You know when people announce, "they need no introduction! You know them, you love them - iiiiiiit's Aretha Franklin!" (Or Taylor Swift, or Princess Kate, or whoever.) I always think "are you kidding me?! You are really going to skip the opportunity to properly introduce someone like that?!" I feel no differently about Laura. We're not skipping this intro!
From brown braids to blue feauxhawks to fuschia curls; from elementary school dreams of dolphin training with her bestie who can barely swim (aka me) to actually living her dreams of being an artist married to her high school sweetheart; from military child to military wife; I have known Laura long enough to confidently say that she might actually be one of the best women I've ever met in my life. She is creative, ambitious, brave, kind, and she brings all that to everything she does. And I am so excited to share about our branding session together and share about her locally Tucson-based graphic design business.
From High School Graduation (and way earlier too)
I wish I still had the book of doodles that got us through our classes together in high school. A blue, I think, spiral-bound notebook full of sketches and doodles and games of MASH in the edges. I can only imagine the process you experience isn't that different from the artistic training she put me through then, minus the random game of MASH, of course. She started most of our artworks with a random shape and then I would add to it with a few more lines and back and forth until we had a full-page illustration. Laura has always been someone who can see a whole vision out of just a scribble of an idea and always includes others in her creativity.
To Showing Up As Mid-Level Adults
When I moved back to Tucson and started posting about my new interest in photography, it had been almost 15 years since we'd seen each other in person. I had a market to sell my landscape prints coming up and I would be lying if I said I wasn’t anxiously watching every single interaction with a countdown til the market I had posted. But I also assumed most interactions were just accidental clicks. So to see Laura, who lives on the clear opposite side of town, walk up to my booth the day of the market made my whole month! And since then I’ve felt so loved to be reminded that when Laura says she wants to show up for you, she means it! She didn’t know where we stood after 15 years, but she showed up anyway and so I can only imagine what she does for her clients.
I really love doing these interviews and blog posts and branding sessions, but can you tell I'm especially excited about this one? Isn't she awesome? Anyway, onward!
Laura Hobbs Design
Years in Business
Laura Hobbs Design officially launched March 2025 but Laura has been creating logos and websites for many years!
Location
Homebase is Tucson, but remote work allows clients from anywhere to experience the magic
So, what does a graphic designer do?
A graphic designer is basically a magician who helps you express concepts on websites and all other marketing materials through fonts, colors, and logos. They create consistent branding for companies to make sure your brand is recognizable and tells the right story for your target audience.
But I’ll let Laura tell you more about her business herself.
Me: What makes Laura Hobbs Design different from other designers?
I think what makes me different is that I hand-build brands, literally and figuratively. I’m a designer who focuses on story and symbolism. Every logo I create starts in black and white so the design works at its core, and it’s amazing to see it transform from there.
I feel so honored to be a part of this process that at the end of each project, I stitch together a small hexagon flower to represent that company's journey and add it to my quilt wall. When it’s full, I’ll have a quilt made up of all the businesses I've helped play a part in.
It’s a mix of creativity, craft, and heart that makes each brand feel personal and lasting.
Me: Can you describe a specific project or accomplishment that you are proud of with your business?
Laura: The first logo I ever designed for a company with an actual in-person office was such a milestone. They had the logo cut from metal and displayed behind their receptionist desk. Seeing something I created so proudly showcased for all their clients was the most amazing feeling.
Since then, the company has grown so much that they were even in Forbes, and sitting in the corner of the page was the logo I made!
Did you all read that last one? Does that mean Laura is basically on the Forbes best entrepreneur under 40 list?
Me: What's important to you for people to know about the experience they'll have designing with you?
Laura: Much like Kasey and her business, we keep things totally casual over here. Stiff, overly professional meetings are for the birds. I want you to feel comfortable and collaborate on your logo or website like you would with your best graphic design friend!
Me: What is your support system like, and who is involved behind the scenes that makes being a business owner a reality for you?
So many people!
My whole family is roped in. Anytime I’m working on a new logo, I’m asking them, “What do you see?” just to get a second pair of eyes on the little hidden gems I like to include.
The Tucson design community has also been incredible. My instructor from Pima became both a mentor and a friend, and she introduced me to an amazing group of designers who genuinely support and encourage one another. I'm so happy to be a part of it.
And of course, my husband is my biggest supporter. He believes in what I do completely. If I say I need something, his answer is always, “Buy it,” without hesitation. Honestly, if I told him I needed a second house just for my business, he’d probably already be calling the bank for a prequalification letter, haha.
What are you waiting for?
Get creative with a graphic designer that cares like a friend!
Book a consultation (contact above) now with Laura to figure out the story you want to tell on your website, and then call me, Kasey, for your photo session!
Every branding session I do gets an interview and blog post like this to show off how awesome our local Tucson and Marana entrepreneurs are!
