Design Strategist.
Thoughtful Collaborator.

Principal of Happy Strategy.

hello-julia

Small business owner,
co-designer, and recovering perfectionist.  

Drawing connections between design in practice, culture at work, and everyday joy.

Lover of good food, big
mountains, and the many simple pleasures of life. 

Follow my life in pictures
@jfiorello
julia-mountains

What I stand for

These five values reflect the core of who I am and how I show up every day, both in life and work.  

Integrity

I strive to be honest and transparent in my words and actions, while avoiding passive aggressive behavior and gossip. In short, I do what I say I'll do with the least amount of drama possible.

When I choose to take something on, I feel a personal responsibility to deliver the highest quality product or service, even over the pursuit of financial gain. 

Connectedness

I believe that I am just one part of a greater whole and invest in relationships grounded in community and mutual support. 

I embrace an abundance mindset, knowing that there is room for us all to succeed. A rising tide lifts all ships. 

This shows up in my work through prioritizing collaborative structures and participatory practices whenever possible to engage all voices and perspectives—creating deeper connection through shared understanding and experiences. 

Equity

Both in and outside of work, I seek to challenge societal norms that reinforce traditional power dynamics, rooted in colonialism.

I am committed to personally learning and exploring the role I play in decolonizing design. 

Through every interaction, I seek to uphold fair, sustainable, and supportive ways of being that celebrate differences, encourage reflection, and embrace generative conflict. 

Generosity

Simple, intentional acts of generosity can be radical gifts that plant the seeds for a more compassionate, connected world. 

Without ego, I do my best to extend care to others and myself in equal measure: freely, openly, and without judgment.

and last but certainly not least...

Joie de Vivre

Joy quiets fear and unlocks creativity. To me, it's what makes life worth living, and can come from the simplest things like a good cup of coffee or a micro interaction with a stranger. I believe that in our work lives, integrating joy through levity, play, and spontaneity is more important than ever—because our best work flows when we enjoy the creative process of learning and making progress on meaningful work together. 

Treat people like humans, embrace curiosity over judgement, and don't take yourself too seriously. 

These are core tenets of my work. Through facilitating participatory co-design processes, I help clients build habits of exploration and continuous improvement to help overcome new challenges as they inevitably arise. 

Connect with me on LinkedIn

Personal projects

These are just a few personal projects that captured my heart and soul — and allowed me to apply my full range of expertise in visual design, coaching and facilitation, and community building. These stick with me not just because of the product outcome, but because they created invaluable opportunities for collaboration and learning alongside some simply incredible humans. 

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