We were lucky to catch up with Ruth Noemi Lugo recently and have shared our conversation below.

Ruth Noemi, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s jump right into how you came up with the idea?

My love for graphic design began when I was only 12 years old, after my mom gave me Photoshop. I would spend hours exploring the program, creating everything from event invitations and holiday cards for my friends to website banners, photo collages, typography projects, and other creative designs. I also enjoyed creating and editing short videos of places I visited, like nature parks and restaurants, which sparked my love for content creation back in the early 2000s.

When I was 20 years old, I joined the U.S. Army. Life took me in a different direction than I ever imagined and I completely let go of graphic design. Later after being medically retired, I followed advice from close friends and pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Management, which was my job in the military. But after years in the field, I still didn’t understand why I couldn’t find joy or fulfillment in that line of work. I tried every job I was good at and qualified for, yet I still felt like something was missing. The love, joy, and sense of purpose for the work I was doing. I lived in fight or flight mode for years, working long hours in Corporate America, feeling drained, depressed, and anxious. I dreaded going to work every day and even experienced panic attacks on the job. After working countless hours and finally burning out, I ended up in the hospital with chest pains and a fractured ankle after a terrible fall. Finally, when my finance job denied my short-term disability claim, I realized I needed time for healing, so I made the difficult decision to let go of the job without a plan.

I began to lose hope after leaving my high-paying job, feeling worried and anxious about my finances until God spoke to me through a message I saw while crying and walking down Blue Jacket Park in Orlando. The message was written in chalk and it read, “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” That’s when hope and faith were restored, and I realized that God had a bigger calling for my life, and that every experience I went through was intended to lead me to the path he laid out for me.

As I studied His word and spent time in prayer, God revealed that my purpose was to show others His love and creativity through design. The vision for my business came during prayer at my church’s business network meeting at Deeper fellowship Church in Orlando, FL. I had previously launched an online clothing boutique in 2023 after leaving my corporate job, but it did not succeed. It wasn’t until I fully surrendered to God that He revealed I was called to be in the creative services business serving other Christian entrepreneurs and ministries. This revelation inspired me to take a leap of faith and rebrand my small business as GOODNEWS DESIGNS in 2024, officially beginning my journey as a creative entrepreneur.

I continue to grow and learn every day. At the time of launching, I didn’t know if I would succeed as an entrepreneur, but I trusted in a faithful God who never fails. The entrepreneurship journey has been both rewarding and challenging, and I am truly grateful for the doors of opportunity God has opened and the people he’s allowed me to serve.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m Ruth Noemi, a U.S. Army Veteran, mom, follower of Jesus, and creative who loves design, nature, and all things beautiful. I entered the creative services industry after following God’s calling to quit a job that was slowly killing me. The stress from working long hours and being overworked in Corporate America became so severe that I ended up in the hospital with sharp chest pains and a fractured ankle. I filed for short-term disability shortly after my health began to decline, but it was denied multiple times. After countless doctor visits, alarming lab results, and new health issues arising, I realized that my health would only continue to worsen if I stayed. That’s when I chose to let go and let God.

I was stressed, confused, and afraid. I didn’t have a backup plan. I didn’t know what steps to take after quitting my job or how I would support myself and my daughter. That’s when I heard God say he had a better plan for me and to not worry about anything. In the midst of the anxiety and fear, God spoke to me through people, signs, His Word, and prayer. I tried looking for another job, but instead, God told me to start a faith-driven creative business, and trust him and his provision. I followed His voice, conducted research, took a leap of faith, and opened my LLC in 2023. What began as Noemi Rose Boutique, has since been rebranded into GOODNEWS DESIGNS.

Services I provide include:
• Branding and logo design
• Website design
• Content marketing design – social media content, video, and blog posts to drive brand awareness, engagement, and growth.
• Marketing collaterals – flyers, ads, and business cards.
• Merch design – T-shirt design, sweatshirt design, and stickers.

Some of the problems I solve for my clients include:
• Helping them understand how to create content and visuals that effectively communicate their mission and connect with the people they’re called to serve.
• Creating strong visual identities and content to set them apart in a crowded marketplace.
• Equipping them with the tools and creative strategies they need to boost brand awareness, exposure, and growth.
• Saving them time and removing the overwhelm so they can focus on their own zone of genius.

What sets me apart is that everything I do and create is rooted in love, excellence, driven by purpose, and inspired by God’s creativity. My business exists not only to serve others, but also to glorify God and reflect His goodness and faithfulness through meaningful, faith-based designs and content.

What I’m most proud of is my ability to persevere and keep walking by faith despite the challenges I’ve faced in both my business and personal life. I’m grateful for everything God has allowed me to learn and accomplish during my short time in business and for the people he’s connected me to. I’ve had the opportunity to gain valuable experience working with some amazing business owners, including a dog groomer, a faith-based recording studio, a cleaning company, a women’s apparel brand, and wellness brand. Along the way I’ve created eye-catching faith-based apparel, stickers, learned to use Adobe Illustrator to design simple, minimalist graphics and logos, and built custom, beautiful websites for my own business as well as for a friend’s wellness brand. I feel honored to be on this path and grateful for the opportunities God has placed before me – not only by trusting the process, but by trusting the Creator who is helping and guiding me every step of the way.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My mission is to sow seeds of hope in my community through faith-based designs, and empower faith-driven businesses by equipping them with the support and tools they need to effectively serve their communities through content marketing and design solutions.

A goal driving my creative journey is to expand GOODNEWS DESIGNS into a one-stop shop for business owners, offering support with digital marketing, content creation, video editing, photography, and merch design, and eventually building a team to grow and serve more clients.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is reflecting God’s love and creativity through my work. I enjoy using the gifts and talents God has given me to serve others and be a light in the marketplace. I also find joy in helping creatives and visionaries bring their ideas to life so they can make a greater impact with their businesses. Inspiring them to walk with strength, confidence, and faith. I’ve worked with some amazing people on various projects, and I’m eager to continue learning and growing so I can provide even more value and serve others with greater excellence!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.goodnewsdesigns.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsgoodnewsdesigns
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572374690384

Image Credits

All images and designs were created by Ruth Noemi Lugo using Adobe.