BOTTOM: 2007 | ART PIECE

Blurring the definition of a graphic designer, SVA graduate Jen­nifer Lew describes her work as “fabric, paper, viral and all of the above.” Her ability to work in such disparate media allows her to let the concept dictate both approach and style, sometimes result­ing in hybrids like stop-motion animation with stuffed animals or sewn 3D typography. What permeates Lew’s work, however, is smart thinking and a sense of joy and humor.

Laura DesEnfants, of the The Art Directors Club, says, “Jen­nifer Lew [an ADC Young Gun] has learned to successfully blend fine art and graphic design. I’ve seen her book design, graphic design and sculpture. Each part of her work is exceptionally well executed and yet completely different from the other parts. When she marries all three areas of her creativity into one, Jenni­fer really shines. She’s a true multidimensional talent.” This talent has attracted numerous freelance clients, including The New York Times Magazine and Book Review.

Lew has recently made a huge leap in redefining herself by leav­ing New York, and her graphic design position with publisher Simon & Schuster, to become an interactive designer with adver­tising agency Crispin Porter + Bogusky in Boulder, Colo. “I love the people there,” she says of the agency. “They have a great atti­tude and are doing amazing, interesting stuff. CP+B are really will­ing to listen to new ideas on how to solve conceptual problems.” She hopes to be involved in a variety of campaigns, doing work that is “ridiculously awesome and fresh.”

Whatever the project happens to be, one of the unique ele­ments Lew employs in much of her work is “stuffed” art. She admits that this practice started as a means of achieving relief from boredom, then evolved when Lew realized she could concep­tualize, create and produce these objects by herself, out of felt and polyester filling. “I am a first-generation Chinese-American,” she explains. “My mother worked for decades sewing the inseams of pants for pennies per seam in sewing factories throughout New York City. It has been my biggest secret and my greatest strength. I use sewing as an expression of my creativity, because I want to take sewing to a higher art form beyond the stereotype of cheap production work.”

In another homage to her heritage, Lew and her “artner” (art partner) Victor-John Villanueva have started an artists collective called BLACK PANDA (Professional Asians in Da’ Arts). BLACK PANDA is a forum to showcase Asian creatives, bringing media attention and a positive voice to an underrepresented community. The group’s focus is sharing insights about Asian culture through photography, art, design, writing—basically any art form. BLACK PANDA plans on launching a website and publishing a journal in the near future.

www.jenniferlew.com