JESSE
MICHAEL
HAYES

creative director

As the founder of Anansi Hayes Media, and its lead designer and creative director of nearly 20 years, Hayes has uplifted unique voices doing important work, from visionary small businesses to creatives and thought leaders. He worked directly with pop icon Carly Simon to develop her first official brand identity, website and legacy line. He has crafted innovative campaigns for hip-hop legends Digital Underground and original artwork for the Estate of Vince Guaraldi. His diverse corporate and non-profit clients include TEDx, MIT, NAACP, the Shinnecock Nation, and more

Also a writer, film-maker and musician, in 2023, Hayes launched the film production company Cast Iron Rocket. Their short film ’Submerge’ debuted domestically at the Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival and was including in 10 film festivals across 3 continents in 2024.

He short fiction has been published in Space & Time, Salvation South, The Genre Society and more. His music journalism, interviews and editorials have been published in No Depression.

Living by the ocean in New England, Hayes is deeply inspired by nature (human and otherwise), jazz and philosophy, folk-tales and futurisms, and all things haunting and mysterious.

Above all, he is a devoted husband and father of three near-adults.