Stubborn Creative

23/01/2026

Happy birthday to my legendary client (and my finance/mortgage broker) Ray Dib of Switch Finance. Awesome man, my absolute go-to and the guy I trust without question.

https://switchfinance.net.au

06/01/2026

What a remarkable achievement – congratulations to Andrew, Karen and the entire Superfish Swim Schools team. So proud to have worked alongside you since 2010 – 16 years of brainstorming, proposals, graphic design, web development, a partnership built on trust and collaboration that has stood the test of time, and a friendship I truly cherish. An incredible journey and an exciting year ahead, with a new website coming this year to help commemorate this 30-year milestone. Well done to everyone involved 👏

22/07/2025

Brand and Website Launch – Howard's Crossing Fraser Coast, Queensland

AHC Limited recently launched a new house and land project in Howard, Queensland – and required brand development support (name, brand positioning statements, fonts, colour palette) and website.

The name Howard’s Crossing was chosen for its strong sense of place – a nod to its central location in town and proximity to the nearby train station making commuting a breeze.

I developed the visual identity, colour palette, fonts, positioning line, and a simple, clear one-page website to suit the market – appealing to both first-home buyers and lifestyle seekers. Close enough for comfort, far enough for escape – speaking directly to the tree-changers this development will attract.

This is the fifth brand project I’ve worked on for AHC Limited, starting with the repositioning of their corporate brand in 2018. It was also a pleasure to work with Bella in this project, the talented Marketing Administrator who recently joined the AHC team.

Take a look: https://howardscrossing.com.au

Stubborn Creative is the independent brand studio of Julie McCombe – a designer, strategist, and web developer with three decades of experience shaping brands that mean business. Driven by insight, clarity, and a refusal to do average, Julie works directly with founders and directors to reposition, rebuild, and reimagine brands from the ground up. Every project is hands-on, never handed off – from identity and brand systems to websites that actually work. Based on the Gold Coast, trusted across Australia and beyond.

stubborncreative.com.au

24/06/2025

Is the visual identity of your brand struggling to keep pace in a competitive market, but you’re hesitant about where to begin? Concerned about preserving the loyalty of your valued clients or losing the essence of what makes your business unique?

Comprehensive Existing Brand Audit & Strategy
At Stubborn Creative, I understand that your brand is more than just a logo – it’s the heart of your business, built on years of hard work, trust, and reputation. With three decades of experience, I offer a tailored approach to help you refine your brand without sacrificing its heritage.

My Comprehensive Brand Audit & Strategy service is designed to realign your brand with your vision, ensuring it resonates with your audience and positions you for growth. I dive deep into your current brand presence, delivering a detailed, actionable roadmap to enhance consistency and impact across all touchpoints. Whether you choose to implement changes in-house, with third-party support, or by partnering with me, you’ll gain the clarity and confidence to elevate your brand.

Why you should choose this service, what is included, deliverables and pricing:
https://stubborncreative.com.au/brand-audit-and-strategy/

Limited slots available from September 2025.
[email protected]

23/06/2025

I first discovered SGS Electrical Solar & Air Conditioning through a recommendation on a local community group page on Facebook. I booked them to install air conditioning at my home and was genuinely impressed by their professionalism, efficiency and care.
So much so, I reached out to the owner, Glenn Hart, to talk about aligning their brand presence with the high quality of their work. Glenn trusted me to lead the way, starting with a brand audit with actionable recommendations.
From there, we made smart, strategic changes - a refreshed logo design (carefully refined to retain recognition while stubbornly standing out), updated positioning statements, a deep dive into Glenn's ethos and goals, revised brand language, and established baseline brand standards. We began rollout across social media and Google Business.
With core brand elements in place, I designed and developed their new website – a fully custom build, written from the ground up to align with who they are today.
We’ll continue to roll out refined brand elements across all platforms over the coming months - from advertising to signage, uniforms, forms, vehicle graphics and stationery - spreading the cost as materials are due for replacement, avoiding a large upfront outlay that often puts businesses off the idea of rebranding.
Proud to share the result.
Does your brand need an audit? Find out more here:
https://stubborncreative.com.au/brand-audit-and-strategy/

14/05/2025

Good on you Rod 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

This winter, I'll be raising money for people experiencing homelessness in my city. Click here to help me have the biggest impact I can by supporting the Vinnies CEO Sleepout today. Your donation will help the St Vincent de Paul Society provide housing, food and empowering support to the people who....

22/04/2025

Celebrating 25 years of Apex Shutters & Blinds - what a milestone! I’ve had the pleasure of working with this exceptional family business, and their commitment to quality, craftsmanship, and genuine customer care truly resonates with me. Like Stubborn Creative, they’re proudly Gold Coast-based and leaders in their field for good reason.
It’s always inspiring to collaborate with businesses that share the same values: attention to detail, pride in their work, and a personal approach that makes every project feel like a partnership. Congratulations, Eduardo, Aliah and the team! Outstanding.

12/04/2025

Spent a rainy Saturday experimenting with AI prompts—jumping on the Barbie bandwagon made it all the more fun. Plenty of Photoshop tweaking reminded me that while AI is impressive, it’s not quite ready to replace the human touch.