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Tell us a little about yourself.

My journey into the creative realm began at a very young age. Art became an outlet for expression, I explored artistic mediums such as painting and pottery. I was introduced to photography by my dad, he taught me how to use a DSLR camera at age thirteen. My interest in photography grew in high school when I volunteered as a student photographer for the school newspaper and yearbook.

I decided to expand my knowledge through formal education at The University of Guelph Humber where I earned a Bachelor's in Media Studies and Digital Communication. Building upon this, I honed my strengths in digital communication by completing the User Experience (UX) Design and Development Skills Certificate from the School of Continuing Studies at OCAD U. This dedication to my craft led to opportunities to work as a creative professional and launch my own business, JF Images Multimedia, a production company based in Toronto. Over the years, I expanded an extensive roster of clients including the City of Brampton, Forty Creek Whiskey, Mc Cafe, University of Guelph Humber, and international clients such as Simba Sports Club in Tanzania and Maotai.

As a photographer, the ability to capture moments that resonate deeply is an innate skill I have developed. I use my lens to focus on brand development and community engagement. Through visual storytelling, I shine a light on leaders who influence culture and foster empowerment amongst women and youth. In my art director role, I am attentive to detail and draw connections using colour, symbolism and imagery to create consistency through meaningful visual messages.

In the realm of user experience, I thrive on creating intuitive digital experiences that seamlessly blend functionality and aesthetics. I apply my expertise in prototyping, customer journey mapping, and user testing to ensure my digital product designs meet and exceed user expectations.

Beyond technical skills, I aim to provide exceptional customer service while being involved in my community. As a woman of colour, I understand the impact of representation in inspiring young creatives. I utilize my skills and abilities to foster positive relationships with community organizations such as Regeneration Brampton, Laadliyan, HerSpace, and Textured Hair EDU.

I am the co-founder of Browntown Girls, a grassroots artist collective that showcases female artists of colour through online and in-person community engagement. My journey has made me resourceful and passionate about building loyal relations to expand my clientele and grow my team. I believe that it is crucial to go above and beyond for my clients and ensure that every interaction is handled with care and professionalism.

I continue to seek opportunities to make a meaningful impact through my work and aim to inspire young women and men of colour to push boundaries in the media industry.
 

Why did you pursue Continuing Studies at OCAD U in general, and the User Experience (UX) Design and Development Skills Certificate in particular?

I decided to pursue the User Experience (UX) Design and Development Skills Certificate because I knew I needed to expand my skill set.

_{Lead To Succeed, Digital Photograph, 2024 ©Jillian Fernandes Client: IWG - Illangovan Wealth Management Group}

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