About
Hi, my name is Jacob Cass and I am the founder of ‘Just Creative Design’. On this website you will find my personal graphic design portfolio (My design services are currently available for hire), as well as a blog on the main subject of graphic design which provides free graphic design tips, articles & resources on all subjects of design, ranging from, but not limited to; print design, logo design, web design, branding, typography, advertising & more.
I am self-employed as a graphic designer, specialising in the fields of corporate identity (logo) design, web design, print design and branding with the majority of my time spent designing and implementing marketing promotions for small businesses such as logos, websites, letterhead, business cards, packaging and more.
I hold a Bachelor of Visual Communication (Graphic Design Major) from The University of Newcastle, Sydney, Australia. Although I am just 21 years of age, I’ve have had multitude of experience, gaining my first freelance design job at the age of 16 – since then I have never turned back…
My life is design, I love it and I surround myself in it every day.
I am:
1. Passionate (I absolutely love what I do)
2. Enthusiastic (I want to learn)
3. Sceptical (I think critically)
4. Focused (I have the right attitude)
I also love to travel and have had the pleasure of exploring 32 countries so far (country list here) of which I have spent 1 year as an exchange student living, working, and studying in Gothenburg, Sweden. In January 2010, I will be moving to New York to work for 1 or 2 years at the Carrot Creative design studio.
When I’m not looking at a computer screen you will find me on the beach, traveling, or listening to music - maybe even all at once. You can check out some more pictures and stories of my travels here: Fiji, Europe, Australia, Thailand, Cambodia.
Below you can see Nobby’s Beach at my home town of Newcastle, Sydney, Australia.

Nobby’s Beach at my home town of Newcastle, Sydney, Australia. © Photo by OzinOh
THE BLOG
Just Creative Design was launched in November 2007 as my design business and also as a graphic design blog. The blog focuses on all areas of design and creativity, ranging from but not limited to; graphic design, logo design, web design, advertising, branding, typography, life, other graphic designers, blogging in general, resourceful material, my work, photography, colour, marketing and more. Quite varied I’ll say, however the underlying focus is design!
THE BUSINESS
Just Creative Design is a growing graphic design company serving unique people like yourself and businesses across the world.
Based in Sydney and Newcastle, Australia, I strive to give my clients the most superior and cost efficient solutions in this vastly competitive market. I specialise in areas such as logo design, corporate identity design, branding, web design, print design (ie. letterhead, business cards, posters, CD covers, book covers, etc.) and also dwell into many other areas such as photography and art - I will try anything twice.
I believe that quality is the one article of trade which cannot be compromised and this is clearly seen in my work, giving my clients the satisfaction they deserve. Don’t just take my word for it, read some of my client’s testimonials.
OTHER WEBSITES
Apart from this website, I also run two other websites:
- Logo Of The Day
Logo Of The Day is a high-profile logo design award scheme that rewards the best professional logos and trademarks designed throughout the world. All suggested logos are screened by myself & Jeff Fisher to ensure this. Logo Of The Day is also a place to come for logo design inspiration… daily! It is also a place to discuss, share & rate logo design!
- Logo Designer Blog
Logo Designer Blog is a blog focused purely on branding, logo & identity design. It is a place for logo design discussion, inspiration, tips and resources (and then some) provided by myself and the many contributors to the site. Please feel free to submit an article to the site.
CLIENTS & TESTIMONIALS
Previous Just Creative Design customers have come from many different industries and backgrounds and working with them has developed my experience in many ways.
Previous clients have come from over 5 continents and include places such as USA, Canada, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, United Kingdom, The Netherlands, Spain, United Arab Emirates, Jamaica, Malaysia and The Philippines.
Don’t just take my word for it, why don’t you read some of their testimonials or have a look at my portfolio?
EDUCATION
As previously mentioned, I hold a Bachelor of Visual Communication (Graphic Design Major) from The University of Newcastle, Sydney Australia.
Subjects Studied: Advanced English, Design & Technology, Business Studies, Information Technology, Design Elements, Design Professional Studies, Illustration and Ideas, Contexts of Design & Technology, The Design Process, Design Issues, Professional Practice For Designers, Visual Communication Imaging, Media Production, Visual Communication Forms and Functions, Photomedia, Graphic Design, Studio Photography, Experimental Drawing, Photo Imaging, New Media, Audio and Video Production, Visual Communication Technology Principles 1 & 2, Typography, Design for Advertising, Animation and Multimedia.
