Dec

Meet Jennie: Illustrator and Designer at Ellinée

written by Lauren

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Jennie Hake Ellinee Design House

At Ellinee, we have an extremely talented team of designers who live and breathe good design. Original illustrations are one of the things that makes our designs fresh, whimsical, and fun and we are so lucky to have Jennie Hake, an amazing illustrator, on our team. We thought it would be fun to share a little Q&A sesh with Jennie so that you all can get to know some of the faces behind Ellinee.

1. WHEN DID YOU REALIZE YOU WANTED TO BE AN ILLUSTRATOR/DESIGNER?
I think I started drawing before I could walk… and it’s always been my main love in life. I come from a creative family and so it’s definitely in my blood. I knew I wanted a job in art, but I wasn’t quite sure what that was as I went through college. But I continued to draw and paint and knew it would fall into place eventually. I worked in an advertising agency and a stop-animation studio out of college, then worked for Nike and Columbia Sportswear for several years. My work there was sort of creative but not nearly as much I wanted it to be. Plus, sitting in a cube was definitely not for me! I began illustrating and painting children’s murals as a freelance side business and then opened my Etsy store {Treetop Studio} selling art prints. Finally I was hired at ellinée and everything fell into place. Being able to both design and illustrate is a rare thing and I am SO grateful that I am able to do it. This is an absolute dream job for me.

2. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE?
As far as my design style goes, I love textures and layering and I am definitely a wood type junkie. I love giving designs a lived-in, vintage look. I think my illustration style is a little more clean and flat. I like a combination of retro and modern but always with a whimsical touch.

3. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR DESIGN PROCESS?
I tend to follow ideas that pop into my head so I may have several projects going at one time. I find that if I leave something alone for awhile and come back to it I’ll see something new or make an adjustment that makes the design click into place.

4. WHAT IS YOUR INSPIRATION?
So many things! Natural shapes and textures, Scandinavian design, vintage posters, stamps & labels, letterpress design, old botanical drawings. I love wood block prints and Wycinanki papercuts, Angie Lewin and David Weidman screen prints. I’m inspired by the amazingly talented group of ladies I get to work and share with everyday.

5. WHAT IS YOUR MOST TREASURED POSSESSION?
I have two. My dad is a music composer and in college he gave me his old wood drafting table that he used when he was starting his music career. It’s a wonderful piece – made of wood and iron and it has seen countless creative hours. I work on this table everyday and just love it. The other is a notebook of gorgeous sketches and fashion drawings my grandmother did when she was in her 20′s.