Post-holiday gloom already setting in? Let us infuse some tropical brightness into your fashion with this month’s merch drop. Artist Jordan Kay collabed with Desthan (11) from the SDN 001 Mentarang school in Indonesia. Together, they created an illustration centred around perfection. What does perfection mean to both of them and how does it affect their creativity? Let’s find out!
From first scribbles to international acclaim
It’s no surprise to hear that Jordan has been creative for as long as she can remember. In fact, she learned to read through art. “My dad would draw a picture of a man and write the word ‘man’ under it. Then he would hand me the crayon and I would scribble all over the drawing.”
The Jordan Kay x Desthan collab is out now!
In other words, she has been communicating through her drawings and creativity right from the start. Nowadays, her art style leans heavily on bold colours and decisive strokes. If you see bright blues, happy oranges, and soft pinks, you know you’re looking at one of her pieces.
Jordan explains that the fluidity of her art is inspired by music: “I love the flow and movement that happens in music and dance, and I strive to make work that feels as though it’s in motion, even if it's a static piece.”
Her work doesn’t just serve an aesthetic purpose, but an emotional one: “I want to bring joy to everyone who views my work. So I make things that make me feel joyful, which includes the colour choices I make, the textures, the depth (or lack thereof in some pieces), and the loose organic shapes that feel like they're in motion.”
Over the years, Jordan has won multiple awards, including a Webby Award, an honourable mention at the 3x3 International Illustration Awards, and a gold medal at the Society of Illustrators 62.
When reflecting on which award she’s proudest of, she says: “I feel like each award is exciting, and the Webby one was such a fun surprise! I worked alongside many many other extremely talented illustrators and artists on a piece for Lizzo, and I love that each of us can feel what a treat it was to win an award for the work.”
Making it big with big brand collabs
Jordan doesn’t just have amazing awards under her belt, but also several big brand collabs. From Starbucks, Disney, and Paramount Pictures to The Washington Post, Target, and Amazon, she has exciting stories in spades.
And which brand collab is her favourite? Admittedly, she struggles to answer at first: “Ah there are so many! I loved working with the Starbucks Art Program on artwork for inside their stores. It's particularly cool that they consistently tap local artists for creating artwork, as I think it brings more authenticity and community to their cafes.
“I also truly love working with small businesses. There's so much heart in the work and it's great to hear their stories and translate that visually, whether it be in packaging, motion, or brand campaigns.”
From big brand collabs to art with Indonesian children
It’s no secret that we are constantly inspired by children’s creativity. And during our conversation with Jordan, she enthusiastically echoes our sentiment.
“I think there's something magical in the way hands translate what's visualised in the mind. There's an unbound imagination in children that I think all adults can learn from. I really wish everyone continued to draw from when they were kids into adulthood, because it's a great form of communication. I think it encourages a flow state and problem solving in creative ways... and accidents sometimes lead to new ideas!”
We were over the moon when Jordan agreed to do a Face This collab, and it seems, so was she. For this merch drop, she was paired with 11-year-old Desthan from Pulau Sapi, a small riverside community in Indonesia. She excitedly says: “I was very honoured to be asked to collaborate with such a talented young person (shout out to Desthan!).”
The Jordan Kay x Desthan collab is out now!
Making art about perfection
For his drawing, Desthan was given the theme of perfection. The goal of the exercise was to see what Desthan sees as perfect, what he thinks about perfection, and whether it’s even possible to achieve.
Desthan drew a beach sunset. When we talked to him about his art, he started out by describing a place that he wants to visit, which is the beach. This is what perfection is to him. Unfortunately, he can’t go to the beach because of financial issues.
When the topic moved on to his drawing, Desthan explained that it’s perfect. He said that it’s beautiful because he was the one who created it.
During our conversation with Jordan, she offers her own perspective: “I think art is interesting in many ways because of its imperfection.
“That being said, I love that Desthan's idea of perfection is a day at the beach, and I agree, watching the sunset over the water is truly a wonderful moment. I'm hoping he gets to experience that perfection very soon.”
And what does perfection mean to Jordan? “I think it means being truly in the moment. When your senses are all aligned and you know you're making a special memory that you'll think of and picture in your mind years later. That feels like perfection to me.”
She goes on to say that it isn’t just about a state of being, but also about the people you’re with. “I really love spending time with good friends and family. Especially when great music is involved and maybe even a sunset or bonfire. For me, it's mainly about the good vibes of being around those you love.”
Making art together with Desthan
When it came to creating the final illustration, Jordan’s goal was adding a bit of her own flare to an already great drawing.
“I focused on adding in the colours that I love, along with textures that feel true to my own illustration style. Desthan's subject matter rendering and the serenity of the composition were already perfect, so I just sprinkled a bit of my style in.”
Jordan finished the process feeling energised and excited. “I felt really inspired by the heart behind the work, from both the fund-raising aspect, and from Desthan's idea of perfection. I love the idea of collaborating with more kids in the future.”
Inspiring aspiring artists
At the end of our interview with Desthan, he expressed wanting to become a seniman, which refers to someone skilled in a creative field, such as painting, sculpture, or performance.
When hearing this, Jordan responds: “Keep making, no matter what! Even if you make something that you don't show anyone, making things daily is so helpful for keeping yourself engaged and passionate.
“There's something wonderful about being in the art-making mindset. You get to create your own special world, filled with your favourite things. The more you create and share, the more others will appreciate that little world you're making.”
The Jordan Kay x Desthan collab is out now!