions of the Portland airport, to understand and synthesize the retro-futurism aesthetic. Marked by a high level of design considerations, and an eye to the future, it was not uncommon for airports and airplanes to have distinct interior strategies that were designed with a space-age vision.





The space is Straightaway’s twist on the mid-century airport bar: taking cues from the past, creating the future, sourcing from our surroundings, all while creating a joyful universe. The brand’s convivial hospitality largely informed the design. We wanted to create a space that feels intimate: a respite during a busy day of travel where folks can relax with a finely crafted cocktail.





The color and textural story in the space is a marriage of Straightaway’s brand: full of energy with vibrant pops of yellow and blue, and the palette of our Northwest surroundings: lush and vibrant greens, doug fir, and moss-inspired upholstery.

We made sure the colorful products play a part in the material story as well, adding vibrancy to the retail side of the space. We selected natural materials wherever possible, such as stone, ceramic, and wood. This was all highlighted with chrome details for contrast and that sleek space-age feel. 


Futurist shapes accent the space: the undulating ceiling, the sliced cloud light fixture, the reclaimed wavy wood walls, the portal-like columns flanking the space, the geometric channels in the banquette upholstery.

As Straightaway’s partners for almost a decade, we collaboratively led the vision for the space alongside their team. The year-long project was a rigorous exercise in brand story-telling, spacial design, and navigation of the Port of Portland’s design and construction requirements. With the help of many collaborators, we designed a space that uniquely serves travelers, shares Straightaway’s story, product, and ethos, and evokes the lush environment of the Pacific Northwest.