<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Julie Nicholls]]></title><description><![CDATA[Freelance designer supporting design & media agencies. I also work directly with all kinds of businesses to help them connect with their audiences.]]></description><link>https://www.julienicholls.design/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 12:58:37 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.julienicholls.design/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Lust for Type: A Manifesto for the Font-Obsessed]]></title><description><![CDATA[Ever hit that point in a branding project where the letters start to blur? I spent the morning obsessing over a semi-bold transition until my tea went cold—a "weighty" responsibility that every designer knows too well. To clear my head, I took a creative break and ended up channelling my inner Renton. If you’ve ever lost an hour to a single capital ‘R’, this typographic parody of Trainspotting is for you]]></description><link>https://www.julienicholls.design/post/lust-for-type-a-manifesto-for-the-font-obsessed</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69b83133da52b219c85fbdc6</guid><category><![CDATA[Branding]]></category><category><![CDATA[Creative]]></category><category><![CDATA[Typography]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 16 Mar 2026 16:43:16 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8b1edd_ae49bbac7436492c9a4356bbe59035f5~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Julie Nicholls</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Penguins and PowerPoint]]></title><description><![CDATA[Nine years into life as a freelance graphic designer, I’m reflecting on a year that included lots of infographics, PowerPoint presentations and even a penguin encounter. 

Here's a quick look at the surprising mix of projects that have kept me busy this year.]]></description><link>https://www.julienicholls.design/post/penguins-and-powerpoint</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69b827ccda52b219c85fa60a</guid><category><![CDATA[Creative]]></category><category><![CDATA[Freelance]]></category><category><![CDATA[Business strategy]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 16 Mar 2026 16:29:48 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8b1edd_ba75e245d3e949ca8cbf924770a100fa~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_720,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Julie Nicholls</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[8 years. 1398 jobs. 8852 hours.]]></title><description><![CDATA[From the first brief to becoming a trusted partner. My 8 year journey as a freelance designer.]]></description><link>https://www.julienicholls.design/post/8-years-1398-jobs-8852-hours</link><guid isPermaLink="false">67d06ea76ee571608c172461</guid><category><![CDATA[Freelance]]></category><category><![CDATA[Marketing]]></category><category><![CDATA[Creative]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 12 Mar 2025 09:47:37 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8b1edd_e3410304b7b5404cb36a75ceec754684~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Julie Nicholls</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Can AI replace me as a designer? (Plot spoiler: I’m still here)]]></title><description><![CDATA[I decided to see if AI could replace me as a freelance designer. Plot spoiler: I’m still here! Here's what I learned from my experiment.]]></description><link>https://www.julienicholls.design/post/ai-vs-designer</link><guid isPermaLink="false">67966381d0d2f00ad9dd6953</guid><category><![CDATA[Creative]]></category><category><![CDATA[Business strategy]]></category><category><![CDATA[Freelance]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 26 Jan 2025 18:05:16 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8b1edd_a6a5e51c389d4791b809a52b8ac3eea5~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Julie Nicholls</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[A packet of crisps (and an en dash)]]></title><description><![CDATA[This week my business turns seven. No traditional birthday cake for me though. I’ll be celebrating with a packet of crisps (and an en dash).]]></description><link>https://www.julienicholls.design/post/a-packet-of-crisps-and-an-en-dash</link><guid isPermaLink="false">65eb2dbdf3acec86e3b512d8</guid><category><![CDATA[Freelance]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 08 Mar 2024 15:38:52 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8b1edd_9b3ade6fad6f473383493193e59f33b5~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Julie Nicholls</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Be more Jim]]></title><description><![CDATA[We should all be a bit more 'Jim'. 97 years old and a creative inspiration. Even if he doesn't realise it! ]]></description><link>https://www.julienicholls.design/post/be-more-jim</link><guid isPermaLink="false">64a0472b773e5d4e516c6034</guid><category><![CDATA[Creative]]></category><category><![CDATA[Freelance]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 01 Jul 2023 16:07:55 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8b1edd_871f08aa9ea8482f8df2ab92372ec669~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Julie Nicholls</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The grave matter of kerning]]></title><description><![CDATA[Have you ever wondered if your brain is wired a little differently? A recent walk around a graveyard made me think mine might be.]]