Claudia Costa-Rowse
Brand & Packaging Designer / Founder of Freckle Design
London, UK
www.freckledesign.studio
instagram @freckledesign.studio
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Q What do you do?
“I’m a branding and packaging specialist with over 12 years’ experience helping early-stage product brands launch, grow, and stand out.”
I run Freckle Design Studio, where we help ambitious founders turn back-of-the-napkin ideas into branding and packaging that turns heads and wins hearts. Our work is premium and playful, rooted in strategy and overflowing with personality.
Freckle is run by me and our senior designer Juliette, with a trusted network of creative partners, from copywriters to coders, so we can scale the team when projects need it.
Q What steps did you take to get to where you are now?
I’ve worn a lot of different hats for a lot of different brands over the years. After studying theology at Oxford, I started my career in marketing for early-stage food brands, which gave me a real understanding of what it takes to build something from the ground up.
Eventually, I retrained in design - I’d always craved a more creative role, and spent about seven years freelancing, working with a mix of start-ups and growing consumer brands.
In 2022, I founded Freckle to bring all the skills I'd acquired together under one roof. The idea was to offer early-stage food and lifestyle brands not just great design, but a creative partner who understands the realities of start-up life.
Q How do you stand out in your field?
Freckle combines specialist experience in branding and packaging with a founder-friendly, collaborative approach. Unlike many designers who focus on service-based businesses, we’re laser-focused on product brands - particularly challenger CPG brands looking to stand out on shelf and online.
We’re here to demystify design for start-ups, making the process straightforward, strategic, and actually enjoyable (no jargon, no ego). Our goal is to help founders launch with confidence - without compromising on quality or creative thinking.
Freckle is run by me (Claudia), alongside a trusted network of creatives I bring in to suit each project. This streamlined model gives clients the best of both worlds: the flexibility and affordability of a freelancer, combined with the capacity, reliability, and creative excellence of an agency.
We pride ourselves on fast turnaround times, high-quality work, and a deep understanding of the pressures and priorities that early-stage brands face. Having worked closely with growing food, drink, and consumer goods businesses, we know how to equip founders with everything they need to launch and scale with confidence.
Q What are you working on right now?
Currently we are working on some packaging designs for a premium, eco-friendly toilet cleaner product (the glamour!). It's a new product from a relatively new sustainable brand of refillable cleaning and personal care products called Bower Collective that has quickly become a popular brand in the UK.
Q What’s your style?
While we always tailor our designs to fit the vision and strategy of each client, we describe our style as premium yet playful, providing customers with a look that communicates the quality of the product on the inside, as well as making sure every touchpoint is overflowing with personality.
A project that captures this style is a recent rebrand for Oatopia, a range of oat bakes.
Q Out of all your slashies, which one do you wish you could do more often?
I’d love to dedicate more time to growing our Shopify offering. We currently design and build Shopify sites, but I’d like to expand that side of the business - helping brands not just look great on shelf, but sell beautifully online too.
Q What is frustrating you right now?
The constant juggle between doing the creative work and running the business. Like a lot of small studios, I’m balancing client projects with marketing, admin, and growth, and sometimes it feels like there just aren’t enough hours in the day.
Q If you could hire someone for $20/hour, what would you have them do to make your day easier?
Easy. Folding and ironing Laundry (I have a toddler and one on the way so this is an endless task!)
Q What do you wish you could have told yourself, when, and why?
I wish I could go back in time, squash the self-doubt monster and tell myself to lean into my ambition and trust my gut more!
Q If you could talk to an expert to gain more insight on something, what would it be about?
I always love talking to printers - discussing print methods, paper stocks, special finishes, and clever production techniques. Any time I get to chat pantones, swatches, and print details is a happy day for me.
Q What kind of opportunities/projects are you looking for?
I’m always excited to work with early-stage product brands, especially in food, drink, wellness, and lifestyle. Ambitious founders who are ready to level up their packaging and brand identity in a collaborative process. I’m particularly interested in projects that combine multiple touch-points: packaging that pops on shelf, branding that builds community, and Shopify sites that help brands sell with confidence.
Q Describe your ideal job/client/collaboration.
My ideal client is someone who is ambitious yet easy-going, collaborative yet willing to be guided by us. We love to develop ongoing partnerships with clients and long-term engagement are our preferred way of working.
One of our favourite partnerships has been with The Original Jigsaw Company, a brother and sister duo who came to us needing a rebrand.
They brought great ideas to the table but were open to being led through the creative process. The result? Fantastic customer feedback, an uplift in sales, and the ability to take the business full-time and hire their first team members. That’s exactly the kind of collaboration we love.
Q: What is your rate?
- Our branding services start at £3,500
- Our branding and packaging services range between £5K and £10K*
- Our Shopify design and build services range between £6,500 and £12,000*
- Our hourly studio rate is £100 and we have studio days for £750 (and we have reduced rates for multiple days).
*depending on deliverables
Q How should someone approach you about working together?
DM me on Instagram or fill in the enquiry form on our website www.freckledesign.studio/contact
Q Who is a creative you admire?
I love the work of Forner Studio who focus on more luxury products - their work is always beautifully executed.
Q Oh! and… how do you stay creative?
Stepping away from my computer for a walk or a bubble bath!
This member profile was originally published in April 2022, Updated July 2025.