Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jen Schwenk. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Jen thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

The most recent meaningful project I’ve worked on is MODE ID, a digital fashion design app I’m currently building.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a part of the culture surrounding art, fashion, photography, music and self expression. I know nothing about software, technology and AI. I come from a generation that learned by doing. If you wanted to create something, you figure it out yourself. You would read and borrow books, watch other artists, experiment, make mistakes and keep going.

The DIY mindset has followed me throughout my life. As a visual artist and photographer, I was never interested in waiting for permission to create. Some of my favorite past projects came from curiosity, resourcefulness, and a willingness to learn things I had never done before.

MODE ID represents that philosophy more than anything I’ve worked on. The idea began with a simple question: What if someone could bring a fashion idea to life without knowing how to sketch, sew, use design software or work in the fashion industry? Why should creativity be limited to people with specialized training?

Building the project has pushed me into unfamiliar territory. I’ve had to learn technology, manufacturing, branding and product development from the ground up. There were plenty of moments I felt under qualified, but that feeling reminded me of every creative project I’ve ever taken on. I enjoy doing the work so others don’t have to.

That’s why MODE ID is so important to me. It embodies the same DIY spirit that shaped my life: the belief that creativity belongs to everyone, and sometimes the most interesting work happens when you decide to build something before you know how.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m a visual artist, photographer and marketing director based in New York City, although I spent 22 years in Southern California which influenced a lot of my creative ideas. I currently work full time in the automotive industry, and my only knowledge when I began was about classic cars. I owned a 1964 Thunderbird before moving to NYC, and what I’ve come to appreciate is that cars aren’t just a machine, they’re expressions of identity. The design choices people make, from the exterior color to the smallest interior detail, reflect who they are. The same can be said for the interior of your home.

My work has always lived at the intersection of art, fashion, film and storytelling, shaped heavily by DIY culture and the belief that you don’t need formal training or expensive tools to create meaningful work.

I first built a career through photography, something I’ve been doing since highschool. I create images that explore identity, style and self expression. Over time my interests expanded beyond the camera, into branding, design and creative direction. Today, I’m focused on building MODE ID, a platform that allows people to transform fashion ideas into real products without needing technical design skills or industry connections.

Inclusivity is a major part of my vision, Other than allowing users with no experience to feel autonomous with their creativity, one of the ideas I’m most excited about is highlighting already established designers through “Designer of the Week” allowing them to share their work, and make it available for purchase. This gives independent creators a platform to showcase their work, and potentially earn from their designs. I believe some of the most innovative ideas come from outside the fashion circles and I want to create space for those to be seen.

What sets my work apart is that I approach creativity from all different perspectives. I’m interested in breaking those rules and making creative tools more accessible to people who have ideas but no traditional training. It doesn’t matter if it’s photography, design or technology, my goal is always the same: helping people turn imagination into something tangible.

What I’m most proud of isn’t any single project, it’s continuing to create, learn and evolve without waiting for someone else to define what’s possible.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I think many non-creatives underestimate how much uncertainty is involved in the creative process. From the outside, people often only see the finished work, not the countless ideas, experiments, failures, and revisions that came before it. Creativity isn’t usually a straight path. It’s often driven by curiosity and a willingness to pursue ideas without knowing exactly where they’ll lead. Some of the most meaningful opportunities in my life came from following instincts that didn’t make sense on paper at the time.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Resilience has probably been the defining theme of my life. My path hasn’t been traditional at all. I was an art school dropout, I didn’t finish college, I worked all kinds of weird jobs over the years, and I became a mother at a young age. One of the most difficult periods of my life came when my daughter’s father was killed in an accident, at the same time I was consoling my father who had cancer.

Throughout my grieving, I channeled my pain into an online vintage store, that provided financially for us for years only to lose it to the pandemic. At that point, it would have been easy to play it safe, but instead I focused on rebuilding. I’ve worked a stable job, saved aggressively, and eventually made the decision to move to New York City without any guarantees about what would happen next.

I rented a small studio apartment for a month, while looking for an apartment and competing with millions of others to secure a place in the city. Looking back, every setback forced me to adapt, learn and evolve. What I’ve learned is that resilience is never about failing, it’s about continuing to move forward even when the outcome is uncertain. Every chapter, including the difficult ones has shaped the artist and human that I am today.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @cinnamoncinema
• Other: The MODE ID app will be available in the App Store in Fall 2026.