Founder of Rebel Studios, Julia Chesbrough, is a force to be reckoned with. She's designed for noteworthy brands including Hinge, Glossier and Spotify. In this interview, Julia redefines what success in love looks like, shares the best advice she's ever gotten (via text from her mom), and talks about her experience in the design industry...
1. What is your life motto right now?
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I started my own design studio, Rebel Studios Co., over a year ago. While it’s been going great so far, I’ve got big plans for it. I want to keep expanding and pushing past my comfort zone. It can be really easy to get overwhelmed with all of the directions I could head in, and I find myself spinning at times. What really helps is to make small progress every day. Just one small step at a time, and eventually I’ll have walked miles.
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2. What's your most-played song within the past week? Why?​
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It’s definitely gotta be Anti-Hero by Taylor Swift. After seeing her self-directed music video, which was absolutely incredible, I can’t stop picturing the visuals whenever I hear the song. I also just love her self-awareness, how easily she pokes fun at herself and the narrative that’s been built around her.
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3. Your Top Three Books of All Time:
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The Power Of Now - Eckhart Tolle
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Atomic Habits - James Clear
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Pachinko - Min Jin Lee
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4. Your Approach to Health in One Sentence:
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Keep it simple: eat your veggies, move your body, relax your mind.
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5. Your Approach to Happiness in One Sentence:​
Happiness is a product of what you do and don’t allow into your orbit.
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6. Your Approach to Dating in One Sentence:​
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Get really good at loving your own life so that you don’t mind waiting it out for the right person to come along.
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7. Funny / most cringe date:
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Went on a date with a guy who insisted on reading me his favorite passage from American Psycho, specifically the part where the main character wears his victim’s vertebrae as a necklace. Then he sent me chicken noodle soup to my office the next day. There was no second date.
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8. Your most used word:
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“For sure” said in a variety of tones and meanings.
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9. Last screenshot (include actual image):
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Quite literally a classic accidental home page screenshot haha. And yes I use affirmations to label my folders.
"What
you
want
exists!
10. What are 1-3 things you do when you feel blue to make yourself feel better? / or feel like you’re having an off day?
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Nothing clears my mind quite like going on a walk. Getting fresh air and some easy movement is so calming. I also love going on runs, and find that it really helps me to stop ruminating. Once the endorphins start flowing, all of your problems begin to feel solvable. Lastly, finding ways to laugh! Either watching comedy or calling my friends is a sure way to switch up my mood.
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11. Most used emoji:
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💜
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12. Most inspiring quote:
What you want exists!
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13. What was the last thing that made you laugh?
Everything on tiktok!! People are so freakin creative.
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14. Who’s someone who you can rely on to always make you smile? Why/what do they do?
My brother Eric, for sure. He’s been making me laugh since day one. He’s super quick-witted and goofy. Always puts a positive spin on things. Just an overall great lad.
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15. Best advice you’ve ever gotten:
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It would have to be this text that I got from my mom years ago. I was 25 years old, working in a very stressful job, trying so hard to prove myself but feeling under appreciated. On this particular day I had just had enough, so I reached out to my mom. She always has the best advice! In fact, it was so good that I took a screenshot and have saved it all these years later…
16. Someone/something that changed your life (for the better):
I recently had to end a very loving, healthy relationship because we ultimately wanted different futures. However, I look back on those years with so much gratitude and appreciation for who he is, and who he helped me become. My standards for a partner are so much higher now. My own wounds were healed from the experience of receiving and giving that type of unconditional love. It’s changed my personal definition of what makes a relationship successful; it doesn’t always have to end in marriage to be a “success”. Sometimes it just ends with a lot of healing that you take forward with you.
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17. Most overrated advice / trend right now (in your opinion):
I love skincare just as much as the next lady, but there are sooooo many products coming out that are truly wtf. All fine and dandy if you want to use those, I just personally don’t think self-care needs to be that complicated (or expensive!).
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18. Something you feel like saying:
As a designer, I often meet people who tell me that they aren’t creative at all. However, I truly believe that everyone is creative, they might just not know it yet. You can be creative in so many ways. Cooking a new recipe, coming up with math equations, rock climbing on a difficult course. Using your cleverness and imagination to solve problems means you are creative!
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19. Fave website / youtube video / link online at the moment:
Gotta give a shameless plug to RebelStudios.co
If you need a designer to create everything from your branding to your app/website, I’m your gal!
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20. Fill in the blank: I’m happiest when I: _______________________
am in the flow of my creative energy.
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21. Tag a gem who inspires you:
Michelle Fok, my old coworker from Hinge. Incredibly talented, humble, and kind! @meesh.fok on insta