Hesh's story is one of passion, intrigue, and perseverance. Hesh began creating content on their Apple Macintosh in 1986 while at Stephen F. Austin High School in Austin, Texas. After graduating High School in 1988 during their freshman year of college they got their first paid project as a graphic artist. With their trusted Mac and the SuperPaint app in tandem with a traditional layout and illustration skills they created custom cassette J-cards and 7" covers for local punk bands. As well as making mixtape J-cards for local house and hip hop DJs.
ILLUSTRATION INITIATION
While attending the University of California, San Diego, Hesh learned more about the craft of graphic design and journalism. Their time with The UCSD Guardian, the university newspaper, helped in this pursuit immensely. Starting as an illustrator they worked their way to becoming a contributing writer. Eventually they became the Arts & Entertainment Editor where they delegated tasks to writers, edited their pieces, and was in charge of the weekly layout of the Arts & Entertainment section.
BUILDING THE BRAND
During this time, Hesh also created Plus Megazine which became a popular off-campus alternative music monthly. The zine featured both national and local bands and artists. From 1992 to 1994 Hesh's desktop publishing company, Prime Directive, was growing into a graphic design studio due to the success of Plus Megazine. The experience of which would prove vital in the next chapter of Hesh's life story.
THROUGH THE EYES OF HESH
Hesh graduated from UCSD in 1993 with a bachelor's in Psychology and minors in Art Studio and General Science. Originally they planned on getting a master's degree in Psychology in order to pursue their goal of becoming an art therapist.
However, when an opportunity for Hesh to pursue their passion in the music industry arose they took the risk and ran with it. A decision that would change the course of their work, and their life, forever.
From 1994 to 1998 Hesh was the in-house artist for Bill Silva Presents, a greatly influential independent concert promoter who at the time was based in San Diego. While working for Bill Silva Presents Hesh created ads for hundreds of shows per year throughout the pacific northwest.
This time really expanded and honed Hesh's skill and resume as an artist. Proving without a doubt their skill and talent, not that they needed to of course. When Mr. Silva moved the office for BSP to Hollywood in 1998 Hesh decided to stay in San Diego and started their graphic design studio back anew. They remember their time with Mr. Silva fondly and have nothing but good things to say about both that time in their life and the people they met along the way.
HESH "UP IN SMOKE"
1998 marked the birth year of Hesh One's Design Plus, the successor to Hesh's previous company from college, Prime Directive. Through the tireless creation of print ads, flyers, posters, billboards, t-shirts, and beyond Design Plus became an industry juggernaut. Concert promoters, venues, bands, and DJs all wanted Hesh's art to bring their advertising and promotion to the next level. They were more than happy to oblige.
In 2000 Hesh created and distributed the art for The Up In Smoke Tour with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube & Eminem. Which was the most successful hip hop tour on record for nearly a decade. You can find Hesh's hand drawn font on the cover of the "Up In Smoke," DVD.
HESH ONE, INC.
Hesh also designed tour art for 250+ other national and international tours. Their first international tour being Green Day's 2004-2005 "American Idiot," world tour. Hesh's work went global in 2007 with tour art distributions to Asia, Australia, Europe, Mexico, South America, and The United States for Maroon 5, Fall Out Boy, Evanescence, Korn, and Velvet Revolver.
Hesh was the in-house graphic designer for Jason Mraz during the talented singer's rise to fame as well. From 2000 when Mraz was singing in coffee shops, to 2008 when his platinum-selling, Grammy- winning career exploded beyond what would person could manage and produce alone. Up until that point Hesh also was the designer and webmaster of jasonmraz.com. The two reunited to work together in 2017 which continued into 2019.
From the layout of The Rolling Stones' tour jumbo jet to creating a super graphic that covers the side of an entire building on the Sunset Strip for Maroon 5, Hesh has indisputably made their mark once again on the industry.
With the rise of digital marketing, Hesh has waned in their production of print advertising over the past decade in pursuit of modernity. Posters and newspapers ads have made way for full HDTV slides, digital signage, and display ads on desktop and mobile advertising.
Having mastered print advertising, Hesh's projects with digital media marketing have already proved inspiring.
PANDEMIC
What a a bummer, right? Hesh had to close up shop for a minute since there were no concerts or live events otherwise. In the meantime, Hesh One Dry Goods Company started selling t-shirts and merchandise with a decidedly cannabis theme.
The comeback sees Hesh working on concert advertising again and resuming tour art creation and distribution for Alanis Morissette, internationally, as well as national tours.