></description><link>https://www.julienicholls.design/post/the-grave-matter-of-kerning</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6489b78c21f12a1271f702ae</guid><category><![CDATA[Freelance]]></category><category><![CDATA[Creative]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 14 Jun 2023 13:08:33 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8b1edd_214334192b5b4a948c9da1d260b7db8c~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Julie Nicholls</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Six years and counting]]></title><description><![CDATA[This month my business turns six. Here's what this year taught me about freelancing. ]]></description><link>https://www.julienicholls.design/post/six-years-and-counting</link><guid isPermaLink="false">63fcb5ce79ebbc51e1a2e89e</guid><category><![CDATA[Freelance]]></category><category><![CDATA[Business strategy]]></category><category><![CDATA[Marketing]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 02 Mar 2023 11:26:08 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8b1edd_50bc22abf85a4ed5b85a21c3468ecc07~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_832,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Julie Nicholls</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Two sides to every story]]></title><description><![CDATA[Can you be doing more to create a lasting relationship with clients?]]></description><link>https://www.julienicholls.design/post/two-sides-to-every-story</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6351422bda6d3ecf3012fbfa</guid><category><![CDATA[Marketing]]></category><category><![CDATA[Business strategy]]></category><category><![CDATA[Freelance]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 20 Oct 2022 12:55:55 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8b1edd_9b9d6eef6f3d4f86ba1db6cb7605d74a~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Julie Nicholls</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Design matters]]></title><description><![CDATA[Designers might not be saving lives, but we can still make a difference. Here's what a care home taught me about the importance of design.]]></description><link>https://www.julienicholls.design/post/design-matters</link><guid isPermaLink="false">62826af48332c33e9070f3be</guid><category><![CDATA[Marketing]]></category><category><![CDATA[Business strategy]]></category><category><![CDATA[Freelance]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 23 May 2022 16:36:40 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8b1edd_47a31b28925f4c82a0f4e44df16a24d7~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_896,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Julie Nicholls</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The power of five]]></title><description><![CDATA[This month my business turned five. That's not a sentence I ever thought I would write. I was never one of those designers that dreamed...]]></description><link>https://www.julienicholls.design/post/the-power-of-five</link><guid isPermaLink="false">624416b2434924ec9ba6c4cc</guid><category><![CDATA[Creative]]></category><category><![CDATA[Business strategy]]></category><category><![CDATA[Freelance]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 30 Mar 2022 09:06:33 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8b1edd_3fc84997f07b46e984102b3c11730d3c~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_575,h_431,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Julie Nicholls</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Picture this]]></title><description><![CDATA[To create great content that moves people to action, you need the perfect balance of words and pictures.]]></description><link>https://www.julienicholls.design/post/picture-this</link><guid isPermaLink="false">611a22e1e595430015d47045</guid><category><![CDATA[Creative]]></category><category><![CDATA[Freelance]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 16 Aug 2021 13:10:50 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8b1edd_4b2e53c0a2be469e9209c45a39b6359f~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Julie Nicholls</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Whistles and bells]]></title><description><![CDATA[What does it take to be a freelancer besides design talent? Patience. Bucket loads of patience and an ample supply of swear words.]]></description><link>https://www.julienicholls.design/post/whistles-and-bells</link><guid isPermaLink="false">60d1efa7a4f69d00151c2ec3</guid><category><![CDATA[Branding]]></category><category><![CDATA[Business strategy]]></category><category><![CDATA[Freelance]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 22 Jun 2021 14:28:20 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8b1edd_06191f8b0ddb4cc2974011e518205848~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Julie Nicholls</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Saying no to 'jam tomorrow']]></title><description><![CDATA[There are a handful of times in your life when the alarm goes off &#38; you get out of bed totally unaware of the significance of the day ahead.]]></description><link>https://www.julienicholls.design/post/saying-no-to-jam-tomorrow</link><guid isPermaLink="false">603cd99f43e4af001530c86d</guid><category><![CDATA[Branding]]></category><category><![CDATA[Marketing]]></category><category><![CDATA[Business strategy]]></category><category><![CDATA[Freelance]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 01 Mar 2021 14:34:02 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8b1edd_ec27dd0b717c4392997f374a9f69a204~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Julie Nicholls</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>