MEET JESSICA WASHICK. NAIL ARCHITECT. COLOR WHEEL CONNOISSEUR. SNEAKHER SPECIALIST.

What we love about our Chick Chat Series is that it connects us to all types of inspiring women. These boss babes leave us empowered to live the best versions of ourselves while lifting others as we climb. CNKDaily is rooted in that same message and connecting the dots serve as building blocks to our foundation of ‘Chickspiration’. Sharing the journey of women who are making waves in their respective lanes promote the narrative that “FORCE IS FEMALE”, and in 2019 we are witnessing this girl power more and more.

We found our next amazing woman while scrolling the ‘gram, and instantly fell in love with her feed. She shows us firsthand that women wear many hats and can combine their passions across multiple platforms and industries. You could say she is a force to be reckoned with (pun intended).

Jessica Washick is not only a color designer at Nike, but she is also a professional nail artist that knows how to navigate a palette. By utilizing her skills in both fields, she has elevated her game and fueled her creative engine. We had the pleasure of chatting with Jessica and getting an inside look into her world of design. Check out our interview below as she vibes with us about nail art, sneakHER style, and creative growth.

MAKING MAGIC AT THE SWOOSH.

As a color designer at Nike, we’re creating new expressions on classics. I typically work on the Air Force 1 which is a perfect vehicle for storytelling because it’s so iconic. Within this role, we’ve been able to push the design language of the style into new spaces, creating a new era for AF1s.

EXPRESS YOURSELF!

Any time I’m approaching a creative project, I need to get in a creative headspace, so I use nail art as a tool to help me tap into that mindset. Especially if there’s a creative block, it can be a challenge to just start. Tapping into something I’m interested in from a creative point of view can unlock.

Creative growth is important too. It’s always really uncomfortable because you’re venturing out of your creative comfort zone- which is a very emotional, vulnerable space; but it’s important to find challenges for yourself and to think critically about your own work in order to grow.

GOT A NAILFIE? + SNEAKHER CULTURE.

I’ve seen a lot of nail pics with matching sneakers on social media too. It’s not necessarily a new thing, but I love that people are recognizing and posting about the correlation now. Nails and sneakers definitely have commonalities and are both creative accessories of self expression.

JESSICA ON HER GO-TO COLORS…

My all time favorite nail color ever is Deborah Lippmann’s Lady is a Tramp. It’s the best, most classic and perfect red; and it looks good on every skin tone. Con Limon by Floss Gloss is another one of my favorite colors – it’s a bright citrus hue that nearly glows.

With regards to nail trends, there are so many and they’re always evolving. At the moment textured nails seems to be pretty prominent, and the multi-hue manicure is super popular, where each nail is a different color.

A PERSONAL CONNECTION…

Sneakers have always been a form of self expression that I’ve gravitated towards, but my favorite thing about them is the community they conjure and the tie to street culture. I’m from North Eastern Pennsylvania and, growing up, we’d go to NYC often. Visiting New York so often, and then eventually living there influenced my perception of fashion and style of dress. I’m interested in high end fashion, but the majority of my life I’ve been influenced by street style through personal expression.

WHAT HAS BEEN ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE AIR FORCE 1s TO DESIGN?

I love what I do in general so it’s hard to highlight just one project, but the latest favorite thing I’ve had to pleasure to work on was the Scarr’s AF1. It was a partnership we did with Scarr’s Pizzeria in the lower east side of NYC, and DJ Clark Kent was also in the mix on the team. The team came with a strong point of view from the start, but they were also open to push it further.

What I love is that, through the shoe, we told a story about more than pizza. We told the story about the values and hustle of New Yorkers. It meant a lot to the community and I was really proud to play a role in that.

SHOP MORE NIKE AIR FORCE 1 STYLES BELOW

DESIGN YOUR OWN POSITIVE CHANGE IN THE INDUSTRY.

We’re living in a culture where people feel under-valued and overlooked. My best advice for anyone who’s feeling like this is to use it as motivation to propel your work. When you’re producing exceptional work people take notice; and if there’s business attached to what you’re producing, it’s impossible to argue with the numbers.

WHAT DOES ‘SNEAKHER CULTURE’ MEAN TO YOU?

It’s about finding your own voice. Recognizing your full potential, then encouraging others to do the same.

Check out more with Jessica Washick through her INSTAGRAM and swoon over her dope nail designs.

Chick Chat: The Best of Both Worlds with Jessica Washick