Leeya Rose Jackson
Illustrator / Art Director / Founder of Noisemakers
Minneapolis, MN
www.noisemakerdesign.com
instagram @leeyamakesnoise
@noisemakers.psd
youtube
Q What do you do?
“I call myself Leeya Makes Noise, because I create loud visual artwork, design, and marketing.”
I am an illustrator, graphic designer, and Art Director, formerly at Weiden + Kennedy NY. I started my design shop, Noisemakers, because I believe in providing branding and design for BIPOC small businesses and organizations at accessible and equitable rates. I also just believe in creating unique and audaciously bold work that solves problems. I also run an at-home art/illustration shop where I make prints, stickers, and bookmarks that primarily focuses on celebrating BIPOC femmes.
Q What steps did you take to get to where you are now?
I’ve been a creative hustler my whole life. In elementary school, I used to sell gel pen tattoos on flash sheets. In high school, I had a small business designing homecoming and prom dresses for my peers. But my first love is real in the studio arts- discovering artists like Frida Kahlo, Kara Walker, and Kehinde Wiley set me on my path. It gave me the confidence to dare to study painting and printmaking in undergrad. There I grew and expanded as an artist and even got the opportunity to study art in Florence, Italy.
After graduation, however, I found while I loved making art, I disliked having to navigate the exclusivity and politics of the fine arts world. I think things are changing now, but ten years ago the museums weren’t exactly rolling out the welcome matts for non-wealthy Black femme and queer artists. In a moment of honest desperation, I Google searched “what’s a creative and collaborative job that actually pays well” and she (Google is a femme) told me about Art Direction. I then uprooted my life in Detroit to move to Minneapolis for ad school. I’ve been working in advertising since. While I love being an Art Director, I found it came with it’s own creative limitations, and I began to freelance as a gateway to really let my unique and loud aesthetic shine.
Q How do you stand out in your field?
Because I wasn’t specifically trained as a designer, I didn’t get the same molds/constraints. There’s a lot of discussion right now about what parts of traditional design thinking are actually rooted in white supremacy/conformity. I think my secret weapon as a creative/designer is being very comfortable with my own authenticity and being able to easily see it in others/my clients- and use that as the “sauce” for what I create for them.
Q What are you working on right now?
Right now I am working on a top-secret design project for an iconic musical artist exhibition, an illustration for a musical festival, and branding for a BiPOC/Sci-fi focused small bookshop. I'm also working on a podcast about overlooked BIPOC creative femmes throughout history.
Q What’s your style?
I have many different things that interest me, so honestly my style is in flux. I think if I had to explain an overall theme in my work, it’s bold and vibrant colors, unique patterns, and an overall maximalist approach. I call myself Leeya Makes Noise/Noisemakers for a reason. To the clean, minimal design-eye- my stuff can certainly come across as “noisy”. In fact, it used to be the most consistent critique in my early days in the ad world. But under the right circumstance, with the right clients and for the right problem, “noisy” can be just what is needed. My favorite work to date has been for Afropunk’s 2020 digital fest, which took on an afrofuturist and maximalist tone.
Q Out of all your slashies, which one do you wish you could do more often?
Illustration, Branding Design
Q What is frustrating you right now?
Honestly, not having someone to schedule and manage my time, to do the admin of responding to emails/requests. That stuff takes up so much headspace, when I could just be creating.
Q If you could hire someone for $20/hour, what would you have them do to make your day easier?
Basically be a personal assistant- answer emails, schedule my meetings/times and do minimal project management.
Q What do you wish you could have told yourself, when, and why?
Start saving/investing my money earlier, honestly. And to start to work on my (as the Budgetnista termed it) financial wellness. Financial literacy is something that I never had the privilege to be taught growing up- so as I enter my 30’s it’s a goal of mine to get more comfortable with financial wellness.
Q If you could talk to an expert to gain more insight on something, what would it be about?
I really want to talk to someone who has grown a design shop from a one-person experience, to hiring other creatives and expanding. How to make sure your business thrives in an ethical way.
Q What kind of opportunities/projects are you looking for?
I’m looking for both short-term, quick illustration and design projects, as well as on-going clients for Noisemakers Design. Clients who want to take creative risks and are open to work that’s unique.
Q Describe your ideal job/client/collaboration.
My ideal clients are those who are doing cool and important things in the world. Or those who have a fresh perspective on their industry. I love working with clients like that, because there’s a real chance to “make some noise” creatively.
Q How should someone approach you about working together?
Email noisemakersdesign@gmail.com or even a DM @leeyamakesnoise- and "come as you are", meaning you don't even have to have everything figured out. We can work out your creative needs together!
Q Who is a creative you admire?
My design mentor/friend Milton Un. He is incredible and one of the best designers/people I know.
Q Oh! and… how do you stay creative?
Breathe, dance, observe, wonder, explore.
This member profile was originally published in October 2021.