Jennifer Dunham is an inspired artist and designer, technically skilled in visual communication and storytelling. Her studies at Ryerson (Toronto, ON), UniSA (Adelaide, Australia), NSCAD (Halifax, NS) and OCAD (Toronto, ON) have equipped her with an arsenal of imaginative and creative skills to conceive, envision, and bring projects to fruition. Her personal practice combines fine art and digital media techniques with her penchant for nature-based imagery, pattern, and typography. Jennifer Dunham enjoys collaborating with individuals, and companies, big and small, from her current residence in Ottawa, ON.
How long have you been Fluevogin’ for?
I first discovered Fluevog seven years ago, during my studies in the Radio and Television Arts program at Ryerson University. Each time I encountered the Queen St. location, I would stop to indulge in some serious window-shopping! When I finally treated myself to my first pair of Fluevogs (the Heidi boot), I was immediately sold on their incredible comfort and impeccable style… leading me to eventually purchase Bondgirl, then most sentimentally the Macchiato in Ice Blue, which I wore on my wedding day.
On entering the contest:
I have known about this amazing contest for a while now, and always planned to enter it one day. I was compelled to try my luck this time around, as I was very eager to work on a fun, creative project after recently moving to Ottawa, ON. Moving, with a nearly two-year-old and a baby on the way, felt like more of an undertaking than any of our previous moves. So once the upheaval was over, and the dust had settled, I was motivated to work on a project that welcomed unbridled creativity. It was a feel-good endeavour that resulted in a feel-amazing outcome!
On her winning design, If Walls Could Talk:
The Design Brief for the The Enchanting instantly resonated with me. I felt akin to the boot in a way, with it being described as an “enchanting mix of youthful energy and old fashioned values”. I’ve always been considered an old soul by those who know me well. While I am drawn to adventure and worldly pursuits, my heart is equally content at home, appreciating simple and wholesome ways of life.
For my Fluevog ad, “If Walls Could Talk”, I wanted to incorporate imagery that would capture the fun vitality, as well as the traditional sensibility of the boot. By combining the apple blossom and slice of pie with the bee and the boot, I aimed to show the interconnectedness of these elements – the bee and boot serving as alluring symbols of agents in the production of heart-warming apple pie! I also liked the idea of using traditional wallpaper design in an unconventional, slightly wacky way to further emphasize the duality that is fundamental to The Enchanting.
What was your creative process?
My time spent on the ad was an absolute pleasure, divided over the course of several evenings. I developed the concept after considerable brainstorming, and then set to work one night, sketching and painting. I used watercolour to paint each of the elements, which I later scanned into the computer to allow for easy replication and pattern manipulation. Once the images were digitized, I tested out different arrangements before deciding on the final design. I could have spent an infinite amount of time doing this, but I was happy with the results after a couple nights of experimenting.
Apart from art and design, what do you like to do for fun?
I am so fortunate to spend my days enjoying life with my husband and little boy. We are excited to soon be welcoming a baby girl into our family mix. Together, I hope we will continually seek adventures and new experiences. On a day-to-day basis, we love fitting in time outside, embracing nature, and going with the flow! Apart from family life, my most fulfilling past-times are running marathons, travelling, learning, and following my creative impulses.
I hope that my family, each of us individually and all of us collectively, will always have the ability to see the world through an artistic lens regardless of what day-to-day life may look like… and that we’ll have happy, stylish feet, sporting ‘Vogs for years to come!
Check out Jenn’s website for her work!