Meet Jessica Estrada | Graphic Designer & Small Business Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jessica Estrada and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jessica, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Unica started in my college dorm room. I was looking for an afternoon snack, and decided to slice up some fruit as a healthy alternative. As an artist, sometimes you become blessed with a sporadic thought in the most random of times. I thought about experimenting with the fruit, so I sliced a few oranges and baked them in the oven in hopes of dehydrating them. Fruit is beautiful, delicate, and unique, and I thought about how I can preserve them to wear it. I didn’t have any specific intention for my fruit experimentation at the time, and the oven idea ended up not being the best solution. They didn’t dehydrate the way I wanted it to, but at least I got a tasty treat out of it. I upgraded and got a dehydrator. This time, I thought about making fun fruit pieces for earrings, and was determined to get it right this time. I experimented with several fruits and veggies, and through the process of trial & error I was able to dehydrate correctly and preserve them with resin. All the earrings I make for Unica are handcrafted, and made with a lot of love & care.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

Unica is the name of my small business, and it translates to “only” or “one of a kind” in English, from both Portuguese and Spanish. I wanted this business to be unique and the “only” one of its kind. So what sets me apart is that I’m always on the lookout for new produce to work with. It started with fruits, then I branched out and worked with veggies, and now I’ve recently been experimenting with mushrooms and legumes. I’d like to say that the earrings are seasonal, and are better produced at different times of the year. An example would be that blood orange earrings are in season around December through May, so I might have more available throughout that time. I’d rather produce small quantities of earrings to ensure that they’re at their highest quality. A common question I get is, “do they rot?” or “will they last?” and they do last, however, since they’re still produce, their color will fade over time. They won’t rot, but I advise people that these earrings are fragile and not water resistant. It’s best to store them in a cool & dry place for longevity. I’m still learning how to make my brand the best that it could be, but I’m proud of my progress, and I’m excited to find new stuff to work with!

Aside from Jewelry making, I’m also a graphic designer and photographer. I’m currently working at a marketing agency in Norwich, CT, called Miranda Creative. This is my first professional design job outside of college, and it’s been a great experience so far. I’m very grateful for this opportunity and It’s awesome to be learning from those who have been in the field for a long time. I’d consider myself an eccentric person and I feel as though my work reflects that. I like to take time with concept development, because I believe that a good concept sets the tone for a strong design foundation. I also like working with collage, printmaking, and illustration. I’m always eager to explore new mediums, and I love learning new ways to express visual communication.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

I’ve lived in Fairfield, CT my entire life, and there’s definitely a handful of cool spots to checkout within the area. For breakfast I recommend The Country Cow Deli, which is famous for their fantastic bacon egg & cheese breakfast sammies. Another great spot is Harborview Cafe. They also have great sandwiches and I recommend “The Finnegan.” It’s a drink with vanilla chai spice, fig, and brown sugar…delicious!

When it’s warm, I like taking my breakfast to The Lake Mohegan Cascades, and having a picnic with friends. This trail is a dog friendly hike, and it’s about a 2 mile loop around the lake. I like coming here with my dog Blu, and to just relax.

If you’re into antique shopping there’s two places I recommend. The first is the stratford antique center off exit 31 from I-95. It’s a large, blue, warehouse-style building with multiple dealers. I love going there for prints, frames, and funky room decorations. It’s a great spot to check out, and they’re typically open from 10am-5pm. Another antique place is the Mongers Market in Bridgeport, CT. They’re only open on Sundays from 10am-4pm and they also have prints, frames, furniture, decor, and more.

New Haven is about a 20 minute drive from Fairfield and there’s a really cool art scene around that area. The Yale University Art Gallery is great! You can see one of my favorite Van Gogh paintings inside, “The Night Cafe,” as well as several other classical and modern art pieces. Another cool museum to check out is the Yale Center for British art, which is right across the street from the Yale Art Gallery.

If you’re looking for authentic latin cuisine I recommend Saoco–Colombian restaurant or Soul de Cuba– Cuban restaurant. If you’re in the mood for some seafood, one of my personal favorites would be the Shell & Bones Oyster Bar and Grill. If you’re looking for a late night pizza joint, I definitely recommend Marco Polo. They’re open until 3am and they’re pizza never fails to impress me. Back in Fairfield you can also find some great spots to eat, especially downtown on Post Road. Some of my favorites spots include: Malibu Taco–California style taco bar & kitchen, Fin–Japanese cuisine, and Plan B–burger bar. All of these restaurants are in close range from one another and you’ll find a lot more around this area.

A great way to end the day would be to go to the beach. I typically go to Penfield beach, but there’s 3 others in Fairfield as well. Jennings, Sasco, and South Pine Creek beach. The beaches in Fairfield are typically clean and a great place to wind down after a long day.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?

I’m very grateful for the love and support I receive from my family and friends. My mom has always been my rock, and she encourages my creativity, no matter how odd it may seem. Whenever I feel discouraged, she knows how to approach the conversation with positivity and encouragement. She’s a sweet lady who always puts her family first. She’s also helped me tremendously with my college process.

I was fortunate to meet my dearest friend Danielle Ochoa in school. We met in our intro to graphic design class, and we’ve grown from being classmates to roommates to best friends. Danielle is my creative partner; we bounce ideas back and forth, help each other when feeling creatively blocked, and give each other feedback when working on projects. Dani has also modeled for me numerous times, so thanks for being my favorite model!

Another one of my good amigos is Pedro Reis De Oliveira. He’s been a positive artistic influence in my life, and a long lasting childhood friend. He’s a great photographer and a brilliant creative. I’m very grateful for the countless laughs and memories we’ve had together. He’s a light in this world and I’m excited to see where he ventures next with his work.

I’m also very appreciative of my graphic design professors Jane Zash, Mary Ann Casem, Jorge Montero, and Swapnil Mathkar for supporting me throughout my college career, and strengthening my foundation in graphic design. I’ve learned a lot of valuable lessons from these amazing people, and I continue to move forward with their guidance in mind.

Website: https://www.jessica-estrada.com/

Instagram: @unica_frutas

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-estrada-8759781b9/