Today we’d like to introduce you to Jhoanne M. Castillo.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Jhoanne. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My background is in graphic design and advertising, but if you asked me as a kid what I wanted to be when I grew up, my answer would’ve been either “eye doctor” or dentist. Growing up in a Filipino family, it was highly encouraged to have a career in the medical field, but I learned early in my education that it wasn’t something that interested me. Plus, it wasn’t a field that I thrived in. After some exploration and taking introductory art classes, I ended up attending Chapman University in the city of Orange and graduated in 2011 with a BFA in Graphic Design and minor in Advertising.
During my time there, I landed a couple of internships in the fashion and music industry that fortunately became paid jobs later in life. In my last year at Chapman, one of my previous bosses approached me with a proposal to start up a Print + Design Agency. This is where I got my first taste of entrepreneurship. We became business partners and ran this company for about two years. As the Director of Operations and Creative Director, I learned a lot about the business and business in general. Though it was a good run, we parted ways and thought I would never be a business owner again.
I then moved on to a stable job at an advertising firm that focused on the home building industry in Newport Beach. Fast forward to 2017. I was working full time while planning and designing my own wedding. I believe this was the initial spark of my weddings and events business! I created everything from our save the dates, invitations, day-of stationery, and signage! Shortly after, I reconnected with an old friend who happened to be an up-and-coming wedding planner in Orange County. After freelancing with her for a good part of the year, I made the decision to become a business owner again and build Type J Creative.
Has it been a smooth road?
I wouldn’t say it has been a smooth road, but it has been the best road that I could have hoped for. I think many small business owners can agree that there’s a steep learning curve with running both the back and front ends of a company. Thankfully, I had some previous experience to run off of, but it was still a lot to juggle as a single person. You exert so much of your time and effort that sometimes, you have to sacrifice sleep, food, and time spent at home or with family/friends to meet your deadlines.
Setting boundaries with work/life balance is one issue that I still struggle with. As a new company, you’re inclined to say yes to everything. It’s very humbling to know that people are interested in your talent and skills and I am extremely grateful for all the opportunities, but I’ve come to realize that as much as I love the grind, I can’t compromise physical, emotional, and mental health.
I don’t mean to scare people away from entrepreneurship! But I do want to convey the realities. My advice to those just starting their journey would be to realistically look at your workload capability and to not be afraid to say no! Do what you really want to do from the beginning and market that.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into Type J Creative story. Tell us more about the business.
Type J Creative is a design boutique that specializes in custom invitations, handcrafted stationery, signage, and calligraphy for all events. I like to view my company as a one-stop-shop for your design needs, starting with your initial invitation and ending with the little day-of details, keeping the whole campaign cohesive.
I am very proud of the growth and traction that Type J has gained in a span of a year and a half. Growing up, I’ve always been keen on greeting cards and to able to turn that interest into a career has been really great. I think my drive, adaptability, and versatility is what sets me apart from other designers. I work with a broad range of materials and production methods and love thinking of ways to make your vision come to life in the best way possible!
There are a couple of life experiences that come to mind. First and foremost, being raised by my parents. As broad as that may sound, they always provided a loving and supportive environment (even if they didn’t know what “graphic design” was). My older brother and I lost our father as teenagers, which was devastating for our whole family. Throughout this difficult time, our mom worked to support our dreams with such strength and grace. Witnessing that first hand had an enormous effect on my life. Having that strong, female figure in my developing teen and young adult life really shaped the way I tackled career goals.
Secondly, back in high school before I knew what Photoshop was, I worked in Microsoft Paint! When MySpace was still around, people would post their birthday or event invites on people’s walls (remember?!). My brother was celebrating one of his birthdays and I had created a [probably hideous] flyer for him to post with his picture and some text. When I showed him, he casually said, “You should be a graphic designer.” And it was then when I really started looking into it. I’ve never shared this story, so don’t tell him or else he’ll never let me live it down!
Contact Info:
- Website: typejcreative.com
- Email: hello@typejcreative.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/typejcreative/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TypeJCreative/
www.Three16photography.com
Image Credit:
Victoria Gold Photography
Holly Sigafoos
Three16 Photography
Sanaz Photography
Foolishly Rushing In
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