Jumoke Fernandez
Q What do you do?
“I’m an Art Director and Technologist specializing in AI, XR & 3D. I have worked in the creative industry for 10 years where I specialized primarily in mobile apps.”
With a background spanning gaming, AR, virtual influencers, blockchain, and entertainment, I craft immersive experiences that seamlessly integrate into existing worlds or create new ones. I use AI, leveraging tools like Stable Diffusion and Midjourney to create campaign visuals for global brands. Beyond my creative work, I share my expertise through lectures and educational platforms, advocating for ethical and sustainable AI practices.
Q What steps did you take to get to where you are now?
I was homeschooled with a curriculum designed by my parents, blending computer sciences and traditional arts. My dad starting teaching me coding at 9, and I delved into creative coding (three.js etc) around 17, inspired by Post Internet Art. I always had an interest in gaming and the arts in general, and I naturally found myself working in this field.
Q How do you stand out in your field?
I’m deeply specialized on these topics of new and immersive technology. I have a keen artistic sensibility, creating visually stunning experiences that push the boundaries of what is generally seen with the tools. As an ‘AI Art Director’ - I train custom models, use Automatic 1111 / Comfy UI, I code a little python and of course use the regular tools like Midjourney. I’m very much on top of what is new and which tools are available.
Q What are you working on right now?
Currently I’m focussed on Generative AI. I'm working for a lot of different brands and agencies to introduce this technology into their processes or to create campaign visuals for them. The last 30 days my studio had projects for a large automotive company, a mobile game, NFT project, a Swiss health clinic, a small fashion e-commerce store and a global beauty brand.
Q What’s your style?
I’m very Hatsune Miku coded.
Q Out of all your slashies, which one do you wish you could do more often?
I wish I could spend more time on teaching and mentoring, particularly younger people. I did lectures last year and I really enjoyed helping people find practical use cases for topics around creative technology.
Q What is frustrating you right now?
Keeping up with the rapid pace of technological advancements while ensuring ethical and sustainable practices remains a constant challenge.
Q If you could hire someone for $20/hour, what would you have them do to make your day easier?
I think I would hire a superstar dog to take responsibility for outdoor time, I'd pay them in steak and bling.
Q What do you wish you could have told yourself, when, and why?
I would go back to 2012 and tell myself to buy a load of bitcoin.
Q If you could talk to an expert to gain more insight on something, what would it be about?
At the moment I’m especially interested in traditional and obscure hand crafts.
Q What kind of opportunities/projects are you looking for?
I'm always on the lookout for projects that allow me to push the boundaries of creativity and technology, particularly projects which use AI, 3D and AR.
Q Describe your ideal job/client/collaboration.
My ideal collaboration involves working with clients who are open to exploring innovative ideas and workflows. I help my clients to understand the tools and possibilities, they help me to understand their vision and at some point the two merge into something special and unexpected.
Q What is your rate?
I often work on a project basis, so agreeing on a fixed cost before the start of the project based on the scope and considering the available budget. For longer term/bigger projects the rates can be adjusted. For ad hoc work my rate is $800 per day.
Q How should someone approach you about working together?
Feel free to reach out to me via email, with a project overview or a video call invite.
Q Who is a creative you admire?
Tomato Cappelletti We worked together on many projects, both personal and professional, he is a fantastic art director and has a deep knowledge of internet culture.
Q Oh! and… how do you stay creative?
(-‿◦☀) ٩꒰ ˘ ³˘꒱۶~♡ ᕙ(‾̀◡‾́)ᕗ
This member profile was originally published in April 2024