We were lucky to catch up with Jessica Clements recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jessica, appreciate you joining us today. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

Starting my business wasn’t a bold leap—it was more like a slow, strategic climb. I freelanced on the side for four years while working in the corporate world, building up my client base and figuring out what kind of work I actually wanted to be doing. When I had my son, everything shifted. I realized I hadn’t been happy in a traditional role for a long time—and I didn’t love the idea of paying someone else to raise my baby while I sat in meetings (that could’ve been an email) building someone else’s dream.

So I used my maternity leave as a trial run for self-employment. It was messy, but it worked. By the time leave ended, I was confident enough to quit—and I never went back.

For the first year, I grew my business while caring for my newborn full-time. It was equal parts fulfilling and exhausting. Once he hit the toddler stage (AKA crawling chaos), we made the call to get part-time childcare so I could actually focus on my work during daylight hours. Now I get two full days with my son and three solid workdays for my second “baby”—my business.

Being a business owner definitely has its roller-coaster moments. I’ve had days where a W2 job with predictable hours and a benefits package sounds like a dream. But then I think about how far I’ve come—and how different my life looks now—and I know I made the right call. I get to work with clients who value what I do, choose the kind of projects I take on, and actually see the impact of my work. The flexibility is real, the fulfillment is real, and yes—the daily yoga pants are real too.

Jessica, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

’ve known I was meant to work in a creative field since I was a kid. I used to watch HGTV with my mom and imagined growing up to have my own design show. (Spoiler: that didn’t happen—but the creative spark stuck.) I actually started college as an interior design major, but after a market downturn and a reality check, I realized I was chasing the idea of a dream more than something I truly loved. That’s when I found graphic design.

I transferred schools, changed majors, and finally found a path that allowed me to be creative and strategic—solving real problems for real businesses. I started my career designing newspaper ads, moved into management, and then transitioned into a corporate in-house design role where I helped implement a full rebrand and handled all things visual communication. Along the way, I started freelancing on the side. After four years of balancing both, I had my son, took my maternity leave as a self-employment test drive, and never went back to corporate life.

Today, I run Clements Design, a boutique studio based in Maple Valley, WA, where I help businesses show up like the experts they are. My work centers around two key services: branding and production design.

On the branding side, I build visual identities rooted in strategy—digging into color psychology, industry research, and brand positioning to craft logos and brand assets that elevate and reflect the true value of the business. I don’t just make things look good—I make sure they work for the people they’re meant to reach.

On the production side, I’m your design swiss army knife. Whether it’s a business card or a billboard, a PowerPoint deck or a digital ad campaign, I bring a level of polish and professionalism that helps businesses scale, sell, and stay top-of-mind. I also support marketing departments and in-house teams with overflow and vacation coverage, because deadlines don’t wait.

What sets me apart? It’s not just the design—I bring a strong sense of clarity, communication, and intention to every project. I’m not here to chase trends. I’m here to help my clients show up consistently, confidently, and credibly in their market. And I take that seriously (while still managing to have some fun along the way).

In 2024, Clements Design was named Best in Business by 425 Business Magazine and earned multiple CommunityVotes awards in both the Kent and Renton communities. I’m proud of the reputation I’ve built, and I’m even prouder of the relationships behind it.

Whether you’re a business owner looking for branding that actually connects—or just someone curious about what goes into great design—I’d love to connect.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

When I first went full-time with Clements Design, I was in survival mode. I had an infant at home, no childcare, and two major clients (what we call “gorilla clients”) making up nearly all of my income. I knew it wasn’t a sustainable setup—every designer knows the danger of putting all your eggs in one or two baskets—but at that point, I just needed to make it work. And I did. I made it through my first year in business while also keeping a tiny human alive. That’s no small thing.

But about a year and a half in, one of those clients had to pause our contract due to an internal policy change—and just like that, half my income vanished. It was a major wake-up call. I had to make a choice: panic or pivot.

As an introvert, the idea of walking into a room full of strangers and talking about my business felt… daunting, to say the least. But I knew I had to diversify. I printed business cards, joined my first local networking group, and started showing up. That leap into community-based small business networking completely changed the trajectory of my business.

Since then, I’ve leaned heavily into branding for small businesses—helping owners show up with confidence, clarity, and design that actually reflects their value. I’ve also expanded my corporate services, offering production design support for in-house teams during overflow or vacation coverage. I’ve been in their shoes. I know what it’s like to go on vacation and return to chaos because there wasn’t anyone to backfill the workload. So I fill that gap with calm, reliable design support.

Resilience, for me, hasn’t been about powering through every challenge without flinching—it’s been about recognizing when it’s time to shift, finding the next step forward, and doing it scared if I have to.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I think my reputation has been built on a mix of clear communication, consistent delivery, and genuinely caring about the outcome for my clients. I don’t disappear mid-project, I don’t nickel-and-dime, and I don’t hand over something just because it looks nice—I make sure the design works for their goals, audience, and business. That level of intentionality has gone a long way in building trust.

Word-of-mouth has played a huge role in growing my studio. Many of my clients come back for repeat projects or refer others my way because they know I bring strategy to the table, not just aesthetics. I also think showing up consistently in my local business community—whether through networking groups, collaborations, or just supporting others—has helped me stay top of mind in a non-pushy, authentic way.

My reputation isn’t based on being the loudest in the room—it’s based on being reliable, strategic, and really good at what I do. That’s what keeps people coming back.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jessicaclements.net
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/clementsdesignservices
• Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/jessicaaclements

Image Credits

Kristina Pearl Photography