Jem Solley is a freelance graphic designer working across film, television and theatre, creating visual identities, posters, album artwork, merchandise and promotional material for major productions and creative clients.
Jem’s passion for film-inspired graphic design developed during their studies, when they began creating film posters alongside their university work. Their interest in the visual culture surrounding films and the way productions are marketed eventually became a key part of their practice. A 365-poster challenge on Instagram helped Jem build an online audience and establish a portfolio of film-inspired work, including designs for films such as Alien, Stand by Me and 10 Things I Hate About You.
Since graduating, Jem has developed a freelance career working with major names across the creative industries. Their clients and collaborators include BBC Film, MUBI, Prime Video, Netflix, HALSEY, Abby Roberts and Henry Patterson, alongside independent filmmakers, musicians and theatre productions. Their film work includes posters for Netflix’s documentary Undisputed, BBC Film’s short film Karavidhe and a wide selection of film posters for MUBI.
A major part of Jem’s practice is their ongoing work with the Jamie Lloyd Company, where they have created visual identities and artwork for major West End productions. Their work has included Romeo & Juliet with Tom Holland, The Tempest with Sigourney Weaver, Much Ado About Nothing with Tom Hiddleston and Hayley Atwell, Waiting for Godot with Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter, Sunset Blvd. with Nicole Scherzinger and Evita with Rachel Zegler.
For these productions, Jem has created everything from production logos, posters and large-scale advertising to merchandise, vinyl records and CDs. Their work for The Tempest and Much Ado About Nothing included advertising across tube stations, buses and digital platforms, while their work for Evita extended from the production identity and posters to limited-edition merchandise and physical music releases.
Jem’s work has also taken them into the world of music and live performance, including vinyl and CD artwork for Just For One Day The Live Aid Musical, as well as anniversary artwork for HALSEY and tour posters for Abby Roberts. They have also collaborated with fellow Northern School of Art Graphic Design alumna Mia Angioy, who created collages for the Just For One Day vinyl packaging.
Jem credits their time at The Northern School of Art with giving them the freedom to explore different creative directions before finding their niche. The typography and layout skills developed during their degree remain central to their professional practice, even as their work has evolved significantly since graduating.
From creating film posters as a student to developing visual identities for major West End and Broadway productions, Jem’s career demonstrates how graphic design can lead into the worlds of film, television, theatre, music and popular culture.