Who the hell is Jasmine Welsh?

We’re chatting with members of the DixonBaxi studio about what makes them who they are. From the professional to the personal, nothing is off limits here. We caught up with Jasmine Welsh, one of our designers and resident rocker who loves being experimental, going to as many gigs as possible and making people smile. Here’s the rest of that conversation:

Who are you and what do you do?
I’m Jas, one of DixonBaxi’s resident rockers, friendly Northerners, and Brand Designers. I love ideas and finding unexpected ways of bringing them to life. Basically, the weird art kid playing around with a bonkers science experiment in the corner.

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What’s your story?
Growing up, I always wanted to be a fine artist. Unfortunately, I realised pretty early on that I wasn’t blessed with natural drawing skills. I honestly can’t even draw a straight line. Fortunately, my Mum didn’t and pushed me to think about creativity from a different angle, which led to graphic design and ultimately finding my way – built on a love of the tactile and weird.

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Studying Graphic Design at University, it became even more apparent that I wanted to use unusual techniques to create. From making bronze jewellery printed from skin to celebrate your scars, designing political board games for schools, and letting students shout at Nick Clegg. I loved getting off the screen and creating something that helped solve the problem perfectly, rather than just a pretty poster.

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On the day of my degree show, I moved to London. I knew I wanted to be here, so why wait? Since then, I’ve been finding my feet and trying to hold onto my Yorkshire twang.

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What are you working on right now?
We’re prepping for a final brand presentation this week. It’s been a wild journey that started with LEGO models, hydro-dipped paintings, and even cyanotype prints. It’s so cool to see it all come together as something refined with a real sense of purpose. If I do say so myself.

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“Changing the world doesn’t have to mean fixing everything all at once. Great design puts a smile on people’s faces and brightens their world. That’s something that matters.”

Describe your working style in 3 words.
Touchy, feely, experimental. I like to really get in there and swim around. Otherwise, what’s the point?

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Tell us about some of your interests. What are you into?
Can gigs be an interest? Loving music is a family trait. When my Dad turned 50, we aimed to do 50 different gigs in a year and managed it with over half the year to spare. I’ve also been learning the drums to the delight of my partner.

Outside of music and outside of the studio, I’m normally out watching F1 or the football – we’re a split Liverpool / Man City household, so it can get pretty tense.

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Do you think design can change the world? How?
Changing the world doesn’t have to mean fixing everything all at once. Great design puts a smile on people’s faces and brightens their world. That’s something that matters.

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If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?
I think pretty much everything would be better if we were all a little less judgemental of others.

What’s the last song you listened to?
Song: Rhinestone Eyes by Gorillaz, before seeing them this Friday at All Points East.
Podcast: Episode 2 of The NDA Podcast is a really great one about class and the creative industry.

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Why do you do what you do? What motivates you?
Creativity has always been part of my life. It’s my happy place and where I escape too. Being creative every day – and being able to pay the bills – is a blessing. And making people feel something through my work is the icing on top of that motivation cake.

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What’s your definition of good design?
The idea. Brought to life in a way that makes people smile. People have different tastes, styles and trends that come and go. If the outcome suits the audience, then my personal preference for blue over red (football reference) doesn’t matter.