this is us
We’re Julia and Lauren, two graphic designers with the same unshakable habit
— we sneak creativity into everything we do. Even tiramisu.
When we’re not chasing colour, we’re channelling our imaginations for inspired brands,
marketing magicians and passionate entrepreneurs.
the skinny on Jewels
Part designer, part objet d’art enthusiast, part Italian cookbook… Julia (aka Jewels) is the calming and complementary yin to Lauren’s yang. Her appreciation of nature and art in various forms has given Julia a keen sense of aesthetics, which you’ll find in all her graphic design gems. When she's not knee-deep in design inspiration, she can be found wrestling her bambinos for the ricotta tub, swinging a tennis racket, or making some kind of complicated sauce from scratch.
the lowdown on Lauren
Lover of fonts (and closet craft aficionado), Lauren flexes her creativity on the daily – whether she’s in the studio, pausing to reflect on sunrises over rockpools, or getting crafty with her curly-topped kiddos. She loves to swim about in a deep design project, and yet no problem or piece is considered too tiny for her to pour her creative energy into. As far as Lauren is concerned, all design is a vessel for meaning. And there are infinite opportunities for expression.
the two of us
Our story goes back to circa 2001 when Jewels and I found each other in class together at Sydney’s ‘design melting pot’, the Enmore Design Centre. We were there to study graphic design and illustration, which we did, while also rationalising multiple trips to The Metro, beers at The Golden Barley, and various other dubious life choices.
Jewels remembers: “It was love at first laugh for me. My first memory of Loz is her contagious spirit and laugh. She didn’t need to be funny – she only needed to laugh, and I’d be laughing too.”
After spending only a year apart, Jewels and I started working together in-house for the iconic Northies in Cronulla. Heady days indeed. We designed side by side, squished together in the dingiest of offices, on the most archaic devices known to man. But we found the joy and kindled a flame of ambition (amidst the endless stack of $9 steak night posters).
Jewels remembers: “Driving ‘Val’ (an old maroon Holden VL) to Greenhills for lunchtime dips in the ocean, sunbaking then working in the afternoon with salty hair, and finishing our days with a coldie on the balcony. Priceless.”
During the summer of 2004, while watching the clouds roll by from our beach towels, we started to get serious about striking out on our own (together). By early 2005, Kiss the Sky was born. And no, there is no trippy Jimi Hendrix story attached to this. ‘Kiss the Sky’ was the name of stock image that got stuck in our heads.
Jewels remembers: “We liked the name because it represented a heap of things we felt an affinity for. It was aspirational, soft yet driven.”
Why we gel so well? I’d say we complement each other. We’re both passionate about design – and not just graphic design. We love objects, spaces, clothing and photography—even colours. We could sit and talk about the colour of something for hours.
We’ve also enriched each other, I think. In addition to comparing notes on all things design, over the years, Jewels has introduced me to homemade quiche and her mumma Maria’s Italian meatballs. She taught me to love tuna. And tried to teach me to roll my r’s.
Jewels says:“Loz is one in a million. Everyone who knows her knows this. The fact I landed her as a business partner (and more importantly, a mate) is something I’m forever grateful for. She brings energy and laughter wherever she goes. She’s ridiculously thoughtful and loyal. And her mind is super creative – she inspires me to keep getting better.
‘If you want to fly, give up everything that weighs you down’
*especially assembly-line design*