Let's get thinking...
I'm always looking for that next spark of creativity.
A bit more about CJ...
What are you doing when you're not designing?
Well, that depends on the time of year. If it's winter, more than likely I'm watching football or discussing trades. I am the proud Current Reigning Champion of, not one, but two Fantasy Football Leagues. If you're looking for a competitive league, drop an email. And bring your wallet.
If its summer, I am a sucker for the pool and the links. After a round of 18, there's nothing better than grabbing an IPA and sitting next to the pool with my laptop. I think something about chlorine and Vitamin D causes brilliant creative reactions in the brain. Running experiments now, will follow up once we have conclusive evidence.
Who are some of your favorite influences?
If we're talking designers; Aaron Draplin, Paula Scher, Stefan Sagmeister, to name a few. My claim to fame right now is that Stefan Sagmeister and I connected on Instagram and he gave my resumé a nice review. So, yeah. I'm basically famous. I would argue most of my influence from the Greats is focused on process and concepts, and most my aesthetic influences come from random places and ideas. The grocery store, walking through Downtown Denver, restaurants, clothing stores, etc. – this is where I find most of my inspiration. Music is a big part of my life and I take pride in the diversity of artists I've been exposed to. It's amazing how much what's in my ears while I'm working can alter an outcome. I highly recommend to my design friends to experiment different genres while working, if you try it out let me know it works for you.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years?
I was raised on the mentality that if you're going to do something, it should be with your best effort - always. Design and Marketing is my passion, and I intend on working extremely hard as a 'nobody' for the near future. I want nothing more than to learn from those who have so much to teach. In 5 years, I will be 27 years old and hope to have had opportunities of immense growth under mentors of the highest quality. In 10 years, who knows.
What makes Christopher Jewell different than any other graduating designer?
I can only speak about myself, it's difficult to judge other designers' capabilities and skillsets as a general population. What I do know, is I have a different process than most designers. I am a business-focused, profit-driven designer. Yes, I would love it every piece I created got a spot in the MoMA once I'm gone, but I have a different goal. My goal is always 1) meet our deadline, 2) come in under-budget, and 3) guarantee client satisfaction. I am as business focused as any Marketing Director, but it just so happens I am also fully capable creating high-quality, unique, and creative designs. Every now and then I create something that just blows people away. However, I take more pride in knowing that quality and timeliness are guaranteed whenever a project comes across my desk.