After I was born, I picked up Crayons, went to school, and became a designer.
By day, I help brands find their voice; by night, I’m probably over-analyzing a product label I saw at a grocery store or debating whether or not spending less time on social media includes LinkedIn.
With nearly 20 years of turning wacky ideas into impactful pictures, I specialize in transforming chaos into cohesive strategies. My superpower? Distilling complex ideas into campaigns that resonate. No one has time for jargon-filled fluff (that's for the brainstorming process).
When I’m not geeking out over the marriages of smart copy and good-looking visuals, you’ll find me planning my next camping trip, deeply immersed in some obscure interest (could be cool rocks, could be 90s commercials) or embracing my rekindled iced coffee habit while I paint.
Let’s connect if you need:
☕ Laughter
☕ An answer to an obscure question
☕ A new adventure every day
☕ A team player
☕ Left-field ideas from a right-brained mind
☕ Premium execution of graphic design
☕ Someone the clients enjoy emailing
☕ Coffee cups as bullet points
☕ And more!
Here’s Me as Plain Text
Education
St. Clair College Centre for the Arts
2005 – 2008
Advanced Diploma,
Graphic Design
—
- Walkerville Collegiate Institute/ Walkerville Centre for the Creative Arts
2000–2004
W.C.C.A. Programs:
Animation, Visual Art, Media Art
Award
Faculty Academic Award
June 2008
- St. Clair College
- Issued upon the recommendation of the Faculty in the School of Media, Art and Design.
Award
Media Street Production Award for Excellence in Graphic Design
January 2008
- St. Clair College
Issued by Kelly Blais,
Media Street Productions
Award
Bill Wheeler Memorial Bursary for Excellence in Visual Arts
January 2004
- Walkerville Collegiate Institute/ Walkerville Centre for the Creative Arts
Agency
Generator Design of Canada Inc.
2026
Creative Lead
2016 – 2026
Graphic/Social Media Specialist
Select Clients
- XCCommerce
- I&F Design
- Mastronardi Estate Winery
- Actuarial Solutions Inc.
- Kinetic Konnection
- Naples Pizza
- G & G Jewellery
- Cavalier Tool
Skills
- Copywriting
- Social Media (Content Creation, Scheduling, Ad Management, Community Engagement)
- Brand Consistency
- Trend Awareness
- Time Management
- Hashtag Optimization
- eCommerce Design
- Logos
- Branding
- Typography
- Layout
- Vector Illustration
- Infographics
- Motion Graphics
- Video Editing Basics
- Photo Editing
- Eblast Design & Deployment
- Minor Video Editing
Tools & Apps
- Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop—including Firefly, Timeline—Illustrator, InDesign, XD)
- BackAtYou (SocialBay)
- Canva
- Meta Business Suite
- BlueSky
- X
- YouTube
- WordPress
- CapCut
- InShot
- HandBrake
- Campaigner
- Campaign Monitor
- Mail Chimp
- ChatGPT
- Nano Banana
- AdobeStock
- Monday
- Slack
- …and growing!
I manage and collaborate with multiple social media clients to plan, create, and refine content for their platforms. Alongside social media, I’m often involved in additional creative projects, so a typical day sees me contributing to 15+ unique initiatives. I thrive in this fast-paced, multi-project environment and genuinely love the variety and challenge it brings.
