It’s two parts:
This newsletter. I’m taking you behind the scenes of my current design projects and life as an entrepreneur. It will be packed with ‘real talk’ essays and a first-hand account of a lot of ‘firsts’: first time business owner, first time opening a restaurant as a co-founder, first time designing a restaurant, and SO MUCH MORE.
It’s also the name of my interior design studio!
In a world filled with so much noise, I want to be hyper intentional about what I put out into the internet. Having a paid subscription model will allow me to cultivate an intentional and supportive community who knows what they’re looking for when they subscribe. There will be no sponsored content in this newsletter. We are constantly being sold something in our inbox and it’s exhausting. My goal is to cut the bullshit and carve out space for those who really want to know what it’s like to be a first-time entrepreneur. To have honest and helpful conversations and to be a resource for anyone who may be looking to embark on their own creative endeavor.
you’re curious about what it looks like to start your own interior design studio (with you as the only employee!)
you’ve been wanting to switch careers into a creative field, but feel like it’s too late - let’s talk!
you have something you’ve been wanting to launch, but the fear of failure is too strong - lord, me too and I’ll touch on this a lot in this newsletter.
you want to see all my design presentations and drawings for projects; including my thought process when space planning and material selection.
you’re wondering what the restaurant opening process looks like (finding a space, where to spend/save, concepting, branding, interior design, menu planning, hiring a core team, all the way to the first day of business and beyond).
you want to know how we* are going about this restaurant opening (who we’ve worked with, how much things actually cost (too much imo!), what our non-negotiables are, advice we’ve received from industry mentors and friends, how we work together as life partners and now business partners, and so on).
you want to connect with other like-minded individuals.
*any mention of ‘we’ or ‘our’ means Louis and I (Louis being my life partner and the chef/co-founder of our restaurant project and any future hospitality projects).
If there’s anything in this world that will give you an identity crisis, it’s being an entrepreneur. The amount of times I’ve had to ask myself who am I, what are my values, and why am I doing this is insane!
Hi, I’m Jolyn (pronounced Jolene!) and I’m currently living in portland, oregon with my life partner and soon-to-be business partner. I grew up in the suburbs of LA and spent my 20’s navigating life in washington, dc, working in hotels, restaurants, coffee shops, and even a boutique travel company. In my late 20’s, I made a major career pivot. I stepped away from hospitality and went back to school for interior design, and have since worked at a high-end furniture company and two design firms, one in LA and one in portland (both as a junior designer - hence the name)!
Resume aside, I am proud to say that I’m now an avid reader and would love any book recommendations if you have any! In order to combat my crippling perfectionistic tendencies, I have taken up roller skating because I’m SO bad at it, but I SO want to be good at it and the only way to be good at it is to look like a fool while you’re trying to get good at it. I’m also obsessed with human design and astrology. Don’t @ me.
A new issue of super junior designer is released every WEDNESDAY. Follow along on my instagram @jolynchen for sneak peeks and email jolyn@superjuniordesigner.com to say hi!
