Today we’d like to introduce you to Jess Russi.
Hi Jess, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I can’t remember an exact moment when it all started. I think everything in my life has led to where I am today, and it started before I can even remember. I was a multi-disciplinary designer before I knew the term. A very curious person by nature. I was that kid in school: the one making the class posters, decorations, and even costumes. I was, and still am, drawing in margins instead of taking notes.
That early talent for creating eventually led me to the US. I was born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia, but at 19 I moved to Houston. I first attended HCC for my basics and some English classes. Originally, the idea was to stay for a bit and then move on to LA to pursue a career as an animator… Pixar was the dream back then. But as time went by, Houston grew on me, and before I realized it, I started building a life here.
To pay for school and gain experience, I worked in creative spaces like photography studios. I went to SHSU, worked almost all four years as the graphic designer for the athletic department, and got a BFA in computer animation. After that, I started working for a small company in the beauty industry. As in every small company, you have to wear multiple hats, and assisting the product development team was one of mine. (I completely loved it.)
And so you can see how life just kept guiding me in different directions, constantly showing me better opportunities than I would have expected. Having helped create some products from scratch inspired me to go back to school for my master’s in Industrial Design at UH. While preparing for the program, I created Polymotions. It was a very general design studio back then, nothing like the focused studio it is today.
During the three years at UH, Polymotions’ client offers kept changing, and so did I. I was exposed to technical industries I never imagined myself in. I dove into deep research for med-tech and human-centered design. I even worked on projects once thought out of my reach, like seating design for the Lunar Terrain Vehicle.
Somewhere in that mix of constant learning and rebuilding, something else grabbed hold of me: systems thinking. I started analyzing every research-driven choice alongside the design instincts I’d sharpened over years of creating. What makes sense to me and my experience? Why does it make sense to others? Fast forward to 2025, and I am very happy with my little family. I am re-launching Polymotions with a much clearer mission, understanding better the unique skills I’ve developed and the people I am working with. On top of that, now I have the opportunity to also teach at San Jacinto and inspire young adults that are starting the journey just like I did. 🙂
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Yes and no. I think life is always presenting us with challenges along the way. As I mentioned, life took me several times in a different direction from where I was aiming. Although I am very grateful from where I am now and I believe is where I am meant to be, that “guidance” was not always obvious or smooth.
As an immigrant, I hit many blocks along the way. I missed many opportunities to grow my career and finances, not because of lack of talent or skills, but because of my status. Many people don’t know how long it takes for permits and the right documentation to process, and in the meantime, life keeps going fast. You don’t always get to go at that speed.
However, I consider myself very fortunate because I always counted on immense support from my family. I was able to keep going and keep building my life because of them. They were there (always) to support me when needed and also to guide me by example. They are all a big inspiration for me.
As you know, we’re big fans of Polymotions. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Polymotions is a studio for science and technical communications. We blend strategy with design and animation to guide your product development and help you communicate it with CLARITY. When a team has a complicated product or idea, maybe it’s a technical process or a new tech-product, we translate that vision into an effective visual system. We are like visual translators who take a difficult concept and turn it into a “how-to present it” guide.
I wanted a space where creativity wasn’t boxed in, so I could geek out over new ideas, design freely, and collaborate with amazing people. We believe good design comes from patience, so we focus on research, honest design, and building systems that endure. We approach every project with curious minds and the touch of an artist. This multi-disciplinary approach allows us to solve problems that others might miss, creating work that connects and communicates.
Polymotions is a space to learn, experiment, create, and keep making things better. We work hard to untangle complexity and make space for meaning. We love to work and collaborate on projects that improve people’s lives. Our entry offer is a clarity audit and consultations. Once we know where our clients are and what they need, we offer a solution through one of our visual systems. However, we are also working on other resources and even free educational material that we’ll hopefully be able to share soon.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
It’s hard to imagine that far in advance because so much has changed so quickly. Only five or ten years ago, design was not as focused on being sustainable or as user-friendly as it is today.
The awareness of those core topics + clarity, and visual communication, will only grow. The big shift I see (right now) is that as we integrate AI and complex technology into our lives, the human factor becomes more and more critical.
Many are worried about us not having to think anymore, but I want to imagine a society where we get to think. Imagine, and create more while we automate the production-level tasks. As products and services become hyper-personalized, designers and communicators (like me) will need to create flexible visual systems that AI tailors in real-time. This is exactly why clarity and structure are more important than ever.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.polymotions.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/polymotions/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Polymotions/61570123531679/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/polymotionsstudio/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PolymotionsStudio
