Behind every brand is a story, a spark of passion that evolves into something bigger. At JonesHaus, that spark was a desire to strike a chord through spectacular design; to concept and execute impactful work that captures hearts.
Our brand began with a love of the creative process, and the feeling that comes from uncovering the idea that turns into a stunning logo or an artful campaign. We dive deep into that process with every creative project we take on — and it’s a beautiful thing.
In this post, we wanted to shine a light on our origin story, and the story of the individual behind it. Meet Kimberly Jones.
Coloring book, circa 1973
Q: What is the first creative project you remember?
Kimberly: For as long as I can remember, I've been a creative soul. I had a lot of coloring books! And one in particular, of design patterns, was my favorite because I could create my own designs within the design.
Q: What inspired you to pursue design and brand development?
Kimberly: Growing up, I wanted to be an FBI agent. I was fascinated in finding out the who, what, when, where and why something happens. Then the creative world gave me a whole new exciting space where I could ask as many questions as I wanted.
After earning a Bachelor of Fine Art in graphic design from SCAD, I went on to receive advanced placement in art direction at the Portfolio Center in Atlanta. Today, whether I’m developing and designing a brand identity or solving a creative brief, I get to ask the “Five Ws” to formulate design solutions in an artistic way. What's even more exciting is that with the creative process, there's always more than one right answer.
Your brand identity is a concept and a feeling. It’s the overarching way your business is perceived and understood in the world. Establishing a brand identity is less about the components (logo, fonts) and more about the overall message.
Once you have a clear concept of how you want to present your business to the public, craft a visual identity that conveys that presentation. This is accomplished through your logo, color palette, typography, etc.
Website design for Amanda Jewel Floral + Design reflects the stunning work of this Georgia floral artist.
Q: Describe your aesthetic in three words.
Kimberly: Simple. Clean. Modern.
Q: What was the most fulfilling collaboration you’ve worked on?
Kimberly: My brother, Robert Jones, and I collaborated on a calendar that featured bike derailleurs and cranksets. It was fun to celebrate his love and fascination for bicycles and their simple yet complicated design with my love of simple, clean and modern design.
Q: Do you think creativity is something you’re born with, or something you’re taught?
Kimberly: Yes, I believe everyone is creative and has many different talents. Attending SCAD definitely helped me develop my design talent and I'm still exploring. I'd love to learn how to paint.
“Untitled” illustration for a Graphic Design Techniques class at SCAD: Pen & ink + Pantone film
Q: What’s a challenge you face in doing what you do, and how have you learned to navigate it?
Kimberly: I do my best work when I can get focused and really sink into the flow of a project. But sometimes, staying focused and at my laptop for too long hinders my ability to tap into the kind of imagination and simplicity that leads to truly great design – the kind that strikes a chord and resonates. I’ve learned that when I step away from focusing on the creative problem I am trying to solve, my brain naturally finds the solution.
Refreshing my mind, finding new inspiration – these are investments that make me more productive and help me produce more profound work.
Q: What fuels your creativity?
Kimberly: A couple of days a week, I leave in the afternoon for the barn to ride my dressage horse, Frank Sinatra. Riding is a wonderful way for me to fuel my creativity and passion. Staying inspired is absolutely essential to doing excellent creative work.
Dressage, the style of riding I practice and enjoy most, is a skilled and artful form of riding that’s usually pursued for the sake of mastery. The goal of dressage is for horse and rider to work together so fluidly, they’re so in sync, that shared, choreographed movements appear natural and effortless.
To me, riding and design feel similar in many ways. Riding a horse requires incredible focus and makes you feel completely immersed. It’s the same with design – When you're in the zone, it's really magical.
Q: What’s the last dream you had?
Kimberly: I was having a conversation with a friend about the joys of living in Savannah, GA my hometown. We discussed all of the beauty and magic and reminisced about an art gallery I worked in while attending SCAD.
Savannah architecture from SCAD illustration class: Sharpie marker on acetate
Q: Where is JonesHaus going from here?
Kimberly: Over the years, we’ve evolved from a branding firm to help small businesses, as well as national and global brands, develop and implement integrated marketing strategies that propel them forward. It’s been incredible to offer marketing strategy and services that are deeply rooted in the kind of resonance that’s achieved through great branding. We just created a Social Media Roadmap to help small businesses audit their own social media accounts so they can implement stronger marketing strategies, and I’m really excited about that!