Meet Jordan Mansour | Artist & Founder

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jordan Mansour and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jordan, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
The idea came to me a couple of months after my wife decided it was best for her to leave her career to be home with our 2 year old daughter. We found out our daughter had some behavioral delays in her development and my wife’s mom-guilt kicked in big time. She was successful in her line of work, but her commute was 2 hours each way, so she wasn’t seeing the kids much (we have two) and began to fall into despair about that. Once she left her career though, happiness increased overall, but our reduced income subsequently increased my stress, especially because we live in a high cost of living area. I had already been drawing as a way to release my stress from my 90 minute commute to and from Washington, DC. I was drawing a lot of nature, scenic landscapes and adventure scenes. Maybe I was subconsciously sick of the concrete paradise I found myself spending so much time in? At first, I wanted to create a company that only designed and created sleek, high-quality magnets for resort and beach destinations, because every time we went on vacation, the only magnets available were sloppily and cheaply made. As I move through my creative process and journey, I’m currently exploring a combination of original paper and wood art, prints, stickers, and magnets. When I draw and paint, I still get swept away by the location my mind wants to be in at the time, just like when I started this journey back in 2018.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Simple Mind Design is powered by a husband-and-wife team (with occasional “help” from our two young daughters). We are both hell-bent on continuously learning and trying new things to see what helps reach our goals. In April 2021, I officially left my 13 year career in the government to follow my dream/passion and fully commit my time to the artist/small business owner life. My art is purposefully simplistic and most often drawn in black in white because I find that it helps relax my overactive mind. We all have SO MUCH going on in our world and in our heads, that it’s a relief to just sit and allow your mind to be at ease for a few moments. I seek to address our hyper stimulation problem by creating simple scenes to take the viewer away from the hustle of daily living and into a world where nature envelopes them with peace and serenity.

The journey has not been easy, but it has been mostly enjoyable. There have been many challenges since starting in 2018, mostly trying to figure out the next best step. It’s great to have a vision in mind, but there are a lot of baby steps between today and where we hope to end up in the future. Having the patience and positive attitude to keep moving forward is an absolute must! I’ve found it helpful to keep a detailed planner and journal so that I can not only cross things off my task list (which feels great), but also spend time reflecting on my progress weekly. I would be