Behind the Design: Meet Jenn Nienaber of Paper & Clouds
Great design is about more than making something look good. It’s about telling a story, building recognition, and helping businesses connect with the people they want to reach. For Jenn Nienaber, owner of Paper & Clouds, that’s what makes design meaningful.
With 25 years of experience in design, branding, marketing, websites, and digital media, Jenn helps small and midsized businesses, startups, and nonprofits bring their brands to life. Her services range from logo design and brand identity to websites, print materials, presentations, and social media graphics.
“I have always loved to draw and create art, so it was an easy decision to major in graphic design. I spent 25+ years in creative agencies but have also worked with nonprofits and small businesses on the side for years,” said Jenn Nienaber.
Design With Purpose
Jenn takes a thoughtful, strategic approach to every project. Her process begins with evaluating a client’s existing brand, researching competitors, and identifying opportunities for improvement. From there, she sketches ideas by hand before refining them digitally and collaborating with the client to develop the final design.
Her portfolio includes work for organizations of different sizes and industries, including Fortune 500 companies to local nonprofits like National Cottage Food Alliance and Mosaic Hockey Collective. Whether modernizing an established company’s logo or developing a complete visual identity, Jenn focuses on creating design solutions that reflect each organization’s purpose and personality.
“I believe the best design solutions come from collaboration between the client and the designer – without layers of middlemen. That means I work closely with the decision maker to create the best solution for their design problem,” said Jenn.
She also emphasizes the importance of consistency. Using recognizable colors, fonts, and visual elements across platforms helps businesses build trust and makes it easier for customers to recognize their brand. Accessibility is another priority, from readable layouts and color contrast to making sure designs work across different formats and for all audiences.
Making Professional Design More Accessible
Jenn understands that smaller businesses and nonprofits may not have the budget for a traditional agency, even when they need professional branding and marketing support. Paper & Clouds offers flexible services and packages to meet organizations where they are, including a basic logo package starting at $500.
At the heart of her business is a commitment to making professional design accessible to organizations of all sizes.
“Supporting small businesses and nonprofits by working within their budgets is vital for their growth, exposure and local community,” said Jenn.
She is planning a Design-It-Yourself boot camp for early 2027, which will help small businesses and nonprofits make better use of the design tools available to them and create more professional-looking materials.
Another upcoming initiative, Who Cares: Turning Your Mission Into Compelling Content, will bring together expertise in messaging, data analytics, and design to help nonprofits communicate their mission and connect with their audiences.
Through Paper & Clouds, Jenn is helping businesses and nonprofits do more than look professional. She helps them communicate who they are, what they stand for, and why their work matters. By combining thoughtful strategies with creative design, she makes it easier for organizations to share their stories and build meaningful connections with their audiences.
Whether you're refreshing an existing brand or starting from scratch, Jenn brings experience, creativity, and a purpose-driven approach to every project.
To learn more about Paper & Clouds and see examples of Jenn’s work, visit paperandclouds.net.
