Jessica Hische

A picture is worth a thousand words. Unless you’re typographer extraordinaire Jessica Hische, in which case a thousand words are opportunities for innumerable images. Jessica’s intricate hand-lettering can be seen on everything from The Wall Street Journal (where she created a font out of pool tiles for their summer book preview) to veggie-lover cookbooks. When not designing typography for famous clients, Jessica illustrates her own alphabet as part of her ongoing Daily Drop Cap project, which features a new decorative initial cap each day. See how this typophile gets inspired with her 10 ANSWERS below.

1. How would you describe your work in three words?
Warm, vintagey, type-heavy.

2. Who is your creative role model?
Louise Fili.

3. If you had an extra hour each day what would you do with it?
Maybe actually cook a meal. (I haven’t grocery shopped for real in a year)

4. What place in the world most inspires you and why?
My studio building because I’m totally surrounded by super talented friends that keep me motivated and make me feel I’m not working hard enough! When I need to brainstorm though, it’s usually at a coffee shop or restaurant. Public solitude.

5. If you could do a different job for a day what would it be and why?
Maybe a restaurant critic or a scuba instructor. Anything that would involve getting paid to eat fancy meals or do fun outdoors activities in beautiful places.

6. What is your favorite homemade gift to give?
I’m more of a present purchaser than a maker (though I spend A LOT of time figuring out the best gift for whomever I’m giving it to and always give at least 3 gifts at once), but I LOVE wrapping presents in fancy ways and writing up special tags and cards for them.

7. What is your favorite object in your home?
It changes every week. This summer it’s definitely been my air-conditioner!

8. What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
In the context of design: No one wants to talk about work all the time. You need to have other interests.

In the context of life: be nice to people and do good deeds for no reason other than it’s a good thing to do, not because you expect it or need it in return.

9. What websites do you use for inspiration?
We Love Typography, LetterCult, ffffound, Svpply, Netflix (I watch movies/TV while I work) and any links sent my way through twitter.

10. When do you consider a piece of your work complete?
When the client emails me, “Will you be sending over the files soon??”