Where did Julie begin...
The short version...
I am a colour loving, passionate, chatty person. With a heart full of creativity. Nature and our environment is really important to me and like to get out in at any opportunity. Clay is my favourite way to spend time outside of work. Creating in pottery teaches so many life skills and never running out of bowls and mugs is always a bonus.
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Being a designer was my dream from being such a young girl. I love taking a blank piece of paper, a blank screen or raw materials and creating something. It never gets boring to me. Museums, Gallery, castles are a must for any place I visit. My life long mission is to never stop learning and being curious.
In a bit more detail...
1989
2000
Born in Shropshire on a sunny June day.
Growing up was full of adventures with my family, exploring nature, castles, museum, galleries. I always had a thirst for knowledge. Always asking my grandad a thousand questions a day. Enjoying growing plants and vegetables in the garden. Designing posters and magazine layouts by hand and my typewriter.
Started high school.
A creative teenager at school. My favourite subjects Art and D&T, I put my heart and soul into it but maybe not so much other subjects. Used to doodle in every subject much the annoyance of my teacher. (If any reading all that doodling did me well for my future.) I did well overall at school but even my teacher on leaving said we could always see your heart was in being creative. I got 11 GCSE 6 A's and 5C's. I spent any spare time painting and drawing as much as I could.
2005
2007
Started Art College
I stepped into the world living on my own for the first time and absolutely learnt to fly and had many adventures. Worked super hard. Partied too. Got to go to New York which was a place I had dreamt of visiting as a young girl. Met some amazing friends, those friends are family now.
I studied a BTEC Art and Design. Absolute let me explore being creative in an self taught way. It let me really explore different creative principles and materials in ceramics, drawing, painting, textiles, print making and digital creation. I really found my love of graphic design and had some amazing tutors who encouraged me to further my studies at university.
Started University at Staffordshire University
2010
Graduated University with a 2:1
Couldn’t of been more proud to have been first person in my family ever to get a degree. Then began my journey into my career. As any new graduate knows is a scary time of not knowing your next steps.
2011
My first job as a graphic designer
In January 2011, got my first job at HGA Creative, had such an amazing opportunity to work with some fantastic people in creative and events. It made me grow so much in such a small amount of time.
2013-2020
Lots of amazing job opportunities
Worked at so many amazing places to name a few: BJL, Kaplan Financial, Co-op, Go Outdoors part of the JD group. Each one taught me, new sectors, new skills, new perspectives. In each company I developed into the next phase of my design career and grew in confidence that design really was my path.
2024
You start working with me
Hope that made you smile. :) You could be a apart of my adventure in graphic design and me a part of your journey with your brand too. We could do some wonderful work together to grow your business and get you hitting all your goals.
2020
Launched being full-time freelance in a pandemic
The world went crazy with the word that everyone knows but I refused to type out. I was mid pandemic unfortunately made redundant. I had dreamt one day of being freelance and well a crazy time gave me the drive to get going. I spoke to people and networked and couldn’t thank my clients over these year for all the amazing work I have been apart off.
The next years
An adventure for sure
Nobody know what will happen in the future, and that the true beauty of life. I know one thing for sure though I will be designing. Working on even more amazing briefs, coming up with even better solutions and working with some top clients who want to push their brands.
When I have free time I love to…
Growing vegetables in my garden. Doing hours and hours of Pottery, I picked up the pottery bug when I was at art college and it’s only grown over the years. Crocheting. Drawing. Listening to lots of music, I have a very eclectic mix, from Eminem, rage against the machine, Pink to David Kushner. I love walking my two sausage dogs Beatrix and Delilah. I love to stay curious, so galleries, museums are a must for me.
How I keep creative...
For me staying on trends isn’t about following trends, it about staying curious. Always wanting to learn. I love to learn about anything new but also lots of history. I think the more knowledge your brain has the more it has to pull from. Staying curious is my life’s goal.
What I’m influenced by..
Designers and artists, there are so many I love. I don’t follow too many designers. Just because I think if you stick to just your principle you just hear the same creative circle in your head.
I love artist like Dale Chihuly, who is an incredible glass artist. I love Anish Kapoor who is a sculpture. I love street art, its so freeing and for everyone and I love that. Seeing the East Side Gallery in Berlin, was such a powerful and amazing thing. Work on such an iconic part of history and using a canvas that symbolised so much hate for beauty now. Valencia is another place that every street in old town theres a new piece to explore. I love the illustrator Katie Abbey who illustrates about everyday things but in a magical and inspired way. Her passion for inclusion and self care should be spread with the world.
I could go on all day about things that inspire me there are so many but most of all design needs to communicate its message clearly to its audience so I think most of all it’s staying knowledgably about the world around me.
My Favourite Film & colour...
Childhood, secret garden or Matilda.
Adult: Shawshank redemption.
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Colour is something I adore, too many peoples are scared of colour and think we have fallen into a world of shades of grey and beige. Colour can be so poweful, it can change a mood and let something speak without saying a word.
If I had to pick would be turquoise teal, but really my favourite colour is rainbow. Why pick one when you can use every crayon in the box.
Best places
I have visited...
I have been lucky to have visited some wonderful places. Each place I have loved for its own reason. New York I loved the busy electric energy, Dominican I loved its rich complicated history and absolutely breath taking national parks. Marrakesh the colours, the food, the Atlas Mountains, the markets, the makers it was magical. Rhodes Greece who doesn’t love beautiful clear blue waters to unwind and recharge. Berlin, the history, the artwork, the street art. I also have a 1970s caravan I renovated into a colourful home from home, which I am looking forward to having many adventures exploring the UK more too.
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I have plenty more places to visit yet so I reckon the best place is still yet to find.
