CREATIVE COUPLE: RACHEL + JARED RIPPY
In music, there's Johnny & June Carter Cash. In crime, there's Bonnie & Clyde. Clearly, it doesn't get much more badass and romantic than collaborating couples, but hey, someone's got to do it. You can now add another creative couple: WNW Members Rachel Rippy & Jared Rippy. The husband-and-wife duo operate out of Denver, where they run a small studio together called Novel. Jared's focus is on branding, illustration, and design, while Rachel focuses on all things digital. It was only a matter of time before they started working together.
In the interview below, Rachel and Jared give insight into how they make it work as a creative and collaborative couple: "Develop systems that work for each of you. Have plenty of mercy, forgiveness, and grace towards each other when things get hectic. Take time each day to do something special for each other, like making meals, massages, and plenty of couch snuggling. Break out of the routine and do surprising things. Be dorky. The dorkier the better."
RACHEL + JARED
A bit about you, your background, projects you’re working on, and what you’re currently loving (on the internet, on tv, etc)
We've been together for about twelve years, and we run a small studio together called Novel in Colorado. We're dorks for design, film, and food. Right now on the client end we're working on a redesign for an interesting interview zine website called Mukha, and we just finished up an identity for the Coney Art Walls event on Coney Island. For personal projects, we have Postscript Postcards and Jared has a new project in the works called 101. It covers a singular subject matter with 101 different single edition iterations in the form of different art stuffs.
We're currently obsessed with Bob's Burgers, it's so well put together and the cast is amazing, kind of our go to thing to watch and unwind with. We saw Ex Machina and Mad Max recently, both were amazing. Music-wise, we've been streaming a lot of Shannon and the Clams, Hornet Leg, Lorde, and Waylon Jennings.
Rachel
What do you admire about him?
He's always surprising me with a unique way of looking at things, and shows a perspective that I hadn't thought of before.
Through working together, I have discovered _______ about my partner.
I've discovered that Jared has great intuition about things and I've learned from him not to sweat the small stuff.
Jared
What do you admire about her?
In a broader sense her resiliency, and as a professional, her superhuman ability to withstand all my nonsense and keep me and our clients on track.
Through working together, I have discovered _______ about my partner.
I've discovered that Rachel is pretty even keel and she basically wants to just make something meaningful.
RACHEL + JARED
What came first, coupling up or work? Tell us the how-you-met story!
We met at school in Denver where we were both studying graphic design. We were friends for a while first, and then started dating. We both grew up with art being a focused interest and because we had similar childhoods we were simpatico with a lot of our interests.
How did you start working together? What was that transition like?
We first worked together on a few freelance projects, and then we both worked inhouse for the Aspen Art Museum for a few years. Jared's focus is on branding, illustration, and design, and Rachel's focus is on all things digital, so it only made sense for us to work on projects together.
Do you have work/personal boundaries? If so, how do you draw that line?
We try. The line isn't always as well-defined as we'd like because of life and procrastination. We just make sure everything gets the proper attention it needs so we don't get burnt out, or get too unbalanced and neglect other humans.
Ideal Coupling: Not Coupling ratio
75:25
Do you find that it helps to promote the fact that you’re married? Ever hide it?
We're very open about it, not sure that it has a lot of effect, but some people seem to appreciate an added level of integrity and intimacy that's gained working with a couple.
Favorite thing about working together. Hardest thing.
Work is much more organic and enjoyable when you live out your practice together. Ideas come to fruition easier when you have off time to bounce around ideas on a walk or over dinner. Ideas often flow the most naturally under this kind of controlled chaos. It's nice that we are accountable to each other and not bosses, and have flexibility with our time. The hardest thing is the lack of separation between work and personal life.
Advice for other creative couples?
Develop systems that work for each of you. Have plenty of mercy, forgiveness, and grace towards each other when things get hectic. Take time each day to do something special for each other, like making meals, massages, and plenty of couch snuggling. Break out of the routine and do surprising things. Be dorky. The dorkier the better.