Vale Jo Meadows – CD and Art Director: “Her hallmarks were insightful thinking, exquisite crafting and a superb eye for design”
The Australian advertising industry will be saddened to hear of the passing of Creative Director and Art Director Jo Meadows, after a long battle with early onset dementia.
After studying fine arts at National Art School Darlinghurst, Jo first made her mark in advertising at DMB&B Weekes Morris Osborn. She then ran her own freelance company Object&Desired for many years, where she worked with some of the industry’s finest creatives.
In 2003, along with Sylvianne Heim, Jo started-up Blonde, the first creative agency exclusively targeting women, with clients including The Pretty Girl Fashion Group and Tahiti Tourisme.
Jo then became a fixture on the freelance scene working with many agencies and creatives on clients as diverse as QVB, Strand Arcade, Macleans, Salvation Army and Samoan Tourism. Her hallmarks were insightful thinking, exquisite crafting and a superb eye for design.
She was passionate about fine art, including photography, painting and printmaking, creating many works of her own.
Jo will be sorely missed as a creator, collaborator, colleague and friend.
A private family luncheon will be held in Melbourne to celebrate her life.
12 Comments
Such wonderful memories of Jo, as a colleague and a friend.
A kind, thoughtful soul with an abundance of talent, sophistication and style.
Beautiful photos.
Sadden by the news of Jo’s passing. Dementia is the absolute worst. I worked with Jo at Blonde. She injected the style and substance into the work. Our clients were so impressed by her skills and passion. What an incredibly considered art director. So talented. So tenacious. She was one of Australia’s finest Art Directors. She will be missed by her sisters. Vale Jo.
Whoever posted this THANK YOU. Made me cry again. Kay
A lovely friend and colleague who was all class and conviction. Seriously not fair. x
Jo & I spent 3 years together at the National Art school where we became close friends. I admired her incredible talent as an artist & designer. We shared many laughs together over meals & wines. I miss her every day.
Jo Meadows was a trailblazing creative director, a pioneer in championing women in design and a master at crafting experiences in advertising that resonated deeply with female customers. Jo not only pushed creative boundaries but also created opportunities for women to thrive in the design industry. Her ability to understand and celebrate the nuances of the female perspective set new standards, she leaves behind a powerful pro feminine legacy in the advertising world. In a male dominated industry, who would have thought at the time that a car commercial could have butterflies swirling around the vehicle….? Jo did that and her influence has facilitated and inspired women (& men) in advertising to appeal to female markets. In her private life, I know Jo was also surrounded by beautiful, smart, determined women, not least her two incredible sisters to whom I am throwing stars and holding tight in my thoughts at this sad time. X Virginia
Jo was a generous mentor and very kind friend to me when we shared a studio at Boheem Design in Surry Hills. Jo was like a big sister, inspiring and wise and not afraid to tell it to me straight. I valued (and very much miss) her creative experience, life wisdom and all-round hilarious good company. We had a couple of very special years in the Boheem studio with Jo leading up to her diagnosis, it broke our hearts when she told us and continues to break our hearts now. Rest in peace lovely Jo xxx
So sad to hear this news. I first met Jo in the early 90’s when I was working at DMB&B Weekes, Morris, Osborn.
We worked on many jobs together and I was knocked out by how talented she was and how much she contributed to each job. I remember thinking “now this is what working with a real art director is like”. She was also heaps of fun, fond memories of many raucous nights in the creaky old mansion Jo lived at in Potts Point. PJ xxx
A lovely talented woman taken too soon. Jo was kind and generous and one of the best art directors I’ve ever worked with. I have 2 of her artworks hanging in my home, I’ve always loved them, I’ll treasure them even more now. Sending love to her family who supported her through this terrible and unfair illness. Rest in peace dear Jo xxx
Darling Jo. Always there to lend an ear, with such incredible insight. A gifted artist who effortlessly oozed style, yet remained wonderfully unpretentious and down-to-earth. I have so many fond memories of working with Jo at the Boheem studio; her straight-shooting reflections were always sure to bring a laugh. Jo just had an eye for beauty, of every kind. Love you, Bear x
Damn! Cannot believe she has gone. I only heard that she had early onset about 9 months ago! She was such a lovely person and such an incredible art director. Her sense of humor was probably the most salty and driest that I had ever come across, and for a while at DMB&B, where we worked together in the early 90’s, I could never quite work out if she was being funny or serious! Turns out she was pretty much always having a laugh. Particularly at blokes like me and Mike Boswell.
So sad that she should have been putting her feet up right now, after a lifetime of hard work, and enjoying herself.
R.I.P Young Jo 🙏
I only just saw this, such a shock. I had no idea Jo was unwell. I was fortunate enough to have been at DMB&BWMO surrounded by many, many very talented people. But especially Jo. Jo was teamed with Mike Boswell and they made the Nikon Campaign – Snap frozen salmon and so on. Beautiful work by a beautiful person. Very sorry she’s gone.