The Story
I wish I could neatly tell you a story about how I've had aspirations of becoming one of the great designers from a tender young age, dominating design school, and cutting my teeth at a big ad agency. That story wouldn't include a whirlwind of career stops and starts before finding myself inelegantly catapulted into the world of design by the need to pay the bills. Nor would it mention the long nights of self-study, wondering when I'd finally know what I was doing, or being coerced into creating a website, with zero experience, by adamant clients who saw more in me than I did at the time.
To my surprise, those clients kept coming back.
While I had big aspirations of being an Artist after Art School, I found myself surprised by the slowly unfolding pleasure of creating something unique with someone, and helping bring their vision into the world. To Art School, I am forever grateful for giving me my artistic eye and conceptual mind.
So let's skip ahead well over a decade. I've honed my structure, developed a deep trust in the creative process, and learned to hold the uncertainties that inevitably crop up in design, for myself and for my clients.
I've trained in the healing arts and have run my own healing practice (and still do) . This has deepened my understanding of those who work in the healing arts, and helps me translate the things that can be difficult to articulate (the atmosphere, personality and energy of a business) into something tangible and visual. It also makes me particularly at home in the creative process, where we get to tango a little between what is known, what is felt, and what is waiting to emerge.
My approach is part structure, informed by 15 years of experience, and part intuition, informed by, well, who I naturally am.
I value collaborative and thoughtful design that serves the client in earnest, that is grounded and practical, and born from a love of beautiful things.
Yet, I am not a good fit for everyone.
You may want to ask yourself the following before reaching out:"Is your business in some way in service of the wellbeing of the planet, people, or something you believe leaves the world better?" And:"Do you value thoughtful, considered design over speedy, generic outputs?"
If you answered yes, I'd love to hear from you. We can jump on a call and explore whether there's creative resonance between us.
And lastly, the answer to the obligatory question: “Janine, when you're not designing, what do you enjoy doing?”
The answer… I am a lover of the heart-wrenching beauty of wild forests and calm seas, and you'll most likely find me immersed in one of these. Painting strange and poetic things. Being a wife, a mother to a wonderfully strong-willed child, or caring for one of many furry beings.
I am the forever the mutating rider of this wave of life.
