Behind the Brand
Our Design Philosophy
We’re simply JIM-DANDY (SJ)—a small, print design studio with big ideas and a passion for excellence. We operate from a physical studio located in Kingston, Jamaica…but in reality, we’re virtually connected to reach you anywhere, at any time.
Founded in 2010 by the Principal & Head of Creative, Sarah Jackson and later joined in 2013 by Craig Allen, Senior Design Lead known fondly as Sarah’s “right hand”. A pair, opposite in personalities but perfectly aligned on passion + process + premium design. (Scroll down and get a more in depth look at the SJ team).
Excellence -- playfulness -- simple expressions for complex ideas; all in tune with our fast-paced times.” These working principles are key drivers and guide the outputs of design firm, simply JIM-DANDY.
In a global marketplace inundated with noisy brand messages, the fundamental challenge lies in reducing a complex idea to its core visual essence. With a minimalist and process-based aesthetic as the signature for the studio, SJ has through the years honed the art of mastering efficiency with quality. Fueled by keen attention to detail, deep dive analysis and a symbiotic collaboration between our dynamic duo, our operation is small yet churns out robust results.
We’re married to that old-school work ethic, so we always put our best foot forward, no matter how long it takes or what it takes, we operate with an all-hands-on deck approach. The end result is paramount and when our clients look great, it’s a source of pride for us, so we leave no stone unturned in getting your job done right, on-target and on-time.
This bustling engine room of creativity has navigated the nuances of a demanding clientele in a busy, on-the-go world and continue to deliver a premium standard with transparency and accountability.
Sarah Jackson
Principal & FounderMeet Sarah:
For Sarah, nothing seems quite complete without a splash of green in the mix—that might be her favourite colour but red hot with that fiery personality would have been our guess.
Graduating from the Art Institute of Atlanta in 2004, first in class with best portfolio, Sarah returned to Jamaica to work within the creative industry and give back in her own way to the place that gave her so much. Entrepreneurship was never a dream of Sarah’s but in the summer of 2010, simply JIM-DANDY was founded and as they say, the rest is history.
Over a decade in, Sarah reflects on the contributing factors that have made SJ, the company a success. “It’s many things but if I’m to handpick them I’d say, it’s having created a business and brand that is big on communication, transparency and accountability. We’re steeped in relationship building, and I have a kick-ass right-hand in my senior designer—Craig, a keen attention to detail, strict adherence to deadlines and the hunger to never stop learning.”
What’s keeping you busy?
Outside of the SJ studio’s “daily excitement” in 2020 I founded the community brand “LadyBoss” a brand dedicated to celebrating a woman’s journey—primarily, the unseen and unsung heroes and again in 2021 the pandemic found me restless and eagerly looking for something to quench my creative curiosity outside of client work. Then I birthed and am Co-Founder and Creative Director of the brand AWF&ON, an apparel line of Jamaican sayings borrowing from the past, keeping up with the trending and fusing it with my modern + minimalist aesthetic. (Find both on Instagram: @beingladyboss and @awfandon)
What’s next, hmmm… Creative Consultancy for sure—I’ve already named that arm of the business but stumped on the logo, I may need to hire a great studio to do just that—any recommendations?
Craig Allen
Senior DesignerMeet Craig:
Though his favourite colour is purple, he hails from Calabar High School and Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts.
While employed to Vistaprint Jamaica, he was awarded the moniker "Super Genius" due to him mastering internal systems. He used this knowledge to make the systems perform functions they weren't designed to do.
Craig leaves the adventure for design but plays it safe with menu options—as such, chicken is always a good idea. Find him in his spare time catching up on his favourite shows, Formula 1 or NFL. A lover of outdoor activities and random trips.
Craig on design:
Create work you love and believe in what you do.
His approach to creating visual layouts is to keep it simple and not overthink or complicate the design process. This has been a proven method in his over 20 years of experience working on a variety of teams, for an equally diverse set of clients, spanning a range of different mediums and locale’s.
The design process is like figuring out a puzzle. It’s a way of recognizing the connections between concepts and reality, then using this knowledge to help inspire audiences in different ways. Craig is constantly looking for inspiration and is always fascinated by the simple ways typography, illustration and photography work together to create stunning visual layouts that transcends their art.