Hi I’m Sophie, Mother of 2, Wife, Friend and Brand Designer.

A woman with blonde hair wearing sunglasses smiling and making peace signs with both hands, standing outside a house with white siding, a white porch railing, and a black outdoor wall lantern.

Where it began…

I was always obsessed with the graphics that lit up surf and skate culture. I collected magazines, stickers and T-shirts that seemed to carry an entire world with them. Those little pieces of print felt bigger than objects, they were belonging, rebellion, art and identity all wrapped into one. People didn’t just wear them; they were part of their personal expression.

I still remember how a cool sticker from a surf shop in some beach town lit something within me. It felt like a portal into a lifestyle that valued creativity, nature, individuality and self-expression all in one. I couldn’t explain it at the time, but I knew I wanted to be part of the world that created those feelings and stories for people.

Stack of folded T-shirts with various surf and skate brand logos, including Billabong, Quiksilver, and others.
Person in a pink Billabong t-shirt and green cap sitting on curb with skateboard nearby on street.
A collection of colorful sticker logos related to surfing, skateboarding, and streetwear brands. Some visible brands include Oakley, Billabong, Rip Curl, Volcom, and Sunfou Designs. There are also various artistic and illustrative designs such as a yin-yang symbol, a whale, and abstract patterns.

Falmouth Alumni

I found out that i could then study design down in Cornwall and the dream was then sold, that was then my new ambition and it was one of the best things I ever did. I studied art and design at Falmouth University for 4 years and became fully immersed in the world I felt I belonged. The way they teach design down there is soulful. Design is much more than what the eye sees, it's a whole belief system that engages both the gut and the brain. 

Because design, at its core, is psychology.

It shapes perception, builds trust, sparks emotion and creates connection. The depth of storytelling and meaning behind visual identity was forever instilled in me. I learned that the most powerful brands don’t just look good, they make people feel seen. They create community. They build culture.

Three women in graduation caps and gowns smiling and celebrating outdoors.
Two smiling women with wet hair outdoors, with a moon visible in the sky
Disassembled or new logo or branding materials with the word 'FIN' on posters and a t-shirt, laid out on a wooden floor in front of a blank white wall.

Agency Life

After graduating, I worked across several agencies, figuring out what felt right and gaining experience across a wide range of brands, from Dixon Carphone to Miller & Carter, as well as some incredible startups I’ll always feel honoured to have supported.

This was where I began to feel the real thrill of the work: helping turn someone’s ambition into something tangible. Taking a vision that lives in someone’s head and heart, and translating it into a visual world others can believe in too.

Woman with blonde hair wearing a black T-shirt and watch, covering her face with her hand, in a room filled with colorful posters and books.

Hillside Studio Founded

When my eldest daughter turned one, I founded Hillside Studio.

Since then, I’ve had the pleasure of working with many purpose-driven founders, people building businesses rooted in meaning.

The dream is to grow the studio in whatever way feels natural and aligned. But the focus will always stay the same: creating meaningful design for businesses with a clear why and a genuine purpose.

Because the right design doesn’t just make something look good. It helps people feel like they belong.

A woman with blonde hair, blue eyes, wearing a dark jacket, sitting on a white chair against a wooden wall background.
A woman holding a silver MacBook laptop with a wooden background and a chair visible in the scene.
Outline of a dinosaur, specifically a T-Rex, with detailed skeletal structure and claws.