Portrait No. 001
Jessa Giarratano
Founder
Aprespace
I started Aprespace because I saw firsthand how closed-off and male-dominated the hospitality design industry could be — especially at the top. Many of the legacy firms were built and led by men, and access to opportunity often felt gatekept. What shifted everything for me was something much more personal: when I finally took the leap and started my own firm, it wasn’t the traditional power players who opened doors — it was the women around me. My female peers, many of whom were already overwhelmed with work, immediately began referring me to projects. There was no hesitation, no ego — just support. That moment changed how I saw the industry. It showed me that there’s another way to build a business — one rooted in collaboration over competition. I realized I didn’t just want to succeed within the existing system — I wanted to help reshape it. To be part of a network of women who actively create opportunities for each other, share knowledge, and expand access. Why me, and why now? Because I’ve experienced both sides — the barriers and the breakthroughs — and I’m committed to paying that forward as I grow.
In her words
“With over a decade in hospitality-focused interior design and 40+ projects completed, I’ve dedicated my career to creating rich, layered, and memorable interiors. Now, as founder of Aprèspace, I focus on delivering innovative design solutions that bring one-of-a-kind, highly curated projects, anchored in strong storytelling, to life.”
Chapter I
The toughest challenges you've faced as a founder.
I didn’t grow up with money, and I’ve supported myself fully since day one — so starting a company felt incredibly high stakes. There was no safety net. What felt hardest wasn’t the design — it was the business. Figuring out how to structure fees that could sustain both my life and a growing team was something no one teaches you at larger firms. In the early days, I leaned heavily on friends and family for guidance on finances and proposals, piecing it together as I went. It was messy, humbling, and at times overwhelming — but I kept going. Three years in, that uncertainty has turned into instinct. I now generate consistent inbound demand — often a new lead every week — and for the first time, I’m in a position to be selective and turn projects down. The biggest shift has been building the right team. Bringing on a partner with deep expertise not only elevated the quality of our work, but gave me the space to step back when needed — something I never thought was possible early on. And because of that, our projects — and the business — are stronger than ever.
Chapter II
Your vision.
As I was building my design business, I pushed myself hard to network — sometimes attending 4+ events a week, many of them in tech, founder, and AI spaces. I walked into rooms where I didn’t expect to belong, surrounded by people speaking an entirely different language. But over time, something shifted. Through constant exposure and conversation, I started to deeply understand what people across industries — especially in tech and AI — were building. Without realizing it, I became one of the most informed people in the room on how these tools were actually being applied in real life. That changed how I saw my role. I realized that while many creatives and designers feel intimidated or overwhelmed by AI, I had unintentionally built a bridge between two worlds. And with that came a responsibility — not just to use this knowledge for my own growth, but to share it. Now, alongside growing my design business, I’m driven to build something bigger: a platform or community that helps creatives understand and leverage AI in a way that feels empowering, not threatening. Because access to knowledge shouldn’t be gatekept — and I’ve seen firsthand how transformative it can be when it’s shared.
Chapter III
The impact you want to leave behind — for your industry, your community, and the women who come next.
I want to leave behind an industry that feels more open — where access, knowledge, and opportunity aren’t gatekept, and where women actively create space for each other instead of competing for limited seats at the table. In design, that means raising the standard while proving that collaboration can be just as powerful as competition. I want to build a business that not only delivers exceptional work, but also creates opportunities — through referrals, mentorship, and transparency — especially for other women coming up behind me. Beyond design, I want to demystify AI and emerging technology for creatives. There’s so much fear and overwhelm around it, and I’ve seen how empowering it can be when people actually understand how to use it. I want to bridge that gap so more people — especially women — feel confident stepping into spaces they might otherwise feel excluded from. Ultimately, my impact is about access: opening doors, sharing knowledge, and making it easier for the next generation to build on their own terms. I’m also driven to create projects that go beyond design — spaces where real life happens: where people meet the love of their life, build friendships, and create moments that stay with them forever.