Today we’d like to introduce you to Giulia Hartz

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?

I was born and raised in a tiny town on the shores of Lake Garda in Italy, where my passion for design started to take root. After high school, I moved to Milan, inspired by legends like Ettore Sottsass, to study Product Design at the Politecnico di Milano. However, my path to a full-time creative career wasn’t a straight line. In 2016, I moved to Berlin to pursue a Master’s in Strategic Design, and it was during this time that I discovered my love for visual thinking and illustration.

Since I was a kid, I’ve always loved drawing (please, pretend to be surprised!). Art was my way of exploring curiosity and trying out different techniques without any clear direction. During my master’s program, I started illustrating more intentionally, using it as a way to express my thoughts and feelings.

When I began sharing my work on Instagram I was working full-time in an agency in Berlin and it was just to document my progress, but people connected with it and encouraged me to keep going. My community started growing and there I realised how art could create moments of connection and from there, things grew. I started receiving requests to purchase my art in form of products and I began getting brand requests for custom work.

Currently, I am freelancing supporting companies and individuals with branding design and illustration with a special focus on social media and communication pieces. On the side, I’m running my own online shop selling my designs, I’m working on social media building & nurturing my own community and I’m lastly managing a Patreon page creating content and providing value to my closest supporters

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

It hasn’t always been a smooth road: freelancing definitely comes with its challenges. You’re wearing all the hats: the creative, the manager, you’re the one in charge to communicate with the client, the marketing head and even the operations person. Staying on top of everything is a constant learning process. For me personally the challenge is often about negotiating with my perfectionist self and getting things done!

Freelancing can also sometimes feel lonely. It’s you and yourself all day! However I’ve been lucky to have an amazing network of freelance friends who’ve supported me from the start. Community is so important in this journey, it keeps you going when things get tough.
Recently I have also rented a studio with some freelancer friends and I cannot begin to tell how much better things got for me mentally. Freelancing is a job where you’re alone, but it doesn’t have to be lonely!

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?

As an illustrator and designer, what sets me apart is the flexibility of my work. I love that I can take on a variety of projects, from designing packaging and creating bold branding to painting on objects or crafting editorials and campaigns. Whether it’s for small or big brands, I enjoy adapting my skills to bring ideas to life.

My style is colorful, sassy, and bold while staying simple and approachable. It’s often paired with sharp, witty taglines I craft to complete the story. At the heart of it all, what I love most is that my work can serve as a quiet reminder that we’re all human, navigating similar experiences. If my art can bring comfort, inspiration or even a small smile to someone’s day, that’s what makes it truly meaningful to me.

What does success mean to you?

For me, defining success is complicated. As an artist, I carry a lot of doubts and an ever-present need to improve, to be better, to never settle. People have kindly described me as successful in the past and while that’s flattering, I often struggle to fully accept it.

I think success, in my mind, is something I aspire to rather than something I feel I’ve achieved. It looks like the freedom to invest my time into passion projects without worrying too much about finances, being emotionally stable and present, and feeling confident in my work and what I’ve created for myself—without doubting if I’ve done enough. It’s a balance I’m constantly chasing, but maybe success is found in the pursuit itself.

Pricing:

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Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.giuliahartz.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giuliahartz/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@giuliahartz