Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Fimbel.
Jessica, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I grew up in Hollis, New Hampshire, a small town with one stop light and a lot of tractor traffic. I didn’t start really designing until college. I went to Keene State College in New Hampshire having no idea what I wanted to major in. I figured I would try a few classes and see what I liked and didn’t like. I ended up taking something like ‘Intro to Design’ and knew instantly that that was what I wanted to do. It felt natural and I was excited to do it every day. After graduating with a BFA in Graphic Design and a minor in Studio Art, I decided to make the big move to New York City. I’ve lived here for 7 years and have spent 6 of those years designing for restaurants. Working with restaurant brands allows me to combine two of my favorite things – food and good design!
Beyond the office, I have always loved making things by hand. I love adding my own personal touches, especially when it comes to typography. I used to send out snail mail to my friends and get more excited about lettering the envelope and picking out the perfect stamp to complement it, than the actual note. I’d also find any excuse to letter a chalkboard sign, birthday card, or new recipe I found on Pinterest. It was love at first letter!
Now, I incorporate lettering into most of my design projects. I just love how differently words can be interpreted based on letterforms. There are also so many rules when it comes to typography, but they are also meant to be bent and broken and challenged, and that’s what makes it so exciting and limitless!
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I am a graphic designer, letterer, and illustrator. I love creating artwork that is relatable – it’s not too fussy and doesn’t take itself too seriously. A lot of what I do is done digitally now, so it is important to me to still have my work look bespoke and personable. I like to travel and draw a lot of inspiration from sign typography, so much so that I started an Instagram where I collect my favorite letters and storefronts (@typespy). Recently I got to include my own neon work on that account which was a lot of fun!
Artists rarely, if ever pursue art for the money. Nonetheless, we all have bills and responsibilities and many aspiring artists are discouraged from pursuing art due to financial reasons. Any advice or thoughts you’d like to share with prospective artists?
Choosing a creative path can be financially challenging, but it can also be extremely fulfilling. My advice would be to build up your client base before taking the leap of doing it full time. I am someone who likes the stability of a 9-5, and I work on projects outside of the office. It does involve long days, but it’s also rewarding to be able to do what you love. If you do decide to work for yourself full-time, make sure you have solid contracts, a good pricing structure and an understanding of the additional expenses of self-employment. Don’t let this deter you – follow the path that works best for you and your own personal goals. And remember, there’s nothing better than being able to do what you love. in your pajamas! Comfort is key.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
I am very active on my Instagram @jfimsdesigns and keep my artwork up to date as much as I can on there. You can also see my work on my website www.jfimsdesigns.com. Additionally, I contribute monthly to the LetterZine (www.letterzine.com) which is a digital zine featuring work from various letterers.
Contact Info:
- Address: New York, New York
- Website: www.jfimsdesigns.com
- Email: jfimsdesigns@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/jfimsdesigns
- Other: www.instagram.com/typespy
Image Credit:
All artwork is jfims designs.
Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
