When graphic designer Julie Farkas takes on a project for a client, her goal is to formulate a clear message and convey it visually in the most artistic, unified, compelling way possible. “It’s a holistic approach,” she said. “I listen to the client, see what needs to be done, and solve the problem visually. I’m an artist first.”
Farkas earned a degree in graphic design from Moore College of Art in Philadelphia and has been a graphic artist for 35 years. And she’s a perfectionist. “I don’t settle for mediocracy,” she emphasized. “Look at my website. The balance in my work, my use of typography, and the margins and spacing between lines and letters are all perfect. I will make changes as much as a client wants. My name is on the final product as well as my client’s name. It’s got to be perfect. My ideal client is someone who values good design; they see the work on my website and say, ‘I want that designer’.”
Farkas creates a complete range of graphic design products including advertising, brochures, logos, monograms, promotional items, campaigns, invitations, publications and wearables. With her knowledge of design, production, types of logos, vendor relations and how to construct and execute an accurate timeline, Farkas prides herself on providing a smooth customer experience to take the stress out of the process. While she has expertise in all the sophisticated design programs used in the industry today, including the Adobe Creative Suite with InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator, she starts with pencil and paper. As a visual thinker, she prefers to sketch ideas to show clients and get feedback before going to the next step. She asks clients to do their homework, too. “I can go in many directions, so I need to know what they want to communicate,” she explained.
Farkas worked in corporate graphic design for McGraw Hill and Ziff Davis before starting Julie Farkas Graphic Design & Promotions. “It was scary but exciting,” she said about making the switch. Word-of-mouth has organically increased her business. She designed Jamie Geller’s second cookbook, “Meals in Minutes,” and has designed many logos seen in the Bergen County area and beyond including Links Residential, Tomchei Shabbos and Project Ezrah.
She recently started producing promotional items and wearables, which help clients leave a longer-lasting impression on their customers. For families having a bar or bat mitzvah, promotional items make the event more memorable. Farkas can use a client’s existing logo or design a new one to print or embroider on all wearable items such as sweatshirts and t-shirts. She has fully designed and produced team wear for Wittenberg and for Yeshiva league wrestling teams such as Frisch, MTA and DRS. She can brand drinkware, bags, blankets, tech and other gifts.
Over the years, Farkas has assembled a network of vendors, printers and manufacturers, so she can choose the right one for each project. She recently created a blanket with a four-color embroidered logo for a bar mitzvah. She purchased the blankets and sent them to an artist who specialized in embroidery, rather than relying on a blanket company. “If it’s just a name and logo, anyone can do that, but if it requires a special touch, it needs to be done by someone who specializes in embroidered art,” she said.
Producing a product that is just what the client had in mind—and often better—is the result Farkas always strives for, and what makes her stand out. Alyssa Schussheim and her husband, Justin, wanted sweatpants for their son’s bar mitzvah and Farkas gave them options in both the design and the material. “Julie offered us many different styles of sweatpants for my son’s bar mitzvah, all in various price points,” Schussheim said. “She nailed the look that we wanted, and the design and logo were exactly what my son had envisioned.”
When Ellen Finkelstein was director of marketing at Jewish Family and Children’s Services of Northern New Jersey, Farkas designed all of her campaigns, including annual reports, direct mail and promotional items. Currently Finkelstein is associate vice president, campaign and development strategy at Yeshiva University. She hired Farkas to produce swag for their annual dinner and ‘Giving Day,’ and design a pin to give to major YU donors. “What I love about Julie is that she listens to me and gives me something I love: more than what I asked for or said I wanted, that I didn’t even think about.”
Farkas shares her love for art and design by teaching. She is training the next generation by teaching an elective course in graphic design at Naaleh High School for Girls. She also teaches graphic design computer skills to women and men in Chasidic communities through the Professional Computer Training Center. “Guiding others to find their creative voice is important to me,” she said.
Farkas’ other passion is helping women strengthen their Jewish identity. She founded Jewish Journeys in 2011, to bring Jewish women from Bergen County with little or no formal Jewish education on trips to Israel; mentors learn with them on their return. The program has grown with generous donations and additional leaders, serving over 250 women to date.
View Farkas’ complete portfolio of promotional products, graphic design and creative campaigns, and print, digital and display solutions at www.juliefarkas.com and on Instagram at designer613. To discuss a project, contact [email protected] or call 201.280.9437.
By Bracha Schwartz
