ABOUT XPLR STUDIOS

A boutique, Colorado-based creative studio building authentic, strategic brands for trailblazers and trendsetters.

LET’S WORK TOGETHER →
LET’S WORK TOGETHER →
A computer monitor, keyboard, and mouse on a wooden desk, with a potted snake plant and shelves in the background.
Mountain landscape with snow-capped peaks viewed through a vehicle window, with a lake and trees in the foreground during sunset.

In this studio, every project starts with a sense of adventure…

but NOT THE “let’s summit before sunrise” type.

You don’t have to be a fly fishing guide, a backcountry expert, or spend your weekends sleeping in a tent to be considered “adventurous”.

Around here, adventure is simply about charting your own path — whether you’re a sports marketing agency championing underrepresented athletes, an elopement photographer redefining the way love stories are captured, or a nonprofit shaking things up in your space. You’re here because you’re forging something bold, intentional, and entirely your own.

And building a business? That’s the adventure of a lifetime. You make the rules, challenge the norms, and let your values lead the way – and I’m here to help you.

Welcome to XPLR Studios, where “be kind and have fun” lives right next to “don’t tell me what to do”, and where being a liiiiittle unserious sometimes doesn’t mean you’re not serious about what you do.

For businesses that think bigger, do better, and break that status quo

↟

For businesses that think bigger, do better, and break that status quo ↟

A young woman sitting on the ground outdoors with mountains, trees, and a blue sky in the background. She is wearing a white beanie, a dark t-shirt, ripped jeans, and black sneakers, holding a can of beverage, smiling and looking off to the side.

Hey, I’m Emily!

The NON-TRADITIONAL creative force behind XPLR Studios.

A born-and-raised New Englander turned Colorado transplant (7 years and counting), I know a thing or two about stepping outside your comfort zone — especially after getting laid off a year into living here (and in March 2020, if you know you know).

I’ve been a designer for over 10 years. The first 5 years of my career were spent at a mix of formal design agencies, where I grew my skillset, sharpened my instincts, and quietly built up frustration, always wondering why the “right” way to work never seemed to work for me.

As someone who eventually aced the adult ADHD assessment (neurospicy, anyone?), I started to understand why the whole “sit-at-the-same-desk-and-be-creative-on-demand” model never quite fit. Pair that with my classic New England bluntness and a deep resistance to the inauthenticity often found in the corporate world (ask me about the startup that loved my work but said I wasn’t a “culture match” 🙃), and you’ve got one burned-out creative who knew there had to be a better way.

A mountain landscape with rugged peaks, green forested slopes, and a lake in the foreground reflecting the scenery, under a clear blue sky with a few clouds.
A person sitting on dry grass, wearing black sneakers, rolled-up light blue jeans, a black t-shirt, and a watch, holding an open notebook or sketchpad. There is a backdrop backpack and a closed notebook with pen nearby.

After years of trying to fit the mold, I realized it wasn’t made for me – and I was okay with that.

In 2018, I moved from Boston to Boulder chasing a sense of adventure and independence, but it wasn’t until the Great Layoffs of 2020 booted me off the beaten path that I finally started to realize I never belonged there to begin with.

Was I scared? Uh, yeah. Terrified. But I went all-in on starting XPLR Studios anyways — and it turned out to be the best damn decision I’ve ever made.

Five years (and a whole lot of scrappy learning) later, I’m still here working alongside rad, value-driven clients, playing outside whenever I can, and soaking up the freedom that comes from building a life and business on my own terms.

Through the work I do at XPLR Studios, that’s exactly what I want to help you experience, too. Clarity, confidence, and creative direction that feels like you. Because growth doesn’t come from fitting in — it comes from owning what makes you different.

EXPLORE MY WORK →
EXPLORE MY WORK →
A woman wearing a white hat and denim jacket standing in an open grassy field with mountains in the background.
Person in a denim jacket and white beanie sitting in a field of dry grass, facing a mountain range in the distance.

A bit more about the human behind the designs…

I’m a treasure trove of random knowledge.

This is actually an ADHD superpower that makes me a wildly adaptable creative partner (and a great person to have on your team at trivia).

I’m all about working to live, not living to work.

My idea of “living” is sleeping under the stars, taking trips on no notice, getting to WFH or WFC(ampsite), and using my film camera to capture all the little moments.

I WILL ALWAYS respect your boundaries, but…

My idea of “living” is sleeping under the stars, taking trips on no notice, getting to WFH or WFC(ampsite), and using my film camera to capture all the little moments.

I’M A VISUAL GAL, BUT NUMBERS ARE IMPORTANT!

10

YEARS OF
EXPERIENCE

05

years as a small business owner

90+

happy clients i’ve created for

??

bravo SHOWs watched
while working

JOIN THE RANKS →
JOIN THE RANKS →

Values matter. Here are mine:

  • REALNESS

    Business IS personal, and your branding should be too. It should feel authentic to who you are. And showing up as your real self – knowing what that MEANS and acting on it – takes practice. We’ll do that together, and the final product will show it.

  • QUALITY

    When you work with XPLR, a beautiful deliverable is guaranteed. Honestly, that’s the bare minimum. You can also expect original concepts, nods to your story (love me an easter egg), and strategic guidance that will turn your dreams into a reality.

  • KINDNESS

    Working with XPLR Studios means signing up for a human-to-human collaboration built on mutual respect and inclusivity, ALWAYS. Nonprofits and stewardship-focused businesses will find a kindred spirit here, but the principle applies to everyone.

  • ADVENTURE

    In my world, adventure is not an exclusive term for intense mountain athletes. It simply means going beyond the status quo to think bigger, do better, and break boundaries – in your branding as in your life. What that actually looks like is totally up to you.

Black and white photo of a long straight road leading towards desert mesas and buttes in Monument Valley, Utah, with a clear sky.

Adventure looks different for everyone – let’s shape yours.

Whatever your adventure looks like, I know it’ll be a damn good one. If you’re ready to figure out what makes your business truly stand out, invest in your own authenticity, and take your brand to new heights, I’m right here with you.

So… what do you say? Shall we build this thing together?

LET’S GET STARTED →
LET’S GET STARTED →