Perched Owl

Perched Owl Perched Owl helps small businesses + non-profits with branding, print, and digital design. Smart, strategic visuals—without the agency price tag.

I love projects that click from beginning to end, and ABC Carolinas’ 2026 Annual Construction Convention program was one...
08/18/2026

I love projects that click from beginning to end, and ABC Carolinas’ 2026 Annual Construction Convention program was one of them.

I had the opportunity to design the program and coordinate it with the event's other marketing materials, working closely with their Director of Membership throughout the process. Clear communication, thoughtful collaboration, and a shared vision made everything feel incredibly smooth, which is always a wonderful thing when you're juggling event deadlines and a whole collection of moving pieces.

The goal was to make sure the program felt like part of the larger event experience, with a consistent look and feel across the supporting materials. Seeing everything come together at the convention was incredibly rewarding, especially knowing the event itself was a total success.

One of my favorite things about design is when the design supports the people, purpose, and experience behind an event. And when the project goes smoothly from start to finish? I'll take that kind of design day every time. 😉

Saturday evening was pretty special. ❤️Mark and I had the privilege of attending Touched By ALS’ third annual Evening of...
08/11/2026

Saturday evening was pretty special. ❤️

Mark and I had the privilege of attending Touched By ALS’ third annual Evening of Hope at Embassy Suites Verdae, their largest fundraiser of the year. This was our first year actually attending the event, even though Perched Owl has been honored to help design materials surrounding this event and others for Touched By ALS since 2022.

We were also there to support our dear friends Will and Crystal. Crystal was diagnosed with ALS in August of 2022, and being able to stand alongside them that evening made the night even more meaningful for us.

Being there in person gave us a completely different perspective on just how special this organization and its community really are. We were blown away by the turnout and the energy in the room. Everyone we spoke with had been touched by ALS in some way, whether personally, through a family member, friend, or someone they love. You could feel the passion behind every conversation. There was a genuine sense of connection in the room that is hard to put into words.

And then came the live auction.

The room was clapping, cheering, high-fiving, and having a whole lot of fun as some very happy couples walked away with some pretty incredible trips to Italy, Greece, Turks and Caicos, and more. The paddle drop was equally incredible. Watching people continue to raise their paddles and give so generously was one of the most moving parts of the evening.

Sarah and her team are doing amazing work. Touched By ALS is run by a board of volunteers, and it is evident that everything they do comes from the heart and from a genuine belief in the mission. That kind of passion is contagious.

The Evening of Hope also pairs with the Touched By ALS Golf Classic, which was held yesterday, and the turnout there was equally incredible. What a weekend for this organization and the ALS community.

And because apparently I can't attend a fundraising event without participating in the shopping portion… the silent auction expires tonight, and I am currently winning two items for our family. I'm calling it supporting a good cause. Mark may just call it shopping. 😂

We are incredibly grateful to be a small part of the Touched By ALS community and to have the opportunity to support the work they are doing. The people, the generosity, and the heart behind this organization are something truly special.

08/04/2026

People sometimes imagine graphic designers opening a design program, adding a little creativity, clicking a few buttons, and magically producing the perfect logo or brochure. I wish it were that simple because it would certainly make deadlines a little easier.

The truth is that most of my work happens before I ever touch Illustrator. Every project starts with conversations, research, questions, and pages of notes. I want to understand the people behind the business, what they're trying to accomplish, and what success actually looks like. Once I have those answers, the design process becomes much more intentional because every decision has a purpose.

The notebook on my desk is just as important as the software on my computer. It holds ideas, observations, questions, and the little details that eventually become a brand or marketing piece that truly represents a business.

I'm curious. What's one question someone has asked that made you stop and think differently about your business?

Hey friends! I thought it was a good time to reintroduce myself since we're officially halfway through the year, and the...
07/28/2026

Hey friends! I thought it was a good time to reintroduce myself since we're officially halfway through the year, and there are quite a few new faces around here.

I'm Jessie, the owner and graphic designer behind Perched Owl, based in Greenville, South Carolina. I've spent more than 18 years helping small businesses and nonprofits create brands and marketing materials that communicate clearly, build trust, and support their goals. I believe good design should do more than look nice. It should make your business easier to understand and easier to remember.

This time of year is one of my favorites because it's when many businesses start looking ahead. Fall campaigns are around the corner, year-end fundraising is on the horizon for nonprofits, and Q4 planning starts moving from "we should probably do that" to "we really need to do that." It's the perfect time to take a fresh look at your brand and make sure it's ready for the busiest part of the year.

When I'm not designing, you'll usually find me chasing my two kids around a park, trying a new copycat recipe, getting way too excited about a good organizational system, geeking out over wellness, or enjoying a glass of sweet tea while the Carolina sun sets. I'm also convinced that every designer has at least one file named "Final_Final_ReallyFinal.ai." If you know, you know.

I'm glad you're here. Whether you're a longtime client, a fellow creative, or just getting to know Perched Owl, welcome! I hope you'll stick around for practical design tips, behind-the-scenes looks at client projects, honest conversations about branding and marketing, and the occasional designer reality check that will probably make us both laugh.

I'd love to get to know you, too. Tell me about your business or where you're joining from in the comments!

Happy Independence Day! 🇺🇸Today, we celebrate the birth of our nation and honor the generations of brave men and women w...
07/04/2026

Happy Independence Day! 🇺🇸

Today, we celebrate the birth of our nation and honor the generations of brave men and women who have defended the freedoms we enjoy.

Whether your plans include a parade, time with family and friends, good food, or watching fireworks light up the night sky, I hope today is filled with gratitude for the blessings we often take for granted.

