Josie Allison
Q What do you do?
“I am a multidisciplinary designer, a jane of many trades, a “T-shaped” creative.”
I have a background in editorial design, graphic design, and UX design. I specialize in brand identities and websites and love marrying visual wackiness with rational design thinking.
Q What steps did you take to get to where you are now?
I have a lifelong curiosity and love for all things human and creative. In the beginning I pursued the human– I got a degree in International & Global Studies at Portland State University and traveled the globe before I heard the creative calling me. I picked up a minor in Graphic Design and worked as an editorial designer at a creative magazine called Beacon Quarterly. I began hearing about this mysterious discipline called UX design, and the more I listened, the more I learned that it was an opportunity for me to finally fuse the human and the creative. I can channel my empathy, curiosity and people-watching towards creating delightful designs! I completed the Designlab UX Academy and taught myself Webflow development along the way. I landed my first UX job at a startup company called Sovereign Prime where I was a product designer researching and designing userflows and wireframes for a new marketplace/social app. But, because UX can be tragically unsexy, I got restless and craved more creativity in my work. I got hired at a creative marketing agency called Swell Inc. where I did both branding and website design. As the primary web designer, I owned the life cycle of many web design projects, from UX research to wireframes to prototypes to developer handoff. I am now cozy in my niche, applying UX and visual design skills towards innovative, yet intuitive websites, and designing bold, eye-catching brand identities and collateral.
Q How do you stand out in your field?
I am equal parts meticulous and imaginative. I love thinking big and wild just as much as I love focusing on the minutiae. My work reflects both sides of this coin. I blend logic, precision and process with innovation, daring, and creativity to produce expressive visual design on a foundation of strong usability and systems thinking principles. I can flex between extravagance and simplicity in branding and web design, but always remain committed to engaging and exciting audiences.
Q What are you working on right now?
I am growing my freelance career as a brand and web designer! I am also continuing to learn new skills in animation and motion design, development, and typography design.
Q What’s your style?
Bold yet refined, daring yet approachable. I designed my website https://www.itsjosie.com/ as an expression of myself, and the client work that I see myself in most is the LABWC rebrand and web design https://www.itsjosie.com/labwc.
Some work I keep returning to for inspiration:
www.raus.life
www.santateresafest.ca/en
Q Out of all your slashies, which one do you wish you could do more often?
Highly creative website design with innovative interaction and navigation design (think Awwwards).
Q What is frustrating you right now?
I struggle meeting the goal stated above, because it requires flexible clients and excellent developers who are capable and excited about creating complex, innovative web sites. My mission eventually is to build a team of badass, scrappy developers and designers who share this aspiration.
Q If you could hire someone for $20/hour, what would you have them do to make your day easier?
Client outreach and marketing efforts! I would love to hire someone to help me spread the word about my design services.
Q What do you wish you could have told yourself, when, and why?
Believe in your creative abilities and the designer/artist pipe dream! I would have told myself in high school that pursuing art and design is possible and fruitful and that, yes! I am good enough to make it happen.
Q If you could talk to an expert to gain more insight on something, what would it be about?
I would love to learn as much as possible about starting an agency. I want to learn the big picture, the nitty gritty, the brass tacks, the do’s and don’ts, the watch outs, etc.
Q What kind of opportunities/projects are you looking for?
I am looking for opportunities to design brand identities and web sites for clients looking for a bolder or more creative approach. I am especially interested in the arts, food, fashion and beauty spaces, or really anywhere that we can get a little funky and a little fresh.
Q Describe your ideal job/client/collaboration.
My dream client has a vision and mission, but is also open-minded and trusting. They are a thought partner who is excited to build something bold and refreshing together.
Q What is your rate?
My prices range between $1.5K and $30k depending on the scope and demand of the project. If we’re a good match, I’m happy to work with clients on tighter budgets to find a price that works for both of us!
Q How should someone approach you about working together?
Please send me an email at josierachela@gmail.com or a message on LinkedIn with a description of your work/company, the project/vision you’d like to hire me for, (for web design projects) whether or not you have a developer for the project, any hard deadlines or timelines, and your current favorite podcast/movie/show/book.
Q Who is a creative you admire?
Jill Hyburg! She is a badass designer and digital illustrator whose style is equal parts playful/quirky and punky/gritty.
Christian Gilbert He is a very talented and well-rounded photographer and designer who is an absolute pleasure to work with"
Q Oh! and… how do you stay creative?
Collect inspiration wherever I can, surround myself with and learn from creative people, and try to avoid comparing myself to others or any negative self-judgment!
This member profile was originally published in August 2023