Coq au Vin & Creative Careers: Cooking Up Design with Julia Child

What do a bubbling pot of Coq au Vin and a 15+ year career in graphic design have in common?

Turns out—everything.

I recently found myself rewatching Julia Child’s classic Coq au Vin segment. There she was, commanding the kitchen with confidence, transforming simple ingredients into something elegant, layered, and deeply satisfying. As I watched her sauté, flambé, and braise her way through the dish, it struck me: cooking this French classic is a lot like crafting a brand or building a website.

And I should know—I’ve spent over a decade doing exactly that.

🥕 Mise en Place = Discovery Phase

Before Julia even touches a flame, she preps. Ingredients are measured, chopped, and lined up. As a designer, this is where I thrive during the discovery phase—gathering client needs, assessing visual goals, researching competition, and preparing mood boards. Whether I’m designing a logo for a queer arts event or building a veterans’ nonprofit website, I start with clarity, not chaos.

🔥 Searing = Bold First Impressions

Julia browns her chicken in hot butter and oil—no shortcuts. That first sear is all about first impressions. The same goes for brand identity. From Mobility Mountain to SEA of Visibility, I’ve learned the power of a strong logo or homepage that grabs attention like the scent of garlic and wine from Julia’s pan.

🍷 Deglazing = Solving Creative Challenges

Here’s where the magic happens. Julia adds wine to lift all that flavorful fond from the bottom of the pan. In my world, that’s what happens when a project hits a snag. A difficult layout? A buggy web element? I reach for my version of red wine—my toolbox of Adobe Creative Suite, SEO strategies, and a good helping of project management.

Challenges aren’t a mess—they’re flavor.

⏳ Slow Simmer = Trust the Process

Good Coq au Vin takes time. So does thoughtful design. I’ve learned this through everything from illustrating poetry for Kathy Rudd to updating entire grant-ready websites. A slow-cooked brand or campaign, simmered with patience and feedback, always yields better results than a microwave job.

🍽️ Plating = Presentation is Everything

Julia never just dumps food on a plate—and I never just hand off files. Whether it's social media graphics or a WordPress site, presentation matters. I deliver projects with polish, context, and follow-through. I want clients to feel like they’re being served a Michelin meal, not just a fast-food wrapper.

👩‍🍳 Your Creative Chef for Hire

So, what does Julia Child’s Coq au Vin teach us about creative work?

That great outcomes come from great preparation, passion, and a willingness to embrace the mess.

Like Julia, I mix technical skill with intuition, strategy with style. And like any good recipe, my process is repeatable—but never robotic.

Looking for someone to cook up your next visual project with heart and flavor?

Let’s sauté something together.

laura.resurreccion@gmail.com