JES GRAHAM
GRAPHIC DESIGNER | DISABILITY STUDIES STUDENT | TYPOGRAPHER
Hi! I’m Jes with One S, AKA Jes Graham, and my most memorable moment while at Red & Yellow has definitely got to be when I was announced as an AdFocus Student of the Year finalist this year. That was very, very cool.
I create work that challenges norms regarding the representation and inclusion of the disabled and chronically ill community, drawing from my lived experiences as a person with multiple disabilities. My work reflects my character, which is bold, eccentric and conscientious.
My strengths include my trailblazing rebellious nature, my strong moral compass, my open-mindedness, my eternal curiosity, my boundaries, my vulnerability and my compassion.
My future plans involve seeking disability justice through design. I want my life to leave a legacy bigger than me, creating long-lasting improvements to the world we live in. My activism and my creative output are interlinked and always will be.
Please enjoy viewing my work and getting a glimpse into my mind! Thank you!
About me
Durex Campaign
A Loeries Awards finalist in the Integrated Campaign category and Craft – Illustration category. It was also a D&AD New Blood 2020 nominee.
We were briefed by Durex to fight for diverse representation and empowerment of sex for disabled people.
Drawing from the insight that sex is unique regardless of ability, we created a campaign that educates and shares stories about inclusive sex through a microsite, podcast and YouTube series, and a personalised sex gift box.
This project was made with my lovely and talented team members, Phillipa Curd and Dee Geyser.
To see a more detailed account of the project, please see my Behance portfolio.
Printing Design
I was tasked to reconceptualise pharmaceutical packaging through a post-humanist lens, resulting in the packaging assisting in the patient’s care. I chose to treat bipolar disorder using the new and groundbreaking approach of psychobiotics.
These are c(r)apsules filled with bacteria from healthy people’s guts to correct the imbalance of bacteria in the bipolar person’s gut. The packaging makes people confront the fact that this involves guts and faeces and that we shouldn’t shy away from it.
Embrace it! (Unfortunately only conceptional work at the moment.)
To see a more detailed account of the project, please see my Behance portfolio.
Self-initiated
This is my self-initiated project of my degree, combining my passion for disability activism and typography. I created an awareness campaign aimed at tweens, educating them about ableist language and attempting to change their behaviour in this regard.
Touchpoints include a TikTok dance challenge and filter; a YouTube ad; and posters to go up around schools. Additionally, I designed a custom typeface and a logo for a hypothetical disability organisation called DKUDKU (Disabled Kids United!) who is the organiser of the campaign.
To see a more detailed account of the project, please see my Behance portfolio.
24YOURS Campaign
We were tasked to design an athleisure brand aimed at 20-35-year-olds, as well a launch campaign for the brand. Drawing from the insight that people need to feel like the best version of themselves to kick ass around the clock, physical comfort allows one to push oneself out of one’s psychological comfort zone.
The launch campaign centres around showing the versatility and personality of the clothing, encouraging the 24/7 lifestyles of the quirky target market. This project was made with my lovely and talented team members, Erin Kemper, Nathan Pekeur and Andrea Russouw.
To see a more detailed account of the project, please see my Behance portfolio.
Corporate Identity
We were tasked to design an athleisure brand aimed at 20-35-year-olds, as well a launch campaign for the brand. Drawing from the insight that people need to feel like the best version of themselves to kick ass around the clock, physical comfort allows one to push oneself out of one’s psychological comfort zone.
The launch campaign centres around showing the versatility and personality of the clothing, encouraging the 24/7 lifestyles of the quirky target market. This project was made with my lovely and talented team members, Erin Kemper, Nathan Pekeur and Andrea Russouw.
To see a more detailed account of the project, please see my Behance portfolio.
