Founders & Friends
Founders & Friends is where interior designers and creative entrepreneurs come for real conversations about building a business—and a life—that feels good.
Hosted by a designer-turned-founder, each episode dives into honest, behind-the-scenes stories from industry leaders, creative thinkers, and bold business owners who are shaping the design world on their own terms. We talk about the big wins, the hard lessons, the financial truths, and the messy middle of entrepreneurship.
Whether you're just starting out or scaling something big, this podcast is your reminder that you're not doing it alone—and that success can look a lot of different ways.
Come for the insights, stay for the community. This is Founders & Friends—where business gets personal, and conversations get real.
Founders & Friends
28. From Fiver to Full Service Branding With Julia Stanton
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On this episode of Founders and Friends, Ronniesha Rivera welcomes Julia Stanton, the creative force behind Design by JRS—a full-service branding studio known for its bold, colorful, magnetic design style. Julia shares how she skipped the traditional career path and launched her business immediately after college, then grew it during the pandemic by leaning into education, strategy, and serving a wave of new entrepreneurs who needed branding support.
Julia breaks down her belief that branding is visual storytelling, and explains why every brand should start with strategy before design. She also shares the difference between a “pretty brand” built on trends and a strategic brand built for longevity, plus her step-by-step process—from questionnaires and competitor analysis to stylescapes, archetypes, and refinement rounds.
If you’re a creative entrepreneur looking to build a brand with intention (and a business that supports your life), you’ll love this conversation.
You can find Julia at:
https://www.designbyjrs.com/
https://www.instagram.com/designbyjrs/
This Episode was brought to you by Vetted by Design
If you are looking to outsource anything in your design business check out Vetted by Design to find some amazing highly vetted pros you can trust to help you grow your business.
www.vetted-bydesign.com
https://www.instagram.com/vettedbydesign/
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