Introducing Jay: JTech’s Spirited New Mascot
We’re thrilled to unveil Jay, the vibrant new mascot for JTech Communications! Bursting with personality, Jay embodies the creativity, energy, and playful spirit that define our brand. This spirited character was brought to life through a collaborative effort by our talented team, with lead designer Kari Bolt at the helm, joined by Marketing Manager Chelsey and JTech Chief Architect, Josh Reynolds. In this exclusive interview, Kari shares her perspective on the team’s journey to create Jay, her path to becoming an illustrator, and the challenges of contributing to this exciting project.
Discovering a Creative Calling
When did you first realize art wasn’t just a hobby but a calling?
In Australia when you are fifteen you participate in work experience programs. You work at a local company for a week in a field you are interested in. I did mine at an elementary school that had an in house designer/illustrator and worked with her for a week designing and illustrating educational posters and absolutely loved it. Until that point I didn’t think it was possible to get a job as an illustrator and was actually thinking about going into law enforcement instead.
Kari’s passion for illustration was ignited during a work experience program in Australia, where she spent a week designing educational posters. This experience was a turning point, redirecting her from a potential career in law enforcement to a lifelong pursuit of art and design—a journey that ultimately led to the creation of Jay.
The Canine Inspiration Behind Jay
I have one miniature Schnauzer called Fred and my boyfriend’s dog Holly, who is a wirey Res. dog. They are an unlikely pair and provide a lot of comedic moments that I use in illustrations frequently. Fred is such a bossy, little determined character that gets things done and a lot of his character traits went into creating Jay.
Jay’s lively personality is deeply inspired by Kari’s dog, Fred, whose bossy yet determined nature shaped the mascot’s spunky character. Just as Fred nudges Kari into action each morning, Jay brings a proactive, spirited vibe to JTech, encouraging our team and clients to approach challenges with enthusiasm and grit.
Animating Jay’s World
What’s the very best part of this video?
I love the sene where Jay is interacting with the JTech designer. As a kid one of my favorite movies was Dot And The Kangaroo and it was one of the first times I saw real film footage being used with 2D animation. This scene reminds me of that and it was a lot of fun creating it myself with green screen animation.
A highlight of Jay’s debut video is the scene where he interacts with a JTech designer, blending 2D animation with real-world footage. Inspired by Kari’s childhood love for Dot and the Kangaroo, this moment captures Jay’s charm and showcases JTech’s innovative approach to design, making it a standout feature of the mascot’s introduction.
Overcoming Creative Challenges
What’s the hardest part about turning your ideas into finished pieces?
Time (or lack of it). Generally time can be short for most jobs I do so having the time to brainstorm and develop the idea and then take it into creative form and fine tune it isn’t always an option. Getting to the point as an artist where you just have to get it as good as you can in a short amount of time and let what you’ve achieved be the final product can be a challenge creatively.
Bringing Jay to life required navigating tight deadlines, a common challenge in Kari’s creative process. Despite the time constraints, Kari’s ability to refine her vision quickly ensured Jay emerged as a polished, dynamic mascot that perfectly represents JTech’s creative spirit.
Join Jay’s Journey
Jay is more than a mascot—he’s a symbol of JTech’s commitment to creativity, innovation, and a dash of fun. Rooted in the collaborative efforts of Kari, Chelsey, Josh, and the entire JTech team, Jay is here to inspire and connect with our community. Follow Jay’s adventures and get a behind-the-scenes look at our creative process on Instagram at @jayfromjtech. Want to collaborate with our design team? Book a discovery meeting today at JTech’s website!
About Chris Pontin
Chris is JTech’s Production Project Coordinator with over 15 years of experience in web development and design. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems and is CompTIA A+ certified, blending technical expertise with creative problem-solving. An adept writer as well, Chris contributes to content creation alongside leading project coordination and overseeing platform maintenance—helping deliver thoughtful, user-focused digital solutions.
About Kari Bolt
Kari is a Graphic Designer and Illustrator who studied Design and Fine Art in Perth, Western Australia. Before moving to the US, she worked in some of the top advertising agencies in Perth as a Designer and Art Director.
With over two decades of experience in design and marketing, she excels in brand development, typography, and illustration and has a keen eye for detail. Kari loves to get to know the person behind their company and is passionate about creating artwork and designs that reflect a client’s personality.