Hi, i'm jess. artist and creative designer.
(i'm not much of a "hey girl" girl.)
Even though most of the work we will do together will be about you, a little bit has to be about me, right? I truly believe that you have to do a little searching to find the absolutely PERFECT person to work with. There has to be a vibe. In the process of working on your branding there is a lot of back-and-forth ideas, inspiration, and opinions. I believe in honesty, openness to all points of view and, most importantly, there should be trust.
I hope I can be the best match for you, let's connect and see.
My Story
Once upon a time, I quit art school. Call it a creative’s crossroads at 22, where imposter syndrome loomed large, whispering, "Why chase dreams that seem galaxies away?" So, I hung up my artist’s hat, thinking gallery artist life in a big city wasn't in the stars.
But creativity, like a true north, finds its way back. It led me from the vibrant chaos of restaurant kitchens and pastry making—where I mixed flavors instead of paints—back to the drawing board. This detour wasn't a detour after all. It was my path, rich and varied, teaching me resilience, patience, and the art of making someone’s day, one dish, one design at a time.
Moving to Texas served as blank slate. A vinyl cutter became my brush; T-shirts and logos, my canvas. Until one day, someone asked, “Do you do logos?” That question was pivotal. Yes, I did logos. But more than that, I began to build brands, stories, identities.
JMM Artist Designer wasn't born from a sudden epiphany but from a journey of self-discovery, of piecing together the fragments of my past—artist, bartender, chef, mom—into a mosaic where each piece found its place. It’s been a path of embracing my multifaceted identity, not just as a designer but as someone who sees the world in hues others might miss.
Today, JMM Artist Designer stands as a testament to this journey. We’re a boutique agency, helping passionate entrepreneurs. We're here to do more than design; we're here to unearth the soul of your brand, to make it resonate, to make it truly yours.
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I'm a creative. a passionate artist. a person who LOVES seeing other people win. a woman who uses her intuition to make others shine bright. a strategist. a mom and a wife. a best friend. a font nerd. a color fanatic. a truth-teller and a knowledge giver. I am the person that has a favorite mug. I truly believe that most things can be helped with a steaming hot shower and a pep talk. I am someone you can trust to take care of your business like it is my own.
Q&A with Artist and Creative
Designer Jess Malli Mercier
Favorite Movie:
Princess Bride
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How do you take your coffee?
Black. or a caramel latte, I am full of contradictions.
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When did you first know that you were an artist?
I’m not sure when, but there was a shift in confidence. I used to say that I was a craftsman, a maker, that I was creative, but the day I started calling myself an artist was the day that I truly embraced who I was made to be.
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What did you do before you started branding?
I was in the restaurant business for many years. Manager, pastry chef, line cook, bartender, server.
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What did you learn in your years in restaurants?
That everyone deserves to be cared for. That really taking care of people, serving them a crafted cocktail, cooking them dinner, baking a birthday cake, these are a joy in life. Much of what I do now is rooted in service and in creating a one-of-a-kind experience.
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Favorite Song?
Alaska, but Maggie Rogers
is my power song.
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Favorite Ice cream?
Cookie dough or vanilla soft serve with rainbow sprinkles. I guess I never really grew up from the joy of rainbow sprinkles on my ice cream.
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Best way to wind down?
A glass of whiskey, a hot shower, baking, chamomile tea, playing Guess Who with my daughter, or blanket forts with both of them. Cruising through the racks at a thrift store, chats on the phone with my sister and friends. Time with my art journal, painting, cooking.
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Do you have anyone you would want to thank?
All my family and friends, the circle of people that surround me every day that fill me with confidence and hope. Also my clients. The people that put their investment and trust into me to help their dreams come true, they are really the ones that are making MY dreams come true.
What is your family life like?
I have an amazing husband who is totally supportive of all my crazy artistic endeavors. I have two girls, 7 and 6. They remind me how to have joy in my life. I am a special needs mom, my 7 year old has autism, and I know that she was put in my life for a reason. Some days are harder than others, but I feel like she opens my heart. When she is happy, you can feel her soul. My 6 year old is like a mini version of me, creative, always asking questions, has a strong will, and is very in touch with her emotions. We have a lot of joy in our home.
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Any fun projects you have been working on?
I just started designing and creating custom hats. I needed a yin to my yang and an outlet for my hands to do work. The hats are amazing because I can help people find confidence with accessible and wearalbe art. I see a person change when they put on a hat. There is something magical about the way a person changes when they put on a hat.
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Why do you love what you do?
I love that I can help others live their dreams. I work with so many passionate business owners who are trying to make the world a better place and also supporting beautiful families. If I can use my artistic gifts as a creative designer to help build them up and support their business, that is a huge win in my book.
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Do you have any regrets in life?
Absolutely not. I think everything that we go through, we learn from. Every single moment of my life has brought me to right now, and I fully believe that the universe has put me on the path I am supposed to be on. and I am grateful.