Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie Riley.
Hi Julie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I am Julie Riley, and have had my own firm, j.riley creative, for almost 19 years. I am a graphic designer, wife, mom to three girls, and dog mom to Pixel (also a girl).
From childhood, I have always loved drawing and creating. I entered every art competition I could from early elementary, and continued through high school. While I loved the creative license of art, I also loved the black-and-white nature of physics and math. Graphic design provided a perfect blend of these two loves – plus, I could draw and solve problems creatively for a living!
I graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 2001 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Communications. I went on to work with major, global brands, mostly in the packaging design segment over the next five-plus years. After learning and growing from many incredible designers, seeing large clients at work, observing the process of focus groups, photo shoots, and print houses, I started my own firm, j.riley creative in June 2007.
I am now fortunate to work collaboratively with my own clients on their overall look – logo, print, digital, and packaging projects. These clients span the nation and are a product of referrals from current clients, vendors, friends, and colleagues. They bring unique perspectives, personalities, and purposes to each project.
While I miss the in-person community of physically sitting next to other designers, I thrive in the freedom of working independently and enjoy collaborating with various vendors (web developers, marketing firms, photographers, and other designers) as we work together to bring the best solutions to each client.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I would not say its been a smooth road, but has been challenging, rewarding, and worth it. Graphic designers are not typically recruited out of college, leading to a lot of job-seeking initiative upon graduation. I moved back to Houston, TX, where I grew up. Finding a job there in the height of Enron collapsing, even in the design industry, was tough. I sent out 50-plus resumes across the nation, and went on countless portfolio reviews with Houston-based creative directors. I happened to follow up on one of these reviews at the right time, as they had just started looking for an entry-level creative. This led to my first full-time job as junior designer. Externally, I was able to work on major packaging initiatives for global brands, attend photo shoots, and meet with clients. Internally, I was able to grow tremendously as a designer, promote to senior designer, and observe logistics like how jobs were scheduled, organized, and archived.
Since starting my own firm in 2007, the profitability and amount of projects have fluctuated with the markets and with our personal situations (moving and growing our family being the most memorable factors). Design yields great opportunities to bounce ideas off other designers, which has been more challenging after leaving an in-office setting. My virtual community has grown, and is essential.
Sometimes, clients do not know how to communicate what they want, which gives opportunities to ‘read between the lines’ in what they are actually wanting. Finding out what clients like and do not like helps steer our conversations in a way that is productive to achieving a successful result. Challenging, but ultimately rewarding when a solution is found that satisfies all involved!
Most important, you cannot get your feelings hurt. It is their baby, not mine.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
WHAT TO KNOW / SPECIALIZE IN
j.riley creative specialized in branding, web design, packaging, and marketing materials. The diverse portfolio blends strategic design with a deep understanding of visual storytelling, bringing expertise in creating compelling brand identities, user-friendly web designs, and impactful marketing materials. These all combine to help businesses stand out in competitive markets.
KNOWN FOR / SET APART
I work closely with our clients to bring their brands to life. Every business is unique, and so are its design needs – from a logo, print collateral, presentation templates, online & social presence, packaging, apparel, and even Zoom or Microsoft Team backgrounds. That’s why I start by listening – understanding the client’s goals, audience, and vision. From there, we collaborate to craft thoughtful design solutions that align with their brand and resonate with their market, delivering work that doesn’t just look good – it performs.
MOST PROUD
Clients that have become friends. Listening to their dreams and aspirations for their business/organization/cause ties you together tightly. Then, seeing this vision succeed in the world is unparalleled. The variety never gets old – from insurance agencies, industrial products, medical teams, non-profits, and more. This range brings a variety of personalities, making it essential to listen and work through road blocks in the creative process. In 19 years, I’ve only had two projects cancel, out of 2,000-plus.
WHAT TO KNOW
I love collaborating with clients to help their vision become a reality. Whether starting from scratch or renewing a current brand, each path brings its own set of challenges that we are happy to tackle with you! Practically, this includes logo design, print materials (brochures, catalogs, sales sheets, business cards, letterhead, etc), digital presentation templates, social media headers and graphics, web design, and packaging design.
Any big plans?
With the rise of AI, all industries are having to plan for the future. Thankfully, the thought process behind a brand and its messaging cannot be generated via robots. Planning on how to bring in this technology to make automated processes more efficient, while freeing up time for the more creative processes.
No big changes, outside of continuing to grow with the design industry.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jrileycreative.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jrileycreativeLLC
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jrileycreative/