From my family to yours, have a safe, joyful, and memorable Fourth of July!

Happy Independence Day!

,

One thing I have learned from years of client work is that projects rarely become chaotic overnight. Most of the time, t...
06/13/2026

One thing I have learned from years of client work is that projects rarely become chaotic overnight. Most of the time, the warning signs show up early. We just tend to ignore them because everyone is excited to get started.

Maybe the project goals are unclear. Maybe there are too many decision-makers involved. Maybe timelines are unrealistic from the beginning. Maybe nobody is fully aligned on what success even looks like yet.

Those small disconnects usually grow over time if they are not addressed early.

That is exactly what inspired my latest blog post about project communication, expectations, and recognizing warning signs before a project completely derails into thirty-seven revision rounds and a group email chain nobody wants to reopen.

One thing clients and designers often do not realize is how much smoother projects become when expectations, communication, and roles are clarified upfront. It creates less stress for everyone involved and usually leads to stronger creative work in the end.

I also touch on some of these dynamics in Understanding Graphic Designers because, honestly, half of a designer’s job is creative work, and the other half is communication, project management, and gently guiding people away from chaos.

Want to learn how to spot these warning signs before they become bigger problems? Read the full blog post on my website for practical insights that can help make your next project smoother, clearer, and far less stressful: https://www.perchedowl.com/blog/why-projects-dont-go-sideways-overnight-warning-signs

One of the biggest misconceptions about graphic design is that visuals come first. Truthfully, strategy usually shows up...
06/11/2026

One of the biggest misconceptions about graphic design is that visuals come first. Truthfully, strategy usually shows up long before the fonts, colors, layouts, or polished mockups ever do. Good design starts with understanding the audience, clarifying the message, organizing information, and determining what the piece needs to accomplish.

The visuals absolutely matter. They help communicate personality, build recognition, and create emotional connection. But design without strategy is a little like decorating a house before checking whether there is a foundation. Looks impressive for a minute. Gets questionable pretty quickly afterward.

That is why I always take the time to ask questions before jumping into visual work. The stronger the foundation, the easier it becomes to create a design that actually feels clear, intentional, and aligned with the business behind it.

Pretty matters. Strategy just happens to be driving the car.

One thing freelancing teaches you pretty quickly is that difficult projects rarely become difficult overnight. Most of t...
06/09/2026

One thing freelancing teaches you pretty quickly is that difficult projects rarely become difficult overnight. Most of the time, the warning signs show up early. We just convince ourselves they are “probably fine.”

Sometimes it sounds like vague project goals. Sometimes it is constant scope changes. Sometimes it is a timeline that somehow requires three weeks of work by Thursday afternoon. Very scientific scheduling process.

After years of client work, I put together a free guide called 5 Client Red Flags and How to Respond Without Burning the Bridge because these situations are incredibly common, especially for newer freelancers and creatives navigating client communication professionally.

The goal is not to create fear around clients or encourage people to become overly defensive. Most clients are great to work with. The guide is really about helping freelancers recognize early communication patterns, set healthier expectations, and respond professionally without damaging relationships or sounding combative.

A lot of the lessons in this guide are things creatives usually learn the stressful way. Consider this your opportunity to skip a few avoidable headaches.

Check it out for free: https://www.perchedowl.com/guidesandebooks.html

One of the best parts of this work is building long-term relationships with clients and growing alongside their business...
06/05/2026

One of the best parts of this work is building long-term relationships with clients and growing alongside their businesses and organizations over time.

I recently collaborated with Angela Gardner on a logo design for Build The Carolinas, a foundation powered by ABC Carolinas, and it was such a rewarding project to bring to life. Angela shared this incredibly kind feedback after working together on a variety of projects over the years:

“I have worked with Jessie for many years now. I love how she knows her talents. She is great to work with: listens and asks great questions. She has worked on my PowerPoints, logo creations, brand guidelines, flyers, QR codes, and more. I attached a recent logo creation. I highly recommend Perched Owl!”

Honestly, the “asks great questions” part means a lot because before colors, fonts, and layouts begin, I always start with a conversation about goals, audience, and clarity so the final result feels intentional and aligned with the organization’s mission.

One of the biggest misconceptions about graphic design is that the work starts once the software opens. Truthfully, a lo...
06/03/2026

One of the biggest misconceptions about graphic design is that the work starts once the software opens. Truthfully, a lot of the real work happens before I ever touch Adobe.

Before I begin designing anything, I spend time asking questions, researching the business, thinking through audience behavior, reviewing messaging, and figuring out what the piece actually needs to accomplish. The visuals matter, of course, but good design decisions usually come from strategy first and software second.

I think about things like "Who is this speaking to?" "What should someone understand within the first few seconds?" "What matters most?" "What can be simplified?" "What should stand out?" "What should quietly support everything else?"

Most clients understandably focus on the finished piece because that is the visible part. Meanwhile, designers are over here mentally organizing hierarchy, pacing, readability, and layout structure before a single font gets chosen. Funny little behind-the-scenes reality of the job.

This is also why positioning and messaging matter so much. Design works best when the foundation underneath it is clear. A lot of the thinking behind The Positioning Playbook came from helping businesses work through exactly this process before the visual design stage even begins. Good design is rarely random. There is usually a lot more thinking behind it than people realize.

Learn more about The Positioning Playbook here: https://www.perchedowl.com/the-positioning-playbook.html

Address

Greenville, SC

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Perched Owl posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Perched Owl:

Shortcuts

Share

Category