Marketing & Copywriting
- ⚙️ Wrote engaging copy across platforms to strengthen brand voice and drive engagement
- ⚙️ Planned and executed social media strategies for clients in luxury retail, tech, healthcare, and real estate
- ⚙️ Managed content creation, scheduling, ads, and community engagement end-to-end
- ⚙️ Maintained consistent branding across digital and print
- ⚙️ Used trends, hashtags, and keywords to boost reach and performance
Graphic & Digital Design
⚙️ Designed eCommerce assets, promos, and campaign visuals
⚙️ Created logos, branding, and illustrations
⚙️ Applied strong typography and layout across print and digital
⚙️ Produced infographics and motion graphics
⚙️ Edited photos and videos to match brand style
⚙️ Design experience for B2B SaaS clients, simplifying complex platforms
⚙️ Applied UI/UX principles for clarity and usability
⚙️ Working knowledge of HTML/CSS for dev handoff and WordPress editing
- ⚙️ Advanced photography and photo retouching skills ⚙️ Experience with generative AI tools for design ideation and production
Email Marketing & Automation
- ⚙️ Built and sent high-performing email campaigns optimized for opens and clicks
Project & Team Management
- ⚙️ Managed multiple projects at once, delivering high-quality work on time
- ⚙️ Led projects from planning to launch, including scheduling and budgets
- ⚙️ Coordinated with teams and delegated tasks to keep everything on track
- ⚙️ Worked directly with clients to share updates and refine work
- ⚙️ Stayed ahead of deadlines while handling last-minute requests without sacrificing quality
Agency
Jess Jagmin Designs
2007–Present
Freelance Art Director
Select Clients
- KupoCon
- Anime North
- Freeds
- Ottawa Street BIA
- Mastronardi Estate Winery
- …and many others
Skills
- Watercolour Painting
- Copywriting Logos
- Branding
- Typography
- Layout
- Vector Illustration
- Infographics
- Photo Editing
Tools & Apps
- Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign)
- Watercolour Paints
- Traditional Mediums
Since 2007, I’ve been designing, illustrating, and painting for a wide range of clients. From posters and magazine ads to custom décor and memorial portraits, I’ve handled it all—including the less glamorous side of coordinating with print suppliers and chasing ad copy from clients on vacation. It’s been a privilege to take on such fun and challenging projects. The highlight so far? Illustrating trading cards for the Final Fantasy series.
Agency
Red Piston
2013–2016
Interactive Designer
Select Clients
- Lowe’s Canada
- Bratz
- Caesars Windsor
Skills
- Ecommerce Design
- UI Design
- Web Design Prototyping
- Graphic Design
- Photo Editing
- Vector Illustration
- Motion Graphics
- Logo Recreation
- Storyboarding
Tools & Apps
- Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign)
- Autodesk Mudbox
- ZBrush
I worked as an interactive designer on a multidisciplinary team of animators, illustrators, web developers, and graphic designers. Together, we created mobile games and innovative interactive experiences for both web and connected toys.
My role evolved to include designing webpages, motion graphics, and web assets, as well as photo editing and managing a large database of client materials. I also collaborated closely with the animation team, adapting my traditional art skills to digital sculpting and painting workflows.
Agency
Spin Media
Simply Windsor Media
2011–2013
Art Director
Select Clients
- Bluesfest
- Simply Windsor Magazine Group
- Freeds
Skills
- Print Production
- Print Management
- Print Finishing
- Graphic Design
- Magazine Layout
- Ad Direction
Tools & Apps
- Adobe CS4 (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign)
- Xerox DocuColor 252
- Cannon Wide-Format Plotter
I managed and co-ran a print shop, where I handled production schedules, client projects, and quality control. During that time, I also directed and designed several magazines, leading everything from initial editorial concepts and layout systems to typography, imagery, and final pre-press files.
Agency
Blue Apple
2009–2011
Art Director
Select Clients
- Windsor Social Magazine
Skills
- Magazine Layout
- Graphic Design
- Ad Direction
- Data Entry
Tools & Apps
- Adobe CS4 (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign)
I began my full-time design career here, managing and designing the monthly Windsor Social Magazine. I handled everything from ad and editorial layout to collaborating with clients, writers, and photographers to produce both digital and print editions highlighting Windsor’s entertainment and nightlife scene. During this time, I also gained hands-on experience with print production and the day-to-day operations of a print shop.
Agency
McGill Design Studio
MacLaren McCann
March 2008–May 2008
Junior Graphic Design Intern
Select Clients
- BMO
- Mastercard Pontiac Dovercourt Boys and Girls Club
- McGill Design Studio
Skills
- Graphic Design
- Illustration
Tools & Apps
- Adobe CS3 (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign)
I received an internship at McGill Design Studio, part of MacLaren McCann in Toronto, at the high recommendation of my late professor Gord Oglan—a former Creative Director of the agency.
My time there was where things started to click. It was my first real look at how ideas move from concept to something out in the world, and how much thought goes into getting them there.
I worked alongside senior designers on a mix of projects, contributing to visual work for clients like BMO and a handful of local charities. Glamorous in the eyes of an intern, and a solid introduction to real-world constraints, workback schedules, feedback loops, and making things work within established brands.
There was also a lot of internal design work, building collateral that helped keep things consistent behind the scenes; the kind of stuff that doesn’t always get attention, but makes everything run smoother.
On a practical level, it’s where I got comfortable with the Adobe suite, typography, and layout; not just learning how to use the tools, but how to use them with intention.
Looking back, it was less about any one project and more about learning from everyone above you. And to the credit of one senior designer: "It's not what you know, it's who you know."