Meet Jessica Moxey | Interior Designer & Amature Photographer

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

Hi Jessica, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
Hello all, I’m Jessica from the beautiful Commonwealth of The Bahamas. Being raised on a “Caribbean” island (The Bahamas is technically not in the Caribbean), really influenced everything in my life. The rich cultural heritage of my country gave me a childhood like no other. The annual parades, crystal clear pink sand beaches, delicious food, and colorful architecture are aspects that I fondly remember and eagerly share with others. Additionally, I have been blessed with a family that supports me in an endeavor I pursue.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I loved interior design since I was 7 years old and was confident I would make it my career. I was so sure I would be picking out pillows and curtains happily for the foreseeable future. Little did I know, that wasn’t the core of what interior design was about. I had the opportunity to attend SCAD, where I quickly learned this is not a job for the weak. After 4 years of learning building codes, spatial organization, materials knowledge, and how to convey all these ideas clearly to people who have no idea what you’re talking about. I graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in interior design.

I was convinced that now that I had this degree jobs, would just magically fall at my feet. Yea…. no. I freelanced for a year after graduation during my OPT (optionally practical training) and when things finally seemed to almost work out … I got rejected after 3 months of waiting on a response from a company I really wanted to work with. Then, I had to leave the United States and go back home. This is where I am now career-wise. It is not easy to follow your ambitions and I felt like giving up a lot of the time, especially when things didn’t work out how I planned. However, I have to remind myself that God did not bring me this far the leave me. In fact, I just started as an interior designer at a Bahamian design firm called Roomers Limited. I’m excited to start this new experience and I’m thankful for the opportunity. I’m going to do my best to learn all I can at Roomers, and continue my studies in grad school which I plan to enroll in later this year.

My advice for anyone pursuing a creative career is:
1. Get an internship while you are studying and maintain a good rapport with the companies you intern with. If you do well the company may be willing to hire you full-time and will undoubtedly provide a stellar recommendation.

2. Join professional organizations that relate to your field. These organizations often hold events that are good opportunities to network with professionals in your industry.

3. Never stop learning. Getting certificates in programs that you enjoy working in that relate to your field (ie Revit, Photoshop, Vray) are great things to add to your resume and will make you stand out to potential employers.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My recommendations for Savannah,Georgia would be:

Food:
KLOM KLOM Cafe – Delicious Thai-fusion cuisine made by the sweetest Thai people I know. (Must try: Duck Chiang Mai Khao Soi)

Kung Fu Tea – Really great Boba tea and fresh poke bowls! (Must try: Winter Melon Milk Green Tea w/ Brown Sugar boba)

Vinnie Van GoGos – Huge pizzas with great topping options. (Must try: The Calzones; it’s customizable and ginormous)

Slys – Fantastic sliders at great prices! (Super adorable shop and they sell merch)

Entertainment:
Moodrights – Good food, great atmosphere! (They do Monday night bingo and bowling)

Totally Awesome Bar – Pool Tables, coloring books, skeeball, you name it (Monday nights is FREE POOL AND SILENT DJs!!!)

Telfair Museum/SCAD Museum – If you like art, you’ll love it here.

Pop Vault/Planet Fun/Nerdhiem – An anime/comic nerds paradise! (If you collect Pop Vinyl figures… they have a variety)

My recommendations for Nassau, Bahamas would be:

Food:
Mortimer Candy Kitchen – Locally made candies and sweet treats, you can see how the candy is made (Tourists and locals love it)

Arawak Cay/Fish Fry – A collection of native food stalls and drinks, a very fun walkthrough (You have to try Twin Brothers)

Acropolis Bakery – Delicious, unique pastries – (This is a must!)

Tasty Teas – A fun tourist spot where you can get authentic Bahamian treats (A nice spot to take cute pictures too.)

Entertainment:
Fusion Movie Theatre – A 4Dmovie theatre with concessions and other restaurants

Junkanoo – Parades primarily held during Christmas and New Years. (A one-of-a-kind experience.)

Cabbage Beach – Crystal clear water + soft sand + the Bahamian sun = Paradise

National Art Gallery of The Bahamas – Fascinating exhibitions and full of rich history

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My wonderful mother has always supported anything I took an interest in, especially when I declared at age 7 that I wanted to be an interior designer. She is my superhero and I love her.

Additionally, my best friend of 10+ years, Toni. This girl is my other half and she will be my best friend forever.

Website: jessicaelana.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-moxey-377110195/