Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sophie Jo. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Sophie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the story of how you went from this being just an idea to making it into something real.

My business, SJ PERCEPTIONS, began as my hobby, turned into my “side-hustle” and evolved into my career. In 2020, like many others, I was wondering what to do with my extra time, while working a corporate job and yearning for that so-called passion and fulfillment many have described. I enrolled in Graphic Design courses and began teaching myself the basics – I quickly realized I had the “eye” for it. I began an Instagram page and a website, where I shared graphics that resonated with me. I created graphics about self-development, personal growth, and my own personal healing journey, which quickly started resonating with others.

The next step was putting myself, my name, and my business out there. I reached out to hundreds of people on Instagram. This was my version of cold-calling. Suddenly, creators with hundreds of thousands of followers were reposting my work. A prominent influencer responded to my work and put me in touch with a startup she knew was looking for someone to create graphics.

Fast forward 2 years, several freelance clients later, I am now the in-house Creative Director for this startup – Wellbel, the fastest growing hair supplement on the market.

Moral of the story is, put yourself out there, say yes to everything, and most importantly, work on yourself first and align yourself with your true potential, and the opportunities will present themselves seamlessly.

Sophie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

SJ PERCEPTIONS is a creative studio based in New York, New York.

My main services are Brand Strategy, Brand Identity, Creative Direction, Print Design, and Digital Design. For business owners, their brand is their baby. I’m here to help grow that brand with them and bring their visions to life. When you think of branding, there’s way more that goes into it than just a logo. Everything I create is based in strategy. We have to dive deep into who the brand is, how it’s positioned, and how they want to present themselves to the world. From there, we can dive into brand identity and bring the story to life visually.

What sets me apart from others is my emphasis on human connection. I believe my clients come to me because they identify with the message I share. I also believe all design should be intentional. My minimal design style is rooted in the idea that less can be, and usually is, more. Each and every aspect of the brand identity should be meaningful and purposeful. The work should so clearly get the message across, that there’s no need for over-the-top illustrations, typography, or design.

I’ve worked with clients in the health and wellness space as well as lifestyle. I’ve worked with skincare and haircare brands, as well a life coach and a first-of-its-kind women-only community for bartenders. I’ve done everything from full branding projects to packaging design and social media graphics.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

The creative process is one unique to any other I’ve experienced. There are moments of doubt that I would have never imagined. There are times when the “creative block” is real, and it doesn’t care about your deadlines. At the end of the day, I think taking an idea out of your mind, onto a blank canvas and seeing it come to life is ultimately, one of the most rewarding feelings. I hope that all creatives know that everything that happens in between is just “part of the process.”

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My ultimate goal with SJ PERCEPTIONS is to create brands that not only look beautiful and feel aligned with their purpose, but are rooted in strategy, and ultimately connect with their target consumer. My mission is to empower my clients to feel confident presenting their brand in a way that feels true to themselves and those they connect with.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.sjperceptions.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sjperceptions/