Joyce Chai & Michelle Jolliffe-Saper
Q What do you do?
“Present is a design and development practice specializing in bespoke branding, packaging, and digital experiences.”
Q What steps did you take to get to where you are now?
We met while working at the same branding agency, but both got there through our own individual, unconventional routes. Michelle via a background in international business and Joyce via a background in ecology. We let our curiosities pave our paths, and have since accrued humble expertise in branding, packaging, and website design & development.
Q How do you stand out in your field?
We like to think of ourselves as a strategic partner rather than simply a studio offering design and development. We really care about the people we work with and the businesses and organizations they run. We do our best to ensure that it’s a fruitful process for everyone and that the relationships last longer than any single project might.
Q What are you working on right now?
We’re currently working on a brand refresh and website for an incredible LA-based photographer as well as a slew of other projects, plus launching the studio! We like working within a wider range of industries - so long as our clients are encouraging us to have fun and adding a bit of quirkiness to their projects.
Q What’s your style?
We take pride in being thoughtful in all the work we do, while also adding elements of joy and discovery throughout. Above all, we do our best to make sure our branding work reflects you and your story, not us or any aesthetic agenda or trend. We love collaborating with our clients to uncover the best way to visually represent their brand. Each project we’ve worked on has elements of thoughtfulness and quirkiness sprinkled about.
Q Out of all your slashies, which one do you wish you could do more often?
This is an amazing question! We’ve always hated pegging ourselves as one thing or another and this includes what we consider our professions to be. Design and development are at the core of what we do, but it’s always been important to us to maintain a wide array of interests. Our younger selves may have struggled with this idea of “staying in your lane,” but now we celebrate our curiosities that better our lives and our work. Latest lifelong interests include baking, painting, and sommelier-ing.
Q What is frustrating you right now?
Frustrating is an understatement, but the state of racial affairs in our community, country, and world is top of mind more often than not. Offering branding services admittedly feels so far removed from this at times, but we truly believe that it takes all our efforts and talents across all industries to move our society forward in a way where all peoples are valued and respected.
Q If you could hire someone for $20/hour, what would you have them do to make your day easier?
We would probably hire a social media manager. We have mixed feelings around social media in general, but we also see the value in putting yourself out there in that way.
Q What do you wish you could have told yourself, when, and why?
Michelle: “You are enough. Your vision is just as legitimate as anyone else's. Don’t doubt that you have a unique story to tell and a picture to paint.” when I was 17 before going off to college because I think I would have believed in myself more and sooner and would have pushed myself to be more exploratory in my studies. Although, I did take a neuroscience class… hmm…
Q If you could talk to an expert to gain more insight on something, what would it be about?
It would be around how time is spent. We’re always pausing to reflect on this internally and would love to hear about other people’s thoughts on this. Not necessarily around productivity, but more around what we deem is important and how we allocate that importance.
Q What kind of opportunities/projects are you looking for?
We want to work with people and businesses who are doing good things for society and for the planet. We’d like to continue to take on projects that utilize all of our strategic, design, and development skills.
Q Describe your ideal job/client/collaboration.
Our ideal client would be someone who is empathetic, offers a service/product that they (and we!) are excited about, and has a good timeline and budget. Bonus if you enjoy and allow for some quirkiness to make the occasional cameo within your branding.
Q How should someone approach you about working together?
Via email at info@presentstudio.co. Project scope, timeline, and budget are key along with a short intro about yourself and your product or service.
Q Oh! and… how do you stay creative?
By sourcing inspiration, design-related and sometimes, preferably, not. Books, trips, classes—we’re constantly absorbing. It’s always incredible to look back to see where the genesis of a creative direction truly started. Having a rich, diverse library of inspiration allows for interesting ideas to rise to the top when the time is right.
This member profile was originally published in April 2021, Updated March 2022.