Today we’d like to introduce you to Justine Johnson
Hi Justine, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Owning an interior design business is something I have dreamt about for many years. I went to school at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio studying interior architecture. During my matriculation, I held an internship with another small interior design company in Cleveland, where I was inspired to take my career to the next level! After finishing up at OU, I took a position with a kitchen and bath showroom for more experience, before being laid off (like many of us) due to the global pandemic in 2020. Once the opportunity rose, I bet on myself and decided to finally open my own company. Hence, JustDesigns was born. It has not been the easiest journey, but rewarding nonetheless. I love working for myself and providing great service to my clients. Making people happy and comfortable in their space(s) brings me a fulfillment and joy that is indescribable. Interior design has taken me many places career wise including showrooms, big box stores, furniture companies and corporate settings. I am grateful for all of my experiences as they have equipped me with the necessary tools and expertise for my line of work.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Like anything new, learning comes with bumps in the road. While they are not always easy to navigate, I attempt to view everything from a gracious centered mindset. As long as I found a lesson in the struggle(s) faced, I can hang my hat on that and come back better than before. One of the biggest lessons I have learned during this process of developing my own brand has been to keep moving forward. The longer I allow a struggle to discourage me, the longer I am prolonging my overall success. Time spent in a stupor, is time that can be spent learning, reconstructing and organizing for the future. It is definitely easier said than done, so I am not here to discredit anyone reading’s potential frustration. Everything is a learning process; the more mistakes, the more opportunity to become better.
As you know, we’re big fans of JustDesigns . For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
JustDesigns is a full-service interior design and resin creations studio based in Cleveland, OH, additionally serving the Greater Boston, MA area. I work on projects ranging from furnishing/decorative jobs, to large-scale renovations and new construction. While building my interior design portfolio under my name, I began experimenting with resin as a new medium. My niche became home decor products including coasters, various trays, and even domino sets. I started taking semi-custom orders on Etsy and selling ready made products at pop-up shop opportunities, even selling to customers overseas! I’ve created a variety of custom pieces from freeform mirrors, child keepsakes, and expanding to table tops and full furniture flips. Recently, I have entered a new phase in business, completing bulk orders of my products for other company’s marketing and events. My most prominent partnership has been with Krystal Gardens in Boston, collaborating on local community rearing events. I strive to combine the art of interior design with the allure of custom resin products for the optimal complimentary space.From transforming living spaces to crafting one-of-a-kind resin furniture and décor, we are dedicated to bringing your design dreams to life. My aim to conceive design that is both aesthetically pleasing and functional. Attention to detail and a client based focus is what I believe sets us apart from others. I’m proud of the way I can connect with people; this ability is especially useful when personalizing a space or custom item for a client. I want readers to know that I am working on some new projects that I cannot wait to share soon! Please follow me on all social media platforms @JustDesigns_Llc for updates and visit my website justdesigns.net.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Success to me is having the ability to fill my days doing what I love for a living and sustaining. Success looks like structuring my days to coincide with my organizational and work style. It’s having autonomy over the trajectory of my career and opening doors to the project opportunities I dream of. Success also looks like having the capacity to hire on full time staff, and assist in developing future designers through teaching and internships. I’ll know I’m successful when I can give back to the land and people who have all had a hand in my progression. I want to be successful enough to provide not just my infrastructural ideas, but to be a resource within the communities I serve. Filling people’s lives with joy induced by my creativity is the fulfillment that I need to deem myself successful.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://justdesigns.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justdesigns_llc/?r=nametag
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jdesignsllc/
- Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/justdesigns_llc
