Remembering Julian Knight

Many times I share the highlight reel here. The fun trips I’m going on, the workouts and the positive stuff.

But I’m so deeply saddened to share that just a few weeks ago, our team at Oh Hello suffered a tremendous loss. Our Creative Director at our agency, who we were all so fiercely close to, died because of a massive pulmonary embolism.

I’ve spent the last couple of weeks grieving, struggling through it with our team, trying to piece together how someone you love so much can be here one day, and gone the next.

We held a remembrance for Julian this week and I wanted to share what I wrote about him here. In part to inspire you to dream big, and also to share the philosophies and beliefs he held core to himself, that may inspire you to live life deeply, as he did, and with an adventurous spirit.

About 3 years ago, I met Julian Knight after scouring the internet for a new Creative Director I could bring on to help grow the agency. I’ll never forget his first interview because it was, well, unforgettable, much like him. He told me he’d worked in agencies his entire life, and that being a bit older, he was ready for a new challenge. He wanted to build his own department and take a crack at building up a startup agency into a bigger one. I interviewed him for about 30 minutes (his portfolio was amazing) and before he let me get off the phone, I’ll never forget what he said, “Stop interviewing other people and just hire me now and let’s try it out. I can do sales, I’ve got the creative chops and I’m the right man for the job.”

I stopped interviewing other people and I offered Julian the job the very next day. I was so overjoyed I found an expert who seemed damn excited about teaching someone half his age how to truly build amazing brands. I had this feeling that he and I - both passionate storytellers -would do a lot together. I was right. We did.

Over the last 3 years, Julian helped grow the agency year over year (bringing with him an incredible designer who is now our Art Director). Not only did he help our firm productize all of our branding services, but he identified what we were missing to truly serve our clients. He could do it all: sales, copywriting, creative direction. He was the unsung hero of our agency, taking on everyone’s problems as his own. Julian was the advocate everyone loved - not just for those who worked with him but even our clients. His #1 goal at the start of a project? Earn a clients trust so that they would go with us on the journey and accept and say yes to the playful branding experience he led them through.

Playful is one of the best words I would use to describe Julian. He had a knack for making people laugh and could shake off the little things. I think Julian was one of the happiest people I know. He never really cared what people thought too much (which could at times drive me crazy hahah). Whether that’s talking to his baby kittens he fostered and forgetting to mute his Zoom on a client call or reminding a clients “to trust the process.” Julian made things fun and light. It was one of his most endearing qualities.

I have no doubt that Julian lived his last day like it was his last, because that’s how he LIVED HIS LIFE.

He never hesitated to remind me to do the same - like a cool, badass uncle I never knew I needed. He would continually remind me that I needed to have more fun at work and stop worrying while also building my confidence up as I struggled through building the agency. I’ll never forget what he told me in one of our last conversations - that he was PROUD of me. Julian set the bar incredibly high. For me to make him proud? That was no easy feat. I always wanted to impress him. I looked up to him. I still do.

Julian’s artistic passion and his knowledge was unbridled. He was SO passionate about the end quality of work that we’d occasionally squabble if the client disagreed with him (me trying to keep the client happy, Julian defending the artistic side of the work). His creative expression was unfettered and whether it was a long tangent about font size or jumping in to give input on a project he wasn’t even a part of - there is no question that Julian Knight was one of the most talented, passionate people about his craft who ever walked this earth.

Nothing stood in his way. He and I had this approach to life in common. It was something we bonded over - we were self pronounced renegades of our own life, wanting to be in full control and autonomy of it. I felt this every time we talked. We both shared in this feeling that yeah, “life’s too short to not do exactly what you want.” To live how you want. To play how you want. To create art how you want.

I feel a tremendous awe that Julian decided to spend the last few years of his life at Oh Hello, working with our team. It was my privilege to be his student, and mentee, while also receiving his LOYALTY and LOVE for 3 years.

Fulfilling his legacy will be a great undertaking that I plan to fully embrace. I found a quote that I believe describes how Julian would want all of those who want him to honor him in life after death. Please share it with those you love. It’s by Mark Twain:

“Life is short.

Break the rules.

Forgive quickly.

Kiss slowly.

Love truly.

Laugh uncontrollably and never forget anything that makes you smile.”

Julian, you are gone. You are never forgotten.