I often get asked what ‘‘Jelifant’’ means. It started with a login alias from work. The company generated an alias by taking the first letter of the employee’s first name, and then his/her last name, with a minimum of 4 alphabets. My alias would have been too short with that convention. So they included second letter of my first name, resulting in ‘‘jeli’’.
Then, I got married. So I tacked on my husband’s last name (Fan), resulting in ‘‘Jelifan’’.
I couldn’t help but hear the word ‘‘elephant’’ from ‘‘Jelifan’’. (I was also reading about elephant sanctuaries and orphanages in Africa and Asia at the time). I thought, ‘‘Why not add on a ‘t’ to make it complete?’’ So in a nutshell, Jelifant therefore encapsulates some history, and something I had an interest in.
My name is Jessica Li, and I am a graphic designer based in Mississauga, Ontario. I have a BDes from York/Sheridan’s Joint Design program. Although there is a whimsical quality to some of my work, I take my work very seriously, always striving for excellence.
When I was young, I wanted to be a designer and not an artist (because being an artist meant being poor all the time). Ironically, now that I’ve become a designer, I want to be an artist! Life’s funny that way, isn’t it?
Despite living a relatively simple life, I still dare to dream big dreams. I’m constantly coming up with new ideas and ventures to pursue and explore. The possibilities are just endless!
I draw much of my inspiration from life and experience. As much as I enjoy the company of good friends, the introvert in me loves to just quietly admire and think about the world – its awesomeness and mysteries. I am fascinated by animals, plants, and how intricate life is!