Hi, I’m Jen.
But most people call me Jen Adu.
Before I even knew what design was, I was already noticing colors, images, and letterforms everywhere—whether at the grocery store, on packaging, or during family road trips when I’d point out cool billboards along the highway. Little did I know, that early curiosity was the start of my design journey.
Growing up in an African immigrant household, my dream was to become a soccer player, but I realized I didn’t have the dedication to go pro. I found my physical outlet in color guard with the marching band, though I was still uncertain about my career path. In high school, I fell in love with fine arts, especially Impressionism, with Monet’s "Woman with a Parasol – Madame Monet and Her Son" hanging in my room.
In my first few months in college at JMU, I initially pursued a business degree, before quickly realizing it wasn’t for me. My love for computers led a college counselor to guide me toward a degree in Media Arts. The entrance exam for the program was a game-changer. We had 20 minutes to create a layout using pieces of a newspaper, and it was in that moment that I knew graphic design was my calling. Convincing my parents to invest in an iMac G4 with Adobe Creative Suite wasn’t easy, but after showing them the computer lab (basically an Apple store), they got on board. Best decision I ever made.
Today, I’m a designer and creative director in the Washington D.C. area. Outside of work, you’ll find me running around town with my husband and four kids. In my rare moments of free time, I’m probably at a sports arena or watching a game on TV. Yes, I LOVE sports. ALL sports. But especially football and soccer. Oh, and all things JMU. The discipline I learned from my experiences in soccer, color guard, the endurance I’ve gained from balancing life as a mom and a creative, have shaped my approach to design—one that focuses on creating meaningful work that tells a great story. Currently, I’m an Associate Creative Director at WHITE64.
I’d love to hear from you, so let’s connect!