Jaclyn Merk
Creative Director / Founder
San Diego, CA / Los Angeles, CA
www.jmerkstudio.com
instagram @jmerkstudio @jaclynmerk
Q What do you do?
“I’m a Creative Director who helps direct-to-consumer brands in fashion, wellness, beauty, and home goods tell their story through design and content. I develop concepts, lead photoshoots, and build creative systems that work across ads, social, and e-commerce. Basically, I make sure everything a brand puts out into the world looks and feels cohesive, elevated, and effective.”
Q What steps did you take to get to where you are now?
I started my career as a designer, building a strong foundation in visuals and storytelling. Early on, working in startup environments meant wearing many hats—designing, art directing, producing, even writing copy—which accelerated my growth as both an executional and strategic creative. I went on to become an art director and then creative director at high-growth DTC brands like Mack Weldon, Brooklinen, FIGS, and Coop Sleep Goods, where I led creative direction across campaigns, content, and brand evolution. Along the way I directed countless shoots, built and mentored creative teams, and learned firsthand what it takes for brands to scale. Those experiences inspired me to launch J. Merk Studio, where I now partner with brands that may not have in-house creative resources but want big-agency-level thinking and execution.
Q How do you stand out in your field?
I stand out because I bridge the gap between strategy and execution. I’m just as comfortable building a creative system that drives performance as I am on set directing the details of a shoot. My background in fast-paced startups means I move quickly, adapt to changing priorities, and understand what brands really need to grow without excess fluff. And because I’ve worked both in-house and independently, I bring a unique perspective—deep empathy for internal brand challenges paired with the outside vision to push creative forward.
Q What are you working on right now?
Right now I’m focused on growing J. Merk Studio—bringing on new clients through both project-based collaborations and ongoing retainer partnerships. I’m especially excited to partner with more beauty and wellness brands, where I can not only shape creative strategy but also be on set leading art direction to bring campaigns and content to life.
Q What’s your style?
My style blends clean, elevated aesthetics with thoughtful storytelling—I believe visuals should not only look beautiful but also move the brand forward. I gravitate toward natural light, intentional styling, and details that make content feel premium yet approachable. A project that represents this is the Brooklinen Cashmere launch campaign, where I led art direction to create imagery that felt luxurious and cozy at the same time, striking the right balance between aspiration and relatability.
Q Out of all your slashies, which one do you wish you could do more often?
I’d love to carve out more of a niche in helping mid-size fashion, wellness, and beauty brands get to their next stage of growth. These brands often have strong products and early traction, but need elevated creative direction to break through. I love stepping in at that moment—shaping the campaigns, content, and systems that help them scale with clarity and style.
Q What is frustrating you right now?
I’m both frustrated and invigorated by the transition from in-house corporate life to building my own business. On one hand, I love the freedom and creativity of running J. Merk Studio. On the other, I’m still adjusting to wearing all the hats—from pitching and client acquisition to operations and admin—so the less glamorous tasks often fall to the bottom of the list. It’s a challenge, but also part of the excitement of building something of my own.
Q If you could hire someone for $20/hour, what would you have them do to make your day easier?
Honestly? I’d pay someone to tame my inbox, wrangle my calendar, and make sure my files aren’t living in 27 random folders. Basically, handle the unglamorous stuff so I can stay in my zone—concepting, creating, and being on set.
Q What do you wish you could have told yourself, when, and why?
I wish I could have told my younger self that it’s never worth sacrificing your mental and physical health to burn the candle at both ends—especially for a company that doesn’t truly value creative. When you’re well rested and have a rich life outside of work, the work itself becomes more enjoyable (and better). Protecting your energy and choosing environments that respect your craft makes all the difference.
Q If you could talk to an expert to gain more insight on something, what would it be about?
I’d love to pick an expert’s brain on how to price projects without second-guessing myself, and how to turn my baby studio into a smooth-running machine with systems that actually work—and a dream roster of loyal clients who keep coming back.
Q What kind of opportunities/projects are you looking for?
Dream projects? Partnering with fashion, wellness, and beauty brands ready to elevate their creative—whether that’s a photoshoot, a 360° campaign, or scroll-stopping ads that boost their brand presence and generate meaningful results.
Q Describe your ideal job/client/collaboration.
Ideal clients know where they want to go, but trust me to shape how that vision comes to life. The best collaborations happen with teams who see creative as a true growth driver—where we’re aligned on goals, open to ideas, and excited to push the brand forward together. I especially love being on set, collaborating with photographers, stylists, hair and makeup artists, and models to bring it all to life.
Q: What is your rate?
Budgets really depend on scope, but here’s a ballpark:
- $150-200/hr for smaller projects or consulting
- $1,800–$2,500/day for on-set art direction
- $3k–$10k+ for bigger campaigns or shoots
- Retainers start around $3k/month
Open to chatting if you’re not sure where your project fits!
Q How should someone approach you about working together?
Email me at jmerkstudio@gmail.com or fill out a contact form on jmerkstudio.com. Happy to answer DM's on IG @jmerkstudio.
Q Who is a creative you admire?
I highly recommend my very talented friend Emily Kelley, founder of Land & She. She’s an incredible designer, illustrator, creative mind, and kind soul on top of all that. I'm deeply passionate about supporting female-owned small businesses.
🌐 www.landandshe.com
📸 @landandshe
Q Oh! and… how do you stay creative?
Travel! & phone-free beach walks
This member profile was originally published in September 2025.