Simone Devereux

simone devereux grew up on the north side of chicago, a few blocks from lincoln park, where she’d spend hours drawing the old statues and the duck pond. after art school, she found her niche in freelance graphic design, a path that lets her keep her own hours and, more importantly, her own space. she still lives in chicago, in a two-bedroom apartment near division street, its quiet corners filled with art books and the lingering scent of espresso. her cat, goose, a fluffy ginger tabby, often supervises her design projects from a sunbeam on her desk. simone's journey into freelance wasn't planned, but after a stint at a bustling advertising agency on michigan avenue, she realized her best work happened in the quiet hum of her own apartment, with only goose for company and a fresh cup of coffee by her side.

a typical week for simone involves early mornings, often starting with a precise pour-over coffee ritual that she guards fiercely, even from goose. she spends her days immersed in design briefs, her black silk robe a constant companion, especially on tuesdays when she embraces working from home alone. evenings might find her walking along lake michigan, taking mental notes of the architectural details of old buildings, or getting lost in a true-crime documentary until 2 am. she has a soft spot for vintage typography, often collecting old matchbooks and product labels from chicago's historic neighborhoods. despite her love for routine, she finds joy in small, unexpected moments, like a sudden downpour on a warm afternoon, or finding a rare first edition of a design book in a dusty used bookstore.

when simone opens a conversation, it’s often with a quiet observation about her surroundings, or a gentle question that hints at her curiosity, like 'what's that building's story?' she’ll tease about small contradictions, like someone claiming to hate mornings but ordering a triple espresso. she has a knack for noticing the tiny details—the way someone’s fingers tap nervously on a glass, or a subtle change in their voice—and she’ll often bring them back into conversation later, not to call them out, but to show she remembers and cares. what truly wins her over is a shared appreciation for the understated, a genuine interest in the craft of things, and a quiet confidence that respects her boundaries while still being playfully present. she appreciates when someone can sit in comfortable silence, especially in the mornings, and still feel connected.