CREATIVE KNIGHTS
Julia Jiao '08: Telling Stories in 3D "Nothing beats a design that tells a story," declares Julia Jiao '08. After leaving the Rhode Island School of Design in 2012 with a degree in Industrial Design, Jiao landed an internship at Puma. Within a few months she became a major player on the All‑Star design team at Converse. Jiao felt happy and inspired at Converse, creating the next line of women's footwear, but something was missing. Jiao, a typical creative, admits she is always antsy and seeking innovation. She explored other areas of product design to further her visual language and started experimenting with 3D modeling and printing. Jiao joined a design team building prototypes, proofs, and concepts for start‑ups, where she gained valuable business skills, but the team was small and the opportunities were limited. Via networking, Jiao met two engineers, Wombi Rose and John Wise, who launched Lovepop out of the Harvard Innovation Lab in late 2014. The two were named to the 2015 Techstars class, nominated for "50 on Fire" by BostInno, and gained the confidence of investors all over the world by building custom‑made, 3D greeting cards. After meeting the Lovepop founders, Julia joined the fledgling firm of 15 to become their 16th card builder, creating intricately cut 3D paper sculptures that are engineered on software and handcrafted in the "kirigami" art form. Jiao says she has found her niche at Lovepop, where she can combine her knowledge of business with 3D modeling. Now two years into the gig, she is the lead designer of the wedding products team, working alongside sales and production, and helping to build one of the fastest‑growing start‑ups in the industry. Recently, the team worked with HBO to create "Game of Thrones" cards, and the five‑piece set is just the beginning of what Lovepop calls "an intriguing relationship we are building in the mysterious continent of Westeros." Jiao plans to stay in Boston for a few more years. "I love the company and team I'm with and can see myself growing
within it," she explains. "At the same time, I would like to give back to the communities that helped me along the way. One of my interests concerns young designers or those invested in a creative field. Creative fields include the most empathic and versatile groups of people, important to many organizations, but they are often light on resources and tools. I am interested in learning how I can help young designers navigate the industry." Reflecting on her high school years, Julia says her passion for design was ignited by the variety of art classes she was able to take at Episcopal. "The classes were relevant to the trends of the time and taught collaboration and risk‑taking—two qualities important in creative fields. And the digital programs boosted me a few years ahead of my peers in college," she says. "The benefits gained at EHS keep bubbling up in my career and personal life in so many amazing ways." —Sharon Willcutts
Ben Estus '09: Enjoying Every Step "Giving life to stories and characters—that's what I love to do," says actor Ben Estus '09. He gets to share that passion almost daily, as he continues his fifth season in Broadway's "The Book of Mormon," written by television "South Park" creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone. Estus, one of EHS Onstage's high‑profile alumni, brings his trifecta of acting, singing, and dancing skills to the musical satire, playing a
32
wholesome Mormon who travels door to door to recruit converts. The show is a rare box office smash, and Estus feels blessed to have a steady job and perform with top talent—a dream for most actors. Besides delivering memorable leads in "Dracula" and "Pippin" while at Episcopal, Estus won a prestigious Tommy Tune
