Hello, I'm
Jessie
Conlisk
Graphic Designer, Multi Media Artist
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Designing First
Impressions That Last
Book Covers
Barnes & Noble Re-design
Pottery Barn Kids Bedding
Pottery Barn Kids Bedding
The Chromatica Chronicles
Chappell Roan Gif
MODREN Poster Series
Hugo Spritz Magazine Spread
Speaking of books… here they are. One of my biggest goals is to become a book cover designer, and as someone who loves fantasy, I have started redesigning some of my favorite books and series. Through these projects, I have been experimenting with different creative approaches to discover a structure and visual language that best fits my style. Some covers have been fully illustrated digitally, while others combine traditional artwork with graphic elements added afterward. As I continue developing my technical skills, I am also refining my illustration style and exploring new ways to merge traditional and digital techniques together.
Although I study Graphic Design and continue to paint traditionally, I have found it incredibly valuable to take Illustration courses that help me translate those traditional art skills into digital solutions. Learning how to integrate these different skill sets has strengthened my creative process overall. This particular project was created in a class at Savannah College of Art and Design with the intention of designing children’s bedding for Pottery Barn. I chose to base my concept on the story of “The Twelve Dancing Princesses.” Through this project, I discovered new approaches to creating patterns and visual systems that would have been useful during my earlier Barnes & Noble project, and that I now look forward to carrying into future work.
Digital illustration opens the door to countless possibilities, animation being one of the most exciting. This project challenged me to learn animation techniques using Figma. I chose to illustrate Chappell Roan using a combination of techniques across platforms such as Adobe Illustrator and Procreate. My concept centered around her hair, one of her most recognizable features, moving across her face to transition between drag makeup and a bare face, symbolizing her different personas. I drew heavy inspiration from Art Nouveau posters while creating this piece, and I wanted the typography to reflect that same elegance and decorative quality.
Typography is one of the most important aspects of Graphic Design because it is, at its core, written communication. The way text is presented inherently shapes the message it conveys. This project was created with the intention of pushing the boundaries of typography by isolating key words from a passage and reconstructing them in Adobe Photoshop using subtle visual symbols tied to the themes of the text. For this project, I focused on Lady Gaga, and the resulting reimagined “newspaper” became a visual interpretation of her narrative and public persona.
While the previous project focused on creating a space for typography to exist within, this project approached the process from the opposite direction. I first created the traditional artwork and then introduced typography afterward to develop this poster series. The series was designed for an imagined museum called MODREN: Museum of Modern Renaissance, a concept centered around elements of the Renaissance that still remain influential today. Each of the three individual artworks represents qualities of the Renaissance while incorporating modern techniques and perspectives. When designing the posters, I also drew inspiration from Renaissance architecture and ornamental frameworks to influence the composition and framing of each piece.
I have completed countless projects involving photo editing, but this project stood out because it was a collaboration with a photography student during my undergraduate studies at Colorado State University. The goal was to create a multi-page zine spread centered around a food or beverage of our choice. This project gave me the opportunity to creatively direct a photoshoot while working closely with another artist. The process felt very different from my previous work because I was no longer relying solely on my own skills, but instead learning how to collaborate creatively. At times, the photographer was not capturing exactly what I had envisioned, but ultimately, that challenge pushed me to adapt, pivot, and discover new design solutions that I may not have explored otherwise.
They say to never judge a book by its cover, but I always have. The cover is what draws you in and sparks your initial interest, while the contents keep you there. As a graphic designer, I want any piece I create, whether that be book covers, branding, packaging, and other, to make sure that what I am creating will have the greatest chance of helping whatever it is connected to succeed. Human touch is so important for resonating with others, and for that reason, I like to incorporate traditional art methods into my work to elevate the experience. As I complete my MFA at SCAD, I look forward to beginning my career as a designer and discovering new ways to create a positive impact.
A peak at my
Traditional Art
You will probably notice a recurring theme throughout my work: whenever I have the opportunity, I gravitate toward anything book-related. When I began my MFA at Savannah College of Art and Design, one of the first projects I worked on was a redesign of the Barnes & Noble logo and brand identity. I saw an opportunity to make the brand more recognizable, since the existing logo relies solely on the ampersand mark. My goal was to incorporate the “B” and “N” into the shape of a book to create a stronger visual connection and eliminate confusion about what the logo represents. Alongside the logo redesign, I also created supporting patterns for merchandise and redesigned the café packaging to build a more cohesive identity system.