2004 - Design Elements Certificate II. - TAFE College
RECOGNITION & AWARDS
Awards
- ‘Best Of Continent’ - 2008 Wolda Logo Design Award(Just Creative Design logo)
- ‘Best Of Australia’ - 2008 Wolda Logo Design Award(Just Creative Design logo)
- Logo Design Love Award(Just Creative Design Logo)
- Logo From Dreams Award(Square Room Logo)
- Logo Of The Month - June 2009(Newcastle Food & Wine Festival Logo)
- Design Graphics Magazine Design Commendation(DG Magazine Cover)
- agIdeas NewStar Shortlist(Photoshop For Right Brainers Book Cover)
- 1st Place - 2008 National Youth Week Best Tattoo Design.
- 2nd Place - 2008 National Youth Week Best Website Design.
- 1st Place - 2007 National Youth Week Best Tattoo Design.
- Finalist - 2007 National Youth Week Best Poster Design.
- 2nd Place - 2007 - Roads & Traffic Authority Best Drink Coaster Design.
Published Work
- Just Creative Design Logo published in Wolda Annual 2008.
- Peter Ryan Logo published in The Best of Logo Lounge 5.
- Square Room Logo published in The Best of Logo Lounge 5
- Graphic Design Down Under (ISBN: 978-3939998099)
- Logo 2 (ISBN: 978-3-939998-17-4)
- Best Package Design (ISBN: 978-3939998099)
- Graphic Design 2 (ISBN: 978-3939998099)
- Label Design (ISBN: 978-3939998099)
- Australian Art & Design Education Resource Guide 2008
- Blogs: Mad About Design (Maomao Publications, Spain, 2008)
- DG Portfolio 8 - (2008)
- MyOwnBusinessCard Volume 1 (Design and Design, 2009)
- LogoLounge Volume 5: International Identities by Leading Designers (2009)
- Layers Magazine - November / December 2008
- Layers Magazine - March / April 2009
- Layers Magazine - May / June 2009
- Layers Magazine - August / September 2009
- Computer Arts Magazine - September, Issue 166, 2009
- Computer Arts Magazine - August, Issue 167, 2009
- Computer Arts Magazine - December, Issue 171, 2009
My work & writing can also be seen on numerous leading websites:
Smashing Magazine, VectorTuts, Layers Magazine, Freelance Switch, Logo Moose, FavUp, Creative Pool, David Airey, Freelance Folder, Creaticca, Most Inspired, Creative Curio, Line25, CSS Collection, Daily Slurp, CSS Based, LoopPress, Logo Pond, W3C Sites, CSS Leak, CSS Clip, BlogPond, Layers TV, CSS Creme, Design Flavr, Logo From Dreams, Web Designer Depot, Inspirology, The Design Inspiration, and many more.
Judging Roles
I’ve been fortunate enough to be on the panel on a number of award judging panels.
- Upcoming judge for the Annual Design Awards 2010 along such greats as David Carson and more. Product categories include Logo Design, Poster/Billboard Design, Website Design, Marketing Campaign, Product Packaging Design, Movie Poster Design , Music CD/Album Cover Design & Book Cover Design.
- Video judge for Hewlett Packard’s ‘Design With A Twist’ video design competition. (2009)
- Graphic design judge for the Project Never Competition judging “the best rejected designs”. (2009)
- Web design judge for The CSS Awards judging “the best websites in the world”. (2009-Current)
- Logo design judge for The Logo Of The Day logo award scheme. (2008-Current)
Achievements & Press
- Member of NAPP (National Association of Photoshop Professionals)
- Raised USD$1620 for charity in my Design Group Writing Project
- Front Cover Featured Article of the Jan / Feb 2009 Edition of Layers Magazine.
- Recommended by Creative Pool.co.uk (UK’s largest creative recruitment resource)
- Named #8 blogger in the world under 21 in May 2008.
- Named the #12 Blog in all of Australia in June 2008.
- Listed in How Magazines Top 10 Sites For Designers for August 2008.
- BOLD Frog Member - (Support My Charity)
- Currently 4th out of 100 in the Top Young Blogger’s Making Money Online list
- Guest lecturer at Birla Institute of Technology and Science (University), India.
- Recommended by PhotoshopUserTV (mentioned at 36m 40s).
- Featured Designer for John Wiley & Son’s book Photoshop For Right Brainers.
- Recommended 3 times in Computer Arts Projects Magazine - Issue 122
- Interview with logo designer, Jeff Fisher.
- Recommended in Layers Magazine, Nov/Dec 2008 issue, page 14.
- Recommended in London Independent Newspaper.
- Quoted & work published in Layers Magazine, March/April issue
- Recommended in Computer Arts Projects Magazine - Issue 122
- Logo & studio details featured in the book “DG Portfolio 8”
- #1 on Newcastle Top Twitterer List - April 2009
- Interviewed & photographed for a Twitter article in ‘The Herald’ - April 25th 2009
- Tutorial written for Layers Magazine, “How To Make Your Website Pop“, May issue
- 3 page feature & interview in the “Instant Inspiration” section of Layers Magazine - May / June 2009
- Quote given for back cover of the soon to be published paperback book “The Unlimited Freelancer“.
- Work exhibited at Melbourne Museum (24 April to 24 May 2009)
- Listed in Top 100 Entrepreneurs To Follow On Twitter, July 2009
INTERVIEWS
If you would like to find out more about me, here are some interviews that I have partaken in online.
- Interview with Jacob Cass on Web Design Dev
- Creative Blogger Interview with Alex CharChar from RetinArt.
- Interview with Jacob Cass on Graphic Design School Blog
- How Important Is Your Logo? on Design Investigators
- Jacob Cass speaks on the Future, Trends & Consumerism on LBOI
- Cute, Artistic Type: Jacob Cass on SNOBS
- Meet Jacob Cass from Just Creative Design on ColorBurned
- Jacob Cass Interview: “Design really comes down to passion.” on Design Interviews
- Interview with Jacob Cass on Adubzeedo
- Graphic Design Interview with Jacob Cass on JCD
- Freelancer Focus: Jacob Cass on Graphic Design Blog
- Interview with Jacob Cass on InkBlog
- How I Raised $5000 in Sponsorship on Group Writing Projects
- Interview with Jacob Cass on Inspiredology
- How Pros Make Money Online: Jacob Cass on Income Diary
- Interview with Jacob Cass of Just Creative Design on PSDFan
- Spotlight on Jacob Cass on Fearless Blogger
- Web / Graphic Designer Group Interview on Vandelay Design
SOCIAL MEDIA SITES
I am very social on the Internet and I am a member of many online communities of which you can find some below.
- Facebook Profile - Social community.
- Facebook Group - Promote your own stuff.
- Facebook Fan Page - Keep up to date with new posts from JCD.
- Twitter - Where I share design links.
- LinkedIn - A business networking website.
- StumbleUpon - Things worthy of a thumbs up.
- Digg - Websites I find useful and great.
- Del.icio.us - My many bookmarks.
- Technorati - Favourite this blog on Technorati.
SHORT BIO
2010 - I will be moving from Australia to work for Carrot Creative in NYC in January 2010. I will be on the 2010 Design Awards judging panel alongside David Carson and more.
2009 - Started the website Logo Designer Blog. Got featured on the front cover of Layers Magazine. Graduated from University. Work featured in numerous design books. Got onto front page of the Newcastle Herald Newspaper. Got offered a job in NYC and took it. Judged a number of competitions including one for Hewlett Packard. Traveled to Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Japan & New Zealand and road tripped across 22 states of USA.
2008 - Commenced second year of University. In June, traveled to 14 countries across Western Europe and Asia. In October went on a 4300km road trip around Australia. Won several design awards including Wolda’s ‘Best of Continent’ and ‘Best of Australia’. Raised USD$1620 for charity through this blog. Started the website Logo Of The Day in November.
2007 - Returned from Sweden, moved to Newcastle and started studying at Newcastle University. Won several Youth Design Awards. Started Just Creative Design in November. Took a cruise around the Pacific Ocean and Fiji.
2006 - Lived, studied & worked in Gothenburg, Sweden for 11 months.
2005 - Received my Higher School Certificate within the top 10% of my state. My major work was redesigning my high school’s website and the final mark was in the top 1% of the State.
2004 - Studied Design & IT. Completed Design Elements Cert II. course at TAFE college.
2003 - Began studying design at high school. Got my first freelance job designing a website.
2000 - I become aware of the Internet and published my first website at age 12.
1990 - Moved to Sydney, Australia.
1987 - Born in Queensland, Australia.
CONTACT ME
Feel free to contact me for anything at all whether it be a question, a quote or a friendly hello.


