Jesse LeDoux

The skinny on Jesse LeDoux.

Born in Portland, Oregon, Jesse LeDoux worked for many years as an art director for Sub Pop Records where he created iconic album and poster artwork for such artists as The Shins, Iron & Wine, and Death Cab For Cutie before leaving in 2004 to focus on his client-base and personal work at LeDouxville. Parallel to working on commercial illustration and collaborative projects for such clients as Nike, Kidrobot, Giro, Penguin, Rome Snowboards and Target, he has exhibited internationally.

Most recently, Jesse work was included in the Cooper Hewitt Design Triennial (2007) and an installation at the University of Maryland (2008). A large-scale mural of his work can currently be seen in downtown Denver, Colorado. Jesse currently lives and works in Seattle, WA.

Jesse is also one half of design team, Patent Pending Industries, with side kick Jeff Kleinsmith. Together, the two have made a huge name for themselves in the poster print world with design work for Brand New, Minus The Bear, and Bright Eyes, with worldwide recognition through their showcase on the New Master's of Poster Design book.

We are absolute huge fans of his work and needed to get behind the poster master himself, to see exactly who Jesse LeDoux is, what he does, and what he likes.


Chatting with Jesse LeDoux of LeDouxville and Patent Pending Industries.

Q: Career whoa moment?
A: My entire career has been a “whoa moment.” I’ve been incredibly lucky to eke out a living from doing what I enjoy.

Q: Top 3 favorite record covers of all time?
A: Thee Headcoats Heavens to Murgatroyd, Even! It’s Thee Headcoats Already!, Icy Demons Tears of a Clone, Paul Robeson Songs of Free Men.

Q: Things you’re currently inspired by?
A: I went to an Alexander Calder exhibit last month that really blew my mind. Come to think of it, I’ve really been into sculpture in general, lately.

Q: Favorite magazines?
A: Beautiful/Decay is cover-to-cover great. I like Dwell for their range of articles. Any magazine that doesn’t have a sports or pop culture bent is typically an enjoyable read.

Q: Favorite place you’ve lived in for less than a year?
A: Anything less than a year is just visiting! And if that’s the case, France and Switzerland are tops in my book (I’ve spent a couple weeks in each of them). Falling just outside the 1-year mark, I lived in Tokyo for 13 months. That was a terrific experience.

Q: Strangest design request?
A: Personally, I think people asking me to create art for their tattoos are the strangest. Don’t they realize those things are permanent?!?

Q: Favorite blogs or websites you frequent?
A: Tiny Showcase, The Wonderful Design Works, Fecal Face, and Gig Poster.

Q: What would LeDouxville be like if it was a real town?
A: LeDouxville IS “real” and can be seen if you look carefully. The squirrel eating the donut in my freshly blossomed pink tree in my front yard last spring (true story)—that’s a glimpse at LeDouxville.

Q: Describe your personal style.
A: I’m a grumpy old man trapped inside a good-humored 33 year old body.

Q: Favorite perk that comes from working for bands/record labels?
A: I don’t get many physical perks, but a nice non-quantifiable perk is that most folks I work with in the music biz are really nice and down to earth. That one small aspect makes working on a project really not feel like work at all.

Q: Most bazaar commerce item you’ve created?
A: Although the band made them on their own accord, using the type treatment I made for their record, the neon Limbeck sunglasses were pretty funny.

Q: What are you currently listening to?
A: I’ve been on a steady Harry Nilsson roll ever since my trip to Chicago last month. My friend I stayed with is a big Nilsson fan and got me hooked solid. I’ve been listening to the Country Teasers a lot to try to pull me out of the Nilsson rut.

Q: You have $500 and 5 hours to spend it. What do you do?
A: 2 plane tickets to L.A. (one for myself, one for my wife) = $300
Taxi fare from the airport to Disneyland = $65
Disneyland admission = $125
Snacks = $10
Total = $500

Although the money is fully spent within 5 hours, we have the whole rest of the day ahead of us to enjoy it.

Q: Favorite hang out or café in Seattle?
A: I don’t really "hang out." Nor do I drink coffee, so cafés are out. Ultimately, a nice walk in a new neighborhood is my favorite. I like to explore.

Q: Favorite Patent Pending poster of all time?
A: Of mine, my Destroyer poster. Of Jeff’s, his Shining poster.

Q: Concept design series or item that you’ve had but never put to print?
A: I had wanted to do a print with just a big black dot in the middle of the print for a while, but couldn’t find the right way to execute it. I finally did it for my show at Rotofugi Gallery in Chicago last month. It doesn’t look so hot as a jpeg, but looks great in real life. It’s my favorite thing I’ve done.

Q: Favorite neon color?
A: Pink.

Q: Do you ever print with soy inks?
A: Although the inks used on my prints are not soy-based, they’re water-based. Currently, most soy inks are formulated for commercial offset printing and my prints are typically screen prints or occasionally letterpress prints.

Q: Favorite exhibition you’ve ever been a part of?
A: Archive at the Scion Gallery in 2006 was a really great time. It was a 4-person show with Friends With You, Skwak, Aya Kato, and myself.

Q: Tea or coffee?
A: Tea. Or hot chocolate.

Q: Favorite cartoons you watched as a kid?
A: There was a local cartoon show in Portland called “Ramblin’ Rod.” The host, Ramblin’ Rod, wore an old brown sweater covered in buttons that the kids from his in-studio audience would give to him. He played primarily Bugs Bunny and Popeye cartoons with the occasional Tom and Jerry or Heckle and Jeckle cartoon thrown in. I have a feeling it had a far larger impact on me than I’ll ever know.

The Top 5 lists that Jesse could have made.

5. Top 5 ice cream flavors I’ve had this year
4. Top 5 things I like to complain about.
3. Top 5 things on my long, long to-do list.
2. Top 5 things I like to complain about.
1. Top 5 ice cream flavors I’ve had this year.

Thanks to Jesse LeDoux for helping us put this together. Get connected with Jesse on Facebook and Twitter. Click here to check out our Jesse LeDoux gallery on Facebook.

Shop Jesse's prints, toys, shirts, and more here.