ABOUT

CREATIVE CREDO

“I TURN COMPLEX IDEAS INTO CLEAR BRANDS AND EFFORTLESS INTERFACES THROUGH STRATEGY, RESTRAINT, AND RIGOROUS DETAIL—EVERY DAY.”

JOHN MONARO

DIGITAL DESIGNER

Black-and-white studio portrait of a man in a black turtleneck with cobalt-blue lenses, finger to lips, light-gray backdrop.
Black-and-white studio portrait of a man in a black turtleneck with cobalt-blue lenses, finger to lips, light-gray backdrop.
Black-and-white studio portrait of a man in a black turtleneck with cobalt-blue lenses, finger to lips, light-gray backdrop.

SENIOR CRAFT FOR AMBITIOUS BRANDS

Over the last decade, I’ve worked as a designer, creative director, brand strategist, and product lead. Recently, I narrowed my focus to what creates outsized results: turning complex ideas into clear brands and effortless interfaces—words and visuals that align teams, signal intent, and build trust.

I also changed how I work. Instead of long retainers, I partner in short, high-intensity sprints where I can deliver the most value. It keeps the work sharp, the decisions fast, and the outcomes measurable—fewer meetings, stronger deliverables, happier clients.

Minimal studio still life—stacked pale stones on rough limestone slabs, cobalt-blue sphere at left, vertical blue fins at right, and a floating blue octahedron above on white.
Minimal studio still life—stacked pale stones on rough limestone slabs, cobalt-blue sphere at left, vertical blue fins at right, and a floating blue octahedron above on white.
Minimal studio still life—stacked pale stones on rough limestone slabs, cobalt-blue sphere at left, vertical blue fins at right, and a floating blue octahedron above on white.

MONARO & CO.

MONARO PARTNERS WITH SELECT STRATEGISTS, RESEARCHERS, DESIGNERS, DEVELOPERS, AND CONTENT CREATORS—FORMING BESPOKE TEAMS FOR COMPLEX PROJECTS ON A PER-NEED BASIS.

TESTIMONIALS

WHAT PEOPLE SAY

01.

EMMA COLLINS

HEAD OF BRAND

“Monaro gave our brand a spine—clarity in strategy, coherence in identity, and a website that finally reflects our ambition. They challenged assumptions without ego, moved fast without cutting corners, and left us with tools our team can actually use.”

01.

EMMA COLLINS

HEAD OF BRAND

“Monaro gave our brand a spine—clarity in strategy, coherence in identity, and a website that finally reflects our ambition. They challenged assumptions without ego, moved fast without cutting corners, and left us with tools our team can actually use.”

01.

EMMA COLLINS

HEAD OF BRAND

“Monaro gave our brand a spine—clarity in strategy, coherence in identity, and a website that finally reflects our ambition. They challenged assumptions without ego, moved fast without cutting corners, and left us with tools our team can actually use.”

02.

JACOB REED

GROWTH LEAD

“Speed with substance. Their sprint format forced decisions, killed endless debates, and shipped a calm, confident site that converts. The documentation and handoff were as polished as the design, which made internal adoption painless.”

02.

JACOB REED

GROWTH LEAD

“Speed with substance. Their sprint format forced decisions, killed endless debates, and shipped a calm, confident site that converts. The documentation and handoff were as polished as the design, which made internal adoption painless.”

02.

JACOB REED

GROWTH LEAD

“Speed with substance. Their sprint format forced decisions, killed endless debates, and shipped a calm, confident site that converts. The documentation and handoff were as polished as the design, which made internal adoption painless.”

03.

OLIVIA BENNETT

PRODUCT MANAGER

“Every screen felt intentional and measured. They simplified our flows, elevated accessibility, and brought a quiet elegance to the interface. Support requests dropped, onboarding got smoother, and our product finally looks as trustworthy as it is.”

03.

OLIVIA BENNETT

PRODUCT MANAGER

“Every screen felt intentional and measured. They simplified our flows, elevated accessibility, and brought a quiet elegance to the interface. Support requests dropped, onboarding got smoother, and our product finally looks as trustworthy as it is.”

03.

OLIVIA BENNETT

PRODUCT MANAGER

“Every screen felt intentional and measured. They simplified our flows, elevated accessibility, and brought a quiet elegance to the interface. Support requests dropped, onboarding got smoother, and our product finally looks as trustworthy as it is.”

04.

MARCUS TURNER

CREATIVE LEAD

“We came in with a messy brief and conflicting opinions. Monaro distilled the signal, built a timeless identity system, and defined a design language we’ve rolled out across teams and markets without drama. It just works.”

04.

MARCUS TURNER

CREATIVE LEAD

“We came in with a messy brief and conflicting opinions. Monaro distilled the signal, built a timeless identity system, and defined a design language we’ve rolled out across teams and markets without drama. It just works.”

04.

MARCUS TURNER

CREATIVE LEAD

“We came in with a messy brief and conflicting opinions. Monaro distilled the signal, built a timeless identity system, and defined a design language we’ve rolled out across teams and markets without drama. It just works.”

05.

HANNAH COLE

MARKETING DIRECTOR

“Motion, typography, and performance are rarely in harmony—here they are. The site feels premium yet fast, expressive yet restrained. They sweated the micro-interactions and it shows in how people move and stay on the page.”

05.

HANNAH COLE

MARKETING DIRECTOR

“Motion, typography, and performance are rarely in harmony—here they are. The site feels premium yet fast, expressive yet restrained. They sweated the micro-interactions and it shows in how people move and stay on the page.”

05.

HANNAH COLE

MARKETING DIRECTOR

“Motion, typography, and performance are rarely in harmony—here they are. The site feels premium yet fast, expressive yet restrained. They sweated the micro-interactions and it shows in how people move and stay on the page.”

06.

DANIEL WHITAKER

CEO

“Zero fluff, high craft. They cut complexity, prototyped quickly, validated decisions, and delivered immaculate files. Our engineers praised the structure, and our release cadence improved because we weren’t rewriting designs mid-build.”

06.

DANIEL WHITAKER

CEO

“Zero fluff, high craft. They cut complexity, prototyped quickly, validated decisions, and delivered immaculate files. Our engineers praised the structure, and our release cadence improved because we weren’t rewriting designs mid-build.”

06.

DANIEL WHITAKER

CEO

“Zero fluff, high craft. They cut complexity, prototyped quickly, validated decisions, and delivered immaculate files. Our engineers praised the structure, and our release cadence improved because we weren’t rewriting designs mid-build.”

Create a free website with Framer, the website builder loved by startups, designers and agencies.