a home for my creative side quest

music, film, culture, and events… all the cool shit

A black silhouette of a kite with a long tail flying against a blue sky with clouds.

01

LASTDAYOUT

- ADIDAS -

LASTDAYOUT - ADIDAS -

  • Founder, Creative Director, Executive Producer. Led partnerships (Adidas, Red Bull, Mike’s Hot Honey etc), event production, creative direction, and team coordination

  • A community-driven field day blending music, sport, and culture into an interactive live experience, built through strategic partnerships, custom design, and intentional programming. Created as a third space for creatives, entrepreneurs, and athletes, the event captures the childlike spirit of the last day of school while celebrating the end of summer.

    • 150+ attendees, multi-brand partnerships including Adidas, Red Bull, and Don Julio

    • Custom Adidas jerseys designed and produced for participants and staff

Project 01

A man stands outdoors in front of a chain-link fence, wearing a white sports jersey and black shorts, with trees and a red car in the background under a clear blue sky.
Group of people standing on a baseball field in front of a chain-link backstop, surrounded by green trees on a bright, sunny day.
A person standing outdoors on a sandy field, holding a red volleyball, wearing sunglasses and sportswear, smiling at the camera, with sunny sky and buildings in the background.
Woman in black athletic shirt and shorts standing outdoors with hand on hip, wearing large mirrored sunglasses and a black headband, on a sunny day in front of a chain-link fence.
Group of diverse people gathered around a table at an outdoor barbecue in a park during daytime, with trees and buildings in the background.
Two young women standing together in front of a chain-link fence on a sunny day, smiling for the camera, with a tree and parked cars visible in the background.
Red eight-pointed star with a black background

02

WISCANSIN

- Chelsea B -

WISCANSIN - Chelsea B -

  • Led the full creative direction of the project from concept to execution, including developing the core narrative, visual language, and symbolic framework. Oversaw art direction across the video and rollout, translating themes of regional identity into cohesive visuals. Directed performance and visual tone, while also producing and writing the music to ensure alignment between sound and imagery.

  • A two-part visual and sonic world exploring the connection between Chicago and Wisconsin through symbolism, performance, and contrasting perspectives. Created to resonate with anyone who grew up in the Midwest, the project draws from shared experiences like family road trips from Chicago to the Wisconsin Dells, aiming to evoke a sense of nostalgia and connection. This idea was carried into a physical symbol of that bridge, collaborating with Chicago-based crochet artist Chelsea B to create a custom “Wiscansin” flag that brought the concept to life.

    • Designed the “Wiscansin” flag as a visual representation of the project’s regional identity

    • Over 50K+ streams across platforms

Project 02

Person wearing a red hat holding a Wisconsin state flag.
Logo of a bear’s head in orange and black with white outline, set against a black background.

03

football sunday

- CHICAGO BEARS -

football sunday - CHICAGO BEARS -

  • Led the creative direction of the campaign, developing a narrative centered around the ritual of watching Chicago Bears games through a personal, generational lens. Defined the visual tone and storytelling approach, translating those ideas into a cohesive campaign tied to the team’s season opener and the debut of Caleb Williams. Directed the art direction and overall production, collaborating with designers Jared Armstrong and Chelsea B to develop custom garments—including a vest, cardigan, and jersey—that brought the concept to life through their individual design perspectives.

  • A campaign rooted in the tradition of watching Chicago Bears games through a personal, generational lens, capturing the energy and nostalgia of Sundays spent at my grandparents’ home. Developed to align with the team’s season opener and the debut of Caleb Williams, the project blends storytelling, fashion, and sport into a grounded, culturally resonant moment.

    • Shot on location at my grandfather’s home, grounding the campaign in a real, lived experience

    • Developed custom one-of-one garments in collaboration with designers Jared Armstrong and Chelsea B

Project 03

A woman with red braids and colorful earrings stands in a living room, wearing a football jersey, a blue skirt, and green sneakers.
A young woman with curly hair sitting on the floor in a room with a red carpet, white couch, and a side table with drinks and snacks, wearing a white letterman jacket, dark shirt, camouflage jeans, and beige sneakers.
Young man sitting on a couch wearing a navy blue sports jersey with orange and yellow patches and a large yellow letter 'W' on the front, in a living room with wooden china cabinet and chandelier.

Bears Cardigan (Jared Armstrong)

A woman with red braided hair is sitting on a white sofa, reading a magazine. She is wearing a dark blue jacket with floral, gold, and beaded embellishments, blue pants, white lace socks, and green Adidas sneakers with orange stripes. There is an orange bucket with a tiger logo and some other items on a small table nearby, and an orange crate on the floor filled with more magazines.

Bears Jersey (Chelsea B)

Bears Vest (Jared Armstrong)

An illustration of a woman in a long dress with a parasol, standing next to a man in a suit and bowler hat, in front of a vintage car.

04

paradise tee

- comma -

paradise tee - comma -

  • Led the creative direction of the campaign from concept to execution, developing a visual approach that positioned the Paradise tee within a broader lifestyle and narrative. Directed the art direction, including styling, framing, and overall tone, while overseeing production to ensure a cohesive and elevated final output.

  • A fashion-focused campaign designed to introduce the Paradise tee through a visual narrative, created for creatives navigating their own paths. Built around the idea “don’t wait for paradise, create it,” the campaign connects to Paradise Don’t Last Forever while offering a more personal, forward-facing message. The “paradise” theme is carried throughout both set design and product, with elements like beach balls and lounge chairs, and a custom tee design featuring palm trees and “Dice” as a play on “paradise”—a nod to taking a chance in pursuit of it.

    • Produced a 25-second narrative-driven ad with a clear audience and message

    • Custom tee design featuring palm trees rendered with a flame-like treatment, creating a striking and distinctive visual

Project 04

A woman holding a colorful beach ball above her head, standing in front of a yellow curtain.
A woman with dark hair and tattoos sitting on a chair in front of an orange curtain, with a colorful beach ball on the floor beside her.
A man and woman pose in front of orange curtains. The woman stands behind the man with one hand on her hip and the other on the man's shoulder. The man wears a black graphic t-shirt, a camouflage cap, and has tattoos on his arms, while the woman wears a black top and jeans.
A woman crouching in front of an orange backdrop with a wide smile, wearing a black t-shirt, black pants, and holding a device in her right hand.
Young woman with black hair adjusting her white lace waistband, wearing a black graphic t-shirt and loose jeans with a keychain.
A man with tattoos on his arms is holding a camera to his eye and appears to be taking a photo. He is sitting in front of a yellow curtain and wearing a black t-shirt with a graphic design. Another person, wearing a black shirt and denim shorts, is standing next to him, holding a colorful beach ball.

inspo, sketches, and references

Seal of the University of Ohio Wittenberg, featuring an open book with Latin inscriptions, a tree, mountains, and wheat, encircled by text and a decorative border.

05

HOMESICK Documentary

- Central State University -

HOMESICK Documentary - Central State University -

  • Led the creative direction of the documentary, shaping the narrative approach, tone, and overall vision. Supported production from concept through execution, helping guide storytelling, interview direction, and the final presentation while contributing as an artist within the project.

  • A documentary capturing the process behind a collaboration between Jay Wood and Central State University, culminating in a Tiny Desk–inspired performance backed by a full marching band. Developed in close partnership with the university and band director, the project documents the journey from concept to execution, highlighting a rare fusion of independent artistry and collegiate band culture. Inspired by films like Drumline, the piece serves as an ode to students raised in band programs and their path toward becoming musicians.

    • Executed a live performance with a full marching band in collaboration with Central State University
      Coordinated production across artists, students, and faculty to bring the performance to life

    • Sold-out documentary screening at The Silver Room in Hyde Park, Chicago

Project 05

A group of musicians playing saxophones and trumpets outdoors, standing on bleachers against a blue sky.
Two young men standing in a dark outdoor setting at night, both wearing glasses and casual clothing, with one holding a drone and the other holding a camera.
Music stand with sheet music in a music rehearsal room, with musicians holding flutes in the background.
A marching band performing outdoors on bleachers, with a young man playing a sousaphone in the foreground and other band members playing brass instruments in the background.
A group of musicians carrying drums and percussion instruments outside, with the sun shining behind them and a partly cloudy sky.
Group of musicians, mostly women, playing wind instruments such as clarinets and saxophones on outdoor bleachers.

About

I’m Jay Wood, a Chicago-based artist and creative director building worlds through music, film, and community. My work sits at the intersection of culture, storytelling, and experience.