Perched Owl

10/19/2026

A few months ago, I met Ali at a moms' group dinner. We hit it off pretty quickly, and as we chatted, I asked about her son, Walker, and his treatment outlook. I knew they were preparing for trips to New York and Italy in the coming months, but I wanted to understand more about what their family was facing.

That conversation introduced me to Walker's journey with a rare vascular malformation, the hope of a groundbreaking procedure in Italy, and a mother who is determined to do everything she can to help her little boy. But I also got to see Ali's heart for helping other families walking through this same difficult reality with their own children.

A few weeks later, Ali and I met for coffee to talk more. Since then, I've had the honor of helping her with a few campaign projects to help get Walker to Italy for the treatment he needs. I'm grateful our paths crossed, and even more grateful for the opportunity to play a small part in their story.

Now, I'm asking you to take a few minutes to read Walker's story and consider being part of his journey, too.

If you're able to give and feel led to do so, every contribution helps bring this family one step closer to getting Walker the care he needs. And if giving isn't possible right now, sharing his story can help it reach someone who can help.

Sometimes, the most meaningful thing we can do is show up, lend a hand, and help carry a little of the weight for another family.

Let's help get Walker to Italy. 💙

Walking Hope: Help Walker Access Specialized Treatment in Italy Walking by faith as we pur… Joseph Brown needs your support for Help Walker Get Care in Italy

09/17/2026

I love when a client relationship turns into a long-term creative partnership. I’ve known Rob Nielsen for about seven years, and we’ve worked together through several professional chapters. More recently, we’ve collaborated on several projects for Medicinal Wh***ey Charity, where Rob serves as Head of Logistics and In-House Executive Bourbon Steward.

If you’re not familiar with MWC, their mission is pretty incredible: fighting childhood illness with the power and passion of wh***ey enthusiasts. The organization grew out of a group of bourbon enthusiasts who wanted to turn their shared experience and love of bourbon into something that could give back. What started with barrel selections and donated bottles has grown into a nonprofit focused on raising money for organizations fighting childhood illness. I’ve really enjoyed being a small part of that through the creative work.

Rob recently shared this testimonial:
“If you aren't using Jessie as your graphic designer and artist, you are missing an opportunity to improve your business communications and image. She's a talented artist, marketer, and communicator. I will continue to send any business I have, and any referrals I come across to her.”

There’s something especially meaningful about receiving feedback like this from someone I’ve known and worked with for years. Good creative partnerships are built on trust, communication, and a willingness to work through the details together. I’m grateful for the opportunity to keep collaborating with Rob and the Medicinal Wh***ey Charity team, and I’m excited to see what projects we tackle together next.

Here’s to good people, meaningful work, and maybe the occasional bourbon-inspired design project. 🥃

09/16/2026

Think about the brands you recognize without even seeing their name. You might know them by their colors, typography, photography, packaging, or overall style. That's the power of a consistent visual identity.

Consistency doesn't mean everything you create has to look exactly the same. Your social posts can have different layouts. Your brochures can feel different from your website. You can introduce new photography or try a fresh campaign concept. The key is making sure those pieces still feel like they belong to the same brand.

Your brand doesn't need a new personality every time you open Canva. 😉 A little consistency goes a long way toward making your business look established, intentional, and easy to recognize.

09/15/2026

Have you ever looked at all of your marketing materials and thought, “Wait...do these even look like they came from the same business?” 😂

If your website, social media, presentations, brochures, and other materials all have slightly different looks, you're definitely not alone. For small businesses and nonprofits, branding often happens one project at a time. You need a flyer, so you make a flyer. You need a social graphic, so you make a social graphic. Before long, the brand starts changing depending on what you're creating that day.

The good news? You may not need a complete rebrand. You may just need more consistency and a better system for using the brand you already have.

I put together a beginner's guide to creating a cohesive brand, including five signs your branding may need some attention and practical steps you can take to bring everything back together. Because your brand should do more than look good. It should help people recognize you, understand you, and remember you.

Read the full blog and see how your brand stacks up. https://www.perchedowl.com/blog/the-beginners-guide-to-creating-a-cohesive-brand

08/18/2026

I love projects that click from beginning to end, and ABC Carolinas’ 2026 Annual Construction Convention program was one of them.

I had the opportunity to design the program and coordinate it with the event's other marketing materials, working closely with their Director of Membership throughout the process. Clear communication, thoughtful collaboration, and a shared vision made everything feel incredibly smooth, which is always a wonderful thing when you're juggling event deadlines and a whole collection of moving pieces.

The goal was to make sure the program felt like part of the larger event experience, with a consistent look and feel across the supporting materials. Seeing everything come together at the convention was incredibly rewarding, especially knowing the event itself was a total success.

One of my favorite things about design is when the design supports the people, purpose, and experience behind an event. And when the project goes smoothly from start to finish? I'll take that kind of design day every time. 😉

08/11/2026

Saturday evening was pretty special. ❤️

Mark and I had the privilege of attending Touched By ALS’ third annual Evening of Hope at Embassy Suites Verdae, their largest fundraiser of the year. This was our first year actually attending the event, even though Perched Owl has been honored to help design materials surrounding this event and others for Touched By ALS since 2022.

We were also there to support our dear friends Will and Crystal. Crystal was diagnosed with ALS in August of 2022, and being able to stand alongside them that evening made the night even more meaningful for us.

Being there in person gave us a completely different perspective on just how special this organization and its community really are. We were blown away by the turnout and the energy in the room. Everyone we spoke with had been touched by ALS in some way, whether personally, through a family member, friend, or someone they love. You could feel the passion behind every conversation. There was a genuine sense of connection in the room that is hard to put into words.

And then came the live auction.

The room was clapping, cheering, high-fiving, and having a whole lot of fun as some very happy couples walked away with some pretty incredible trips to Italy, Greece, Turks and Caicos, and more. The paddle drop was equally incredible. Watching people continue to raise their paddles and give so generously was one of the most moving parts of the evening.

Sarah and her team are doing amazing work. Touched By ALS is run by a board of volunteers, and it is evident that everything they do comes from the heart and from a genuine belief in the mission. That kind of passion is contagious.

The Evening of Hope also pairs with the Touched By ALS Golf Classic, which was held yesterday, and the turnout there was equally incredible. What a weekend for this organization and the ALS community.

And because apparently I can't attend a fundraising event without participating in the shopping portion… the silent auction expires tonight, and I am currently winning two items for our family. I'm calling it supporting a good cause. Mark may just call it shopping. 😂

We are incredibly grateful to be a small part of the Touched By ALS community and to have the opportunity to support the work they are doing. The people, the generosity, and the heart behind this organization are something truly special.

08/04/2026

People sometimes imagine graphic designers opening a design program, adding a little creativity, clicking a few buttons, and magically producing the perfect logo or brochure. I wish it were that simple because it would certainly make deadlines a little easier.

The truth is that most of my work happens before I ever touch Illustrator. Every project starts with conversations, research, questions, and pages of notes. I want to understand the people behind the business, what they're trying to accomplish, and what success actually looks like. Once I have those answers, the design process becomes much more intentional because every decision has a purpose.

The notebook on my desk is just as important as the software on my computer. It holds ideas, observations, questions, and the little details that eventually become a brand or marketing piece that truly represents a business.

I'm curious. What's one question someone has asked that made you stop and think differently about your business?

07/28/2026

Hey friends! I thought it was a good time to reintroduce myself since we're officially halfway through the year, and there are quite a few new faces around here.

I'm Jessie, the owner and graphic designer behind Perched Owl, based in Greenville, South Carolina. I've spent more than 18 years helping small businesses and nonprofits create brands and marketing materials that communicate clearly, build trust, and support their goals. I believe good design should do more than look nice. It should make your business easier to understand and easier to remember.

This time of year is one of my favorites because it's when many businesses start looking ahead. Fall campaigns are around the corner, year-end fundraising is on the horizon for nonprofits, and Q4 planning starts moving from "we should probably do that" to "we really need to do that." It's the perfect time to take a fresh look at your brand and make sure it's ready for the busiest part of the year.

When I'm not designing, you'll usually find me chasing my two kids around a park, trying a new copycat recipe, getting way too excited about a good organizational system, geeking out over wellness, or enjoying a glass of sweet tea while the Carolina sun sets. I'm also convinced that every designer has at least one file named "Final_Final_ReallyFinal.ai." If you know, you know.

I'm glad you're here. Whether you're a longtime client, a fellow creative, or just getting to know Perched Owl, welcome! I hope you'll stick around for practical design tips, behind-the-scenes looks at client projects, honest conversations about branding and marketing, and the occasional designer reality check that will probably make us both laugh.

I'd love to get to know you, too. Tell me about your business or where you're joining from in the comments!

07/04/2026

Happy Independence Day! 🇺🇸

Today, we celebrate the birth of our nation and honor the generations of brave men and women who have defended the freedoms we enjoy.

Whether your plans include a parade, time with family and friends, good food, or watching fireworks light up the night sky, I hope today is filled with gratitude for the blessings we often take for granted.

From my family to yours, have a safe, joyful, and memorable Fourth of July!

Happy Independence Day!

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06/13/2026

One thing I have learned from years of client work is that projects rarely become chaotic overnight. Most of the time, the warning signs show up early. We just tend to ignore them because everyone is excited to get started.

Maybe the project goals are unclear. Maybe there are too many decision-makers involved. Maybe timelines are unrealistic from the beginning. Maybe nobody is fully aligned on what success even looks like yet.

Those small disconnects usually grow over time if they are not addressed early.

That is exactly what inspired my latest blog post about project communication, expectations, and recognizing warning signs before a project completely derails into thirty-seven revision rounds and a group email chain nobody wants to reopen.

One thing clients and designers often do not realize is how much smoother projects become when expectations, communication, and roles are clarified upfront. It creates less stress for everyone involved and usually leads to stronger creative work in the end.

I also touch on some of these dynamics in Understanding Graphic Designers because, honestly, half of a designer’s job is creative work, and the other half is communication, project management, and gently guiding people away from chaos.

Want to learn how to spot these warning signs before they become bigger problems? Read the full blog post on my website for practical insights that can help make your next project smoother, clearer, and far less stressful: https://www.perchedowl.com/blog/why-projects-dont-go-sideways-overnight-warning-signs