Here is a
Closer Look
"There are two kinds of simplicity, and people confuse them constantly. Soulless simplicity is subtraction for its own sake — stripping a thing down until nothing is left but the absence of clutter. Proper simplicity is knowing what's essential and defending it."
Hello there! I'm John-Luke Grob, but most call me JL. My journey as a designer has been defined by a deep passion for creating meaningful, imaginative and appealing solutions through design.
My work begins where the unknown opens, driven by a curiosity about what is possible when looking past the obvious. I see design as an opportunity to find and restore a beauty that is forgotten or often dismissed into one that is honest, genuine, and exists to serve the people using it. To me, design is truly successful when it feels like an inevitable solution, as if it was always meant to be. Through my projects, I seek to create designs that "just work" and prove to be worth the space they occupy.
My design process, from an idea born through conception into reality, requires a constant push for wonder. Through the process, I strive to design things that show a level of care for people. For me, design is a form of stewardship; it is about taking the gift of creation and using it with a sense of responsibility to help others experience a sense of joy.
What is Design?
Design is communication. More specifically, it is a dialogue—a complex exchange between an object and a human. On a literal level, design communicates information. We see this in posters or advertisements that tell us exactly what they are selling: a product, a service, or an event. But I believe the communication of design is far more nuanced than that. Design doesn’t just tell you what something is; it tells you how to feel, what to do, and where to go. It has the power to dictate a single work session or the trajectory
of your entire day.
Proper vs Soulless Simplicity
I believe there are two forms of simplicity: proper simplicity and soulless simplicity—and people and designers often blend the two together as being “modern simplicity” or “minimalism.” Soulless simplicity is stripping everything away and just decluttering a product. Proper simplicity should adhere to principles of good design. It should be aesthetic, it should be useful, it should be honest, long-lasting, understandable, and user-friendly, and it should succinctly express the essence of itself and its function.
Goals
My goal through design is to bring beauty into the world—both visually and in moments. I seek to create works that evoke delight, achieve timelessness, spark curiostiy, instill joy, and reach for permanence in a changing world.
Lets Connect!
I'd love to hear from you! Whether you're interested in collaborating, have questions, or just wanna chat, feel free to reach out! I'd love for you to join me on my journey as a designer and to have the chance to accompany you on yours. Let's turn ideas into something extraordinary—together!