Janelle Watzke

2025 stretched me, challenged me, and ultimately clarified everything. And now, stepping into 2026, I’m excited to officially launch the new One-Story Studio website. After years of building brands, launching products, designing packaging, supporting real estate teams across the country, and crafting presentations behind multi-million-dollar deals, I realized something important: My best work has always come from partnership. Not one-off projects. Not transactional work. But long-term collaboration built on trust, strategy, and shared vision. One-Story Studio exists for relationship-driven businesses — especially real estate professionals and service-based brands — who want thoughtful design, clear communication, and marketing that supports real growth. The new site reflects that focus, with services centered around: • Brand identity & visual systems • Strategic marketing design • Real estate presentations & collateral • Ongoing design retainers for long-term growth This launch doesn’t feel like a starting line — it feels like alignment. If you’re building something meaningful in 2026 and looking for a creative partner who values clarity, strategy, and long-term vision, I’d love to connect. ✨ one-storystudio.com ✨

I recently interviewed for a Senior Graphic Designer role. As part of the process, I was asked to complete a full, multi-page design project using real development assets and to provide the packaged InDesign source files. I explained that I was happy to demonstrate my design approach through my portfolio or a smaller sample, but producing full, editable deliverables is billable client work. The company declined and cancelled my second interview, noting that they were already reviewing design files from other candidates. I want to share this because many creatives run into the same situation. There’s a very real difference between a reasonable design exercise to evaluate skill, and unpaid labor disguised as a “test.” When the scope mirrors a real client project and requires deliverable source files, it is no longer an assessment — it’s production work. Our portfolios show our capabilities. Our strategic thinking comes through in conversation. Our time and expertise are valuable. Protecting that value isn’t unprofessional — it’s a boundary. And the right team will understand and respect it. Here’s to collaborating with organizations who recognize design as partnership — not just output. 🤝✨ #designethics #creativeindustry #graphicdesigners #designcommunity #branding #commercialrealestate #marketingdesign #designjobs #respectcreativework #portfolionotproduction

🚨 Three scheduled interviews. Three no-shows. Each time, I cleared my schedule, showed up early, and was genuinely excited to learn more about the role. I get it — we all have personal lives and challenges outside of work. But the candidate experience matters. I share this not to complain, but as a reminder: hiring is a reflection of company culture. 👉 Job seekers: know your worth and respect your time. 👉 Employers: your hiring process is your brand — clear communication and follow-through go a long way. ✨ Let’s work toward better experiences for both candidates and companies.

I recently accepted a job offer through a recruiting company with a very well-known international CRE firm here in Denver. I was excited to join a team again and even started picturing what my “first day fit” would be. Then came the background check. Extensive doesn’t even begin to cover it—they verified every employer I’ve had for the last 10 years and every address I’ve lived at. My start date was pushed back a week while they combed through it all. This morning I got the call: the offer was pulled. Why? Because almost 4 years ago I worked for the same company—through a different recruiting agency—for a whopping two weeks. Different role, different team, different state. Now, I’m left with 3 weeks until unemployment runs out and two weeks wasted believing I had something solid lined up. The lesson? Corporate America will always remind you you’re replaceable. They don’t care about your career or livelihood—just the paperwork. So… if anyone has a voodoo doll of me, kindly set it down and maybe light a candle instead. 🔮✨

I’m in survival mode—and wondering if it’s costing me job offers. 🤔 After countless applications, interviews, and résumé revisions, I’m still without a full-time role. My unemployment ends in October, so I’ve taken on freelance work to stay afloat. But does that make me look resourceful… or like I’m not fully committed to a long-term role? Recruiters, hiring managers, and fellow job seekers—what’s your take?

The job search is genuinely exhausting. 😫 Last week, a recruiter reached out to schedule a phone interview for a position I applied for. I responded within hours with my availability for both Thursday and Friday. I never heard back. I followed up again with my availability for this week. Still—silence. 👻 If you’re going to engage with candidates, please follow through. Ghosting isn’t just unprofessional—it’s disheartening. 💔 I’ve spent 14 years building a career in marketing and design. While my full-time roles have mostly been in real estate, I’ve also launched startups from scratch, built brand systems from the ground up, and supported teams of all sizes. My freelance work has broadened my expertise—spanning industries like health benefits, insurance, CPG, and even CBD. I’ve created my own Etsy shop, led full-scale marketing operations, and pour my heart into every single project. And still, here I am—applying, reworking my resume for every role, and wondering: ➡️ Has my real estate experience boxed me in? 🏡 ➡️ Are recruiters missing the depth and breadth of my versatility? ✨ ➡️ Am I too invested in my work—so much so that it never feels like enough? 😔 On top of it all, I’m navigating financial uncertainty after being denied unemployment benefits for leaving a previous role to pursue a better opportunity. 💸 I’m now in the middle of an appeal process, trying to “prove good cause” for leaving a job where I was underpaid, overwhelmed, and burned out—often working until 4 AM to meet unrealistic deadlines. That experience deeply affected my well-being and took advantage of how much I care about the company I represent and the quality of my work. I’m not sharing this for sympathy—I’m sharing it because I know others are going through the same. If you’re in it right now, I see you. 👀 And if you’ve made it through a difficult season, I’d love to hear what helped. Because some days, it genuinely feels like talent, experience, and drive still aren’t enough—and that’s a hard reality to sit with. #OpenToWork #JobSearch #RealTalk #CreativeProfessionals #GraphicDesign #MarketingDesign

I Took a Step Forward in My Career—and Now I'm Paying the Price for It ⁣ I left an average-paying job in Dallas to pursue what I thought was my dream opportunity in Denver.⁣ ⁣ A $30k salary increase. A Senior Graphic Designer title. A mission to create DIY marketing templates for real estate professionals—something I’ve spent 14+ years doing across luxury brokerages, start-ups, and commercial and residential markets from Newport Beach to Dallas.⁣ ⁣ It sounded like everything I had worked toward. But what I walked into was a disorganized, creatively stifling environment where experience was seen as a threat, not an asset.⁣ ⁣ ❗️I was hired as a senior, treated like a junior⁣ ❗️Every idea I brought to the table was dismissed ❗️Templates were outdated, disorganized, and full of design errors⁣ ❗️Users asked for more social media content and we ignored them⁣ ❗️I was told to create “unique” designs—even if they weren’t useful for actual properties—because “it’ll get users to sign up”⁣ ⁣ ✖️ When I challenged these decisions, I wasn’t seen as experienced—I was seen as difficult.⁣ ✖️ When I made executive design decisions, I wasn't recognized for my creative problem solving, I was told I was making excuses.⁣ Their parting words?⁣⁣ ✌🏻   "Great designer. Great person. Just not a good fit for the company"  ⁣ Here’s what’s broken in today’s workforce: Founders and CEOs hire experts—then try to control them. There’s no space to think, create, or thrive in the roles we were hired to do. That culture doesn’t just stall creativity—it kills morale.⁣ ⁣ 🥱 I pulled many all-nighters to meet unrealistic deadlines that were cut short on a whim⁣ 😒 I had to recreate projects because I was given the wrong specs by the creative manager ⁣ 😩 I worked through daily anxiety and told myself it was “normal” ⁣ ⁣ And now? I'm paying the price for trying to grow: ✅ CO approved my unemployment—but it only lasted 2 weeks 🚫 TX denied my unemployment because I “voluntarily quit” to move to Denver⁣ 💸 Savings? Gone 💳 Credit cards? Maxed 🏠 Rent? Due 📄 Jobs applied to? Over 100⁣ ⁣ All because I tried to move forward in my career. ⁣ ✨ The Silver Lining? ⁣ This experience lit a fire in me. It reminded me why I do what I do. ⁣ I’m passionate about helping real estate professionals show up with bold, beautiful, modern marketing tools that actually work.⁣ ⁣ So I’m back to building on my own terms—and while I’m still open to full-time opportunities, I won’t settle for anything less than the freedom to do what I was hired to do.⁣ ⁣ If you're a real estate pro tired of outdated marketing—or a company that actually values creative leadership—let’s connect.⁣ 👩🏻‍💻 ⁣ #careerjourney #realestatemarketing  #designleadership  #toxicworkplace  #creativitymatters  #respectatwork  #graphicdesign  #freelancelife  #jobsearch2025  #openforwork

I’m currently exploring new full-time opportunities in graphic design or marketing—ideally roles where I can blend creativity, strategy, and storytelling to help brands grow and connect. With 14 years of experience spanning real estate, SaaS, insurance, and lifestyle brands, I specialize in building impactful visual identities, creating scalable marketing systems, and bringing thoughtful design to every touchpoint. I’m also available for freelance projects, including brand identity, marketing collateral, and ongoing design retainers. If you know of any openings or need creative support, I’d love to connect. Thank you in advance for keeping me in mind! Portfolio: janellewatzke.com Contact: janellewatzke@gmail.com #graphicdesign #marketing #branding #jobsearch #freelance #opentowork

Currently seeking a new opportunity in either graphic design, marketing, or project management roles - either fully remote or in the Orange County area. If you have any recommendations or know of any available positions, please let me know. Thank you!