Olivia Ellis spent much of her free time in college painting her clothes – not realizing that one day, her work would go beyond just her own outfits and onto the backs of fellow Jonas Brothers fans.

Coming from a creative family, she knew she wanted to go into graphic design before she came to ETSU in 2014.

“My sister has always been my biggest inspiration,” she said. “She was the reason I ever had an interest in anything creative, because I tried to copy everything she did!”

The Bristol native currently works at an agency in Brooklyn, New York, as Senior Art Director. She credits her involvement on campus for al ot of the skills that helped her get there, from networking and being intentional with the Roan Scholars Leadership Program to balancing work and play with the Preview and Orientation Leaders Organization (POLO).

“I really cherish my time at ETSU because it felt like a bubble where I was free to experiment and figure out what I liked. I left feeling so confident,” Ellis said.

Studying abroad at Studio Arts College International in Florence, Italy, her junior year gave her the push she needed to make the big move from the Tri-Cities to the Big Apple after she got her degree.

“I graduated in 2018 with a bachelor's in graphic design and moved to Brooklyn, New York, one month later,” she said.

In New York, Ellis also did some social media, where she learned to produce more work with less time. Her own Instagram page began gaining traction. She even got a follow from a relative of one of the biggest names in music.

“I'm a Beyoncé fan who likes to make my own outfits to wear to her shows. Her mom, Tina Knowles, followed me on Instagram after seeing one of my outfits for the Cowboy Carter Tour,” she said.

In November 2025, Ellis designed the T-shirt for the Jonas Brothers’ stop in Knoxville during their “Greetings from Your Hometown” tour with a combination of Procreate and Adobe Photoshop, including plenty of orange, white, and blue to represent the city. The design was so popular, it sold out that night.

“It was a full circle moment because I have been a fan the majority of my life,” Ellis said. “Seeing so many people wear my design was absolutely crazy!”

You can follow Ellis on Instagram@oliviaellis.studio to see more of her work and get an inside look at her creative process.