We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jared Resseguie. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jared below.
Alright, Jared thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?
I love this question because my creative journey has definitely been a bit unique. I didn’t start exploring any creative pursuits until I was 20 years old. Growing up, my whole identity revolved around hockey—if I wasn’t on the ice, I had skates on my feet and a stick in my hand. That’s how I saw myself: a hockey player, not someone with artistic talent. Fast forward to age 20, and I was living my dream, playing Division 1 hockey for the now 10-time national champs, the DU Pioneers.
But halfway through that season, during a game against Western Michigan in Kalamazoo, everything changed. I took a hit from behind, headfirst into the boards, and it ended up being my 7th concussion. Like many athletes, I’d gotten used to playing through head injuries, ignoring the symptoms, but after a while, there’s no hiding from it. My head got worse and worse until I found myself stuck in my bedroom, isolated from the world, wondering if I’d ever feel normal again. That was rock bottom—no more hockey, and I couldn’t even say “I’m a hockey player” anymore. I was completely lost.
But hitting rock bottom turned into a blessing in disguise. I was forced to reevaluate everything and try new things, especially new ways of seeing the world. With all that extra time on my hands, I fell in love with finding the art in everything—books, movies, music, and especially everyday life. I started carrying a journal everywhere, which soon morphed into a sketchbook. During my senior year at DU, I moved back in with my parents (thanks, Mom and Dad!!) and took the light rail every day to campus. The people, the buildings, the trees—everything around me became my muse. I still keep that journal as a reminder that passion, practice, and a willingness to try new things can transform your life in unexpected and beautiful ways.
While it would’ve been cool to start my creative journey earlier, I have zero regrets. Now at 26, with about six years under my belt in this new chapter, I’m loving it. I’ll always have fond memories of defining myself as a hockey player, but I’m proud to say I’m more than that—and I always was. It just took a wild life event, some perseverance, and a lot of self-discovery to realize it. I truly believe anyone can become great at anything with the right mix of time, effort, and joy. While I don’t consider myself a master of my creative craft just yet, I can look back at my early sketches and see how far I’ve come—and that feels pretty awesome.
Jared, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
A Colorado native, I didn’t start my creative journey until I was 20, when doctors told me I could no longer play competitive hockey. They say the prettiest flowers bloom in the darkest places, and I like to think my creative career blossomed from my lowest point. I was incredibly lucky to have an inspiring professor at DU, Greg Wagner or Prof Wagz, who taught advertising. Through his classes, I was introduced to design and, most importantly, the Adobe Creative Suite. My passion for content creation started with class projects, where I dove into Photoshop, Illustrator, and Premiere Pro.
One project that stands out was when a few friends and I made a blood donation commercial featuring Dracula—we dressed up, acted ridiculous on camera, and had a blast filming it. That process, from brainstorming ideas to editing the final product, lit a creative fire in me. It was just flat out fun, even though we didn’t ace the project and found we had much to improve on still.
That joy led me to start my freelance career, Rezigns. I kicked things off by designing flyers for a thrift company, then moved on to creating merch designs for a Colorado outdoor brand, stickers for a brewery, and a brand kit for a local construction company. Those early projects opened the door to the music industry, where I’ve had the chance to design cover art, posters, and more for rock ‘n’ roll bands. There’s nothing quite like going to a show or seeing your work on Apple Music—it’s a special feeling, one I thought I’d lost when hockey ended.
I love helping companies, bands, or anyone in need of content feel confident in what they do. Whether it’s pitching a product, getting fans hyped for a show, or raising awareness, Rezigns is here to make it happen!
I still have a 9-5 job, where I started as a recruiter before moving into marketing for a mental health app startup called Brightn. Now, I’m a Marketing Manager at Kodiak Building Partners. It’s a perfect fit—I get to work directly with clients while creating graphics, videos, and anything else our partners need. It’s the balance I’ve been searching for in my career, and I couldn’t be happier.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
I hold the book Steal Like an Artist close to my heart. It taught me that originality doesn’t just come out of nowhere—it’s about drawing inspiration from the world around you. That idea was tough for me to grasp at first, but when I think back to when I started drawing, it was always sparked by something. Maybe it was a tree on campus that caught my eye, so I’d sketch it, put it into a scene, and let the creativity flow from there. Beauty is everywhere if you’re willing to look, and this book helped me see the world from a fresh perspective.
I also want to give a huge shoutout to two good friends, Jack Schulze and Ben Gillespie. Jack started a creative journey while attending CU, doodling on his iPad and sharing his work on Instagram under (@_noggin_). He’s been a huge source of inspiration and motivation for me. Most importantly, he’s always there when I need advice or someone to bounce ideas off of, especially when I first got into Procreate on my iPad. Ben, who I’ve known since high school, is incredibly talented and has worked with some of the biggest names in entertainment. We’ve always been able to talk about the ups and downs of being a creative, and I’m grateful for his support and insight (@benwgillespie). Thank you, Jack and Ben!!
So, while books and videos are great, sometimes the best resources you have are the friends in your creative community. They’re the ones who inspire you, push you, and remind you that you’re not in this journey alone.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
I touched on this earlier, but there’s nothing quite like creating something that helps a person or a business find their
swagger—whether it’s to perform, sell, or just put their best foot forward. Using your skills to help others thrive? That’s the kind of thing that keeps you motivated for life.
As for the people, I recently volunteered for Denver Walls, priming downtown walls for street artists and muralists to create beautiful pieces for the city and its people. This was a bit outside my comfort zone, as I’d never volunteered for anything creative before, but I got to meet and chat with some incredibly talented individuals. Shoutout to all the magnificently talented people I met there (@daftlogic, @knowone_youno, @ildes, @chaaaaaaaaaaaa, and many more that I don’t have their handles handy).
When I think about those two aspects—creating meaningful work and meeting amazing people—it really makes this whole creative journey feel special. I’m just over five years into my creative career, and when I look back at the work I’ve done and the people I’ve connected with, I feel proud. That pride brings joy, and honestly, what’s life without joy? :)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rezigns.com
- Instagram: @_rezigns_
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredresseguie/
Image Credits
DU Hockey for hockey picture