FullBleed

Jessica Avison wishes she could tell her younger self to stop worrying. “Don’t be afraid to try new things. Things will come together, as long as you keep trying.”

So far, her life has been following that advice (although with *some* fretting, after all). For examples, she just started a new career in design, she’s about to be married (on Saturday), and she’s getting involved with DC creative groups (even if she doesn’t initially know anyone in them).

But putting her faith that everything will turn out AOK is a challenge for this 26-year-old DC resident, who was born in Korea. She grew up in a military family and spent her formative years in California before settling into Yorktown, VA, where her dad retired.

“I’m a typical ‘first child,’” she said. “I’m driven, independent, and maybe even a little bossy … according to my [three] sisters, anyway.”

That drive is something Jessica was recognized for at age 16, when her high-school English teacher put her in charge of a significant creative project.

“My teacher sponsored the literary magazine and eventually asked me to be the editor-in-chief, giving me total creative control. It meant a lot to me knowing someone had that much confidence in my ability. That was my first experience working on a big, creative project from start-to-finish.”

She was always reading and thought poetry was romantic and bohemian. Though her dad was a programmer, she never thought about technology or computers. She always wanted to be a writer, even through her senior year of college at James Madison University, where she double majored in literature and technical writing.

Oh, and she was on the archery team.

“I had never picked up a bow and arrow in my life, but the coach needed women on the team and was willing to train me, so eventually I got to shoot in major tournaments alongside Olympic archers.”

After graduation, she moved to the DC area and worked in government contracting jobs as a technical writer. During this period, she discovered her interest in using the web as a tool for communication. She consulted with her fiance, Chris, about her desire to make a career change. He, as a “great cheerleader and coach,” inspired her to take the risk.

“I committed to making a career change, and that was huge. I had a lot of anxiety about it, thinking that it was too late to change my career path. I’m so glad I did it, though, even if I felt very behind the curve in the artistic department.”

So, she started venturing from her cubicle after work to the Center for Digital Imaging Arts at Boston University in Georgetown, where she took night classes to expand her digital skills. In May, she earned her certificate in graphic and web design.

“My certification has given me a lot of confidence and a sense of legitimacy; it’s also motivated me to continue working hard to accomplish my goals. I learned about the creative aspect of web work — typography, art direction, layout, color theory. I totally embrace my nerd status, and I consider myself a lifelong student. I want to keep learning.”

That continuing passion to expand her capabilities has led her to explore ways she can learn more on the front-end development to build up her “designer’s toolbox.”

“In five years, I’d love to be working as a web designer at a smart, creative agency, surrounded by people who are fun to hang out with and also smarter than me. I want to constantly be learning and tackling challenges. Eventually, I think I’d like to try my hand at full-time freelance work, but I’m not convinced it’s for me right now. I like the social aspect of work; I want to be inspired and working with people who care about their craft. It’s great to be surrounded by people with whom you can collaborate and discuss ideas.”

Jessica said that several people in the DC design community have helped her already, including Karol Keane, Bob Gray, Samantha Warren, Brian Talbot, Nick Whitmoyer, and Jim Webb.

“I’ll never forget when Karol made my class hand-draw the alphabet in Helvetica. I got a reputation in the class for hating the typeface, but it was only because I complained that it was incredibly hard to recreate by hand. It made me appreciate how precise and hardworking the Helvetica type family is. As a new designer, receiving instruction from seasoned creatives that still practice what they teach was invaluable.”

Jessica said that the DC creative community has been an enormous influence on her, and she’s excited to be surrounded by so many talented people whose work she follows — and whose work pushes her to expand her own skills, too.

“I know a lot of people think that DC is very square and government-focused (and it is), but the creative scene here is thriving. At first, I felt out of my element and insecure being surrounded by so many talented people, but they have all made me feel like one of their peers. That’s what I love. The DC scene has been so welcoming … so willing to foster new talent. I don’t feel shut out. I don’t feel the cut-throat competitive vibe that may exist in other cities. I don’t get the sense that DC feels threatened by another generation of creative types; this community actually embraces it. I’m grateful and excited to be jump-starting my design career here.”

See more of her work online at: Jessica-avison.com