We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jenae Bluhm. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jenae below.

Jenae , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

You know, when I started college, I had big plans for pursuing a creative field. I was torn between graphic design, advertising, and communications. Eventually, I ended up changing my major multiple times, so I only took one design course. Nevertheless, the principles I learned in that class continue to influence my work every day. One lesson that stuck with me was the importance of using only two fonts, each distinct from the other. Additionally, my appreciation for clean lines blossomed through that course.

In terms of formal training, that one design class was all I had. The rest of my skills have been honed through practice. During my time in grad school, a friend introduced me to Canva, and since then, it has become an indispensable tool for me. Through trial and error, I’ve gained valuable knowledge. For example, I used to believe that complex and intricate designs were necessary. However, one day, while reviewing my insights, I realized that simpler and more concise designs were attracting the most traffic.

I also have to acknowledge that my genes definitely play a role in my creative abilities; my dad is an artist and worked as a graphic designer and wrote cards for Hallmark. Although I’m uncertain if my work in Canvas qualifies as “art” in the traditional sense, I’m certain my father would have been amazed if he had access to Canva for his graphic design endeavors. Additionally, I’ve always possessed an inherent eye for design and the ability to create aesthetically pleasing visuals, which greatly assists in cultivating a polished Instagram aesthetic.

Lastly, my profound love for pop culture has proven to be a great asset in my craft. Being a pop culture junkie, I draw countless ideas from other Instagram accounts and various sources such as the shows I watch on Netflix. This constant influx of inspiration fuels my creative process and adds a unique touch to my work.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a sexual health and safety researcher with a strong passion for bridging the gap between research and practice. Alongside my master’s degree in Child and Family Studies, I am a provisional Certified Family Life Educator. To actively address the divide between research and practice, I curate an Instagram account called @birdsandbeesask.me. It serves as my primary creative outlet, where I thoroughly enjoy sharing valuable information.

What makes this platform truly exciting for me is the ability to combine pop culture with research and other reputable information. This approach adds a unique twist to my work and helps engage a broader audience. Through my efforts on this account, I have had the privilege of collaborating with influential figures like Elizabeth Smart, who is a prominent figure in my field. These collaborations and opportunities have been truly enriching and have allowed me to make a meaningful impact.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

As someone with ADHD, I really enjoy having a creative outlet. Creativity is often considered a pretty classic trait of people who have ADHD. That definitely comes in handy, since my brain is akin to what some call “a Ferrari with bicycle pedals.” In other words, I get randoms ideas at random times and I get really excited about them!

However, being neurodivergent is still stigmatized and can make my daily life difficult. So, I’d say that most rewarding aspect of being a creative is being able to take advantage of the gifts that having ADHD provides rather than only having to deal with its the challenges. I hope that other neurodivergent folks that read this and know that they are not alone – you possess tremendous value because of who you are, not in spite of it.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Yes! When I started my Instagram account two years ago (August 2021), it was originally called Consent is Respect; I anticipated using my account to focus on consent-related material. One day I was considering designing merchandise for the account but then I realized that *I* didn’t even want to wear or own merch that had my own logo on it. I also realized that I was posting about topics beyond just consent. So, that’s when I knew I needed to rebrand.

After landing on my current account handle (@birdsandbeesask.me), I actually had my sister-in-law–who’s an artist–design a logo for me. Although it took a bit of planning and transitioning (especially having like 3,000 followers at the time), I’m really glad I took that leap of faith. Not only does the new logo and handle better reflect the variety of topics I cover on my IG but it’s made having a cohesive aesthetic that much easier.   

Contact Info:

• Website: birdsandbeesask.me
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/birdsandbeesask.me/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/authwall?trk=bf&trkInfo=AQGHu1Z7rgvocwAAAYjakVp4NY1p8MpY6Sc5FDkgqmGvC3mYkRrDhOyKwHM2oB_sxgeHDdTF5PZUBheMSubFb1Fg94oF-yO5PKbwT52BJAaXLVSkpP_EJ8okdTYyiHhZOMnPUR4=&original_referer=&sessionRedirect=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fjenae-bluhm%2Fdetails%2Fskills%2F