Meet Joshua Jevons

Today we’d like to introduce you to Joshua Jevons.

Joshua, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I was born and raised in Rensselaer, N.Y., a small city across the Hudson River from Albany, in a family of eight. As a kid, I loved drawing and when it came time to graduate high school, I knew I wanted to do something creative that involved art. So, I applied to a bunch of colleges for all kinds of different majors that I thought would be creative.

I was lucky enough to get accepted to Rochester Institute of Technology. After fumbling around for a semester trying to figure out what to do for the rest of my life, my advisor told me about graphic design. I had no clue what that was, but it turned out to be exactly what I was looking for. Luckily, RIT has an amazing design program.

I worked as a design intern in the summer months at a software development company focused on clients ranging from the military and government to private universities. Real cubicle stuff. But I needed experience if I was going to take this seriously, and even if I was still in college.

After graduation, I took an unpaid internship in Boston at a design studio called Soldier Design. Although it was unpaid the experience was worth it. Even if it meant having to borrow more money in order to live there while in an insane amount of debt from college. Working on projects for Nike, the NFL, Burton, New Balance and Warrior was an opportunity curate my portfolio and set myself up for the future.

Loans started kicking in and I needed to get a job that paid. I found a small advertising agency somewhat close to home in a town called Lenox, MA. It was a 45 min drive there and back but again it was worth it. It was my first introduction to advertising, and being involved in more conceptual work like concepting TV, art directing photo shoots, and developing big ad campaigns. I worked there for about two years and the connections I made are still useful to this day.

I may have started my professional career close to home. But, like many freedom loving Americans before me, I decided to make the journey west. I moved to Denver in 2013 for a change of scenery and a new opportunity to work for an agency called Cactus. There I started out as a Jr. Designer and left a Sr. Designer.

I eventually decided to start my own studio in 2018. I took a chance on my abilities, experience, and network in order to pursue the type of work I enjoy most. I may have bounced around a lot but every move I made got me closer to my goals.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
As you can probably tell from my story, no it has not been smooth. It’s a rocky road, but hard work pays off. I know that’s a cliche but it’s true. I think a constant struggle is figuring out how to best improve your current situation and understanding how to get there, even if at first it seems the opportunity is not.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
I run my own graphic design studio. I have extensive experience building brands, designing packaging, crafting illustration, and shooting outdoor/lifestyle photography. What sets me apart is the ability to execute high-level work for brands large and small. My well-rounded capabilities allow me to keep teams small but if needed, I’ve got the network to get the job done. When I’m not working I’m hiking, camping, over-landing, snowboarding and photographing landscapes and nature.

How do you, personally, define success? What’re your criteria, the markers you’re looking out for, etc?
To me, success isn’t about a job title, it isn’t about how much money you have. It’s about whether or not you have the ability to realize your intentions and make a living doing what you love. That’s first and foremost. If you have that ability, then you inherently have grit, determination, foresight and you’re willing to put in the work to make your intentions happen. Whether that’s a simple goal major career move.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.joshuajevons.com
• Email: hello@joshuajevons.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/joshuajevons_design, instagram.com/joshuajevons_photo
• Other: dribbble.com/joshuajevons

Getting in touch: VoyageDenver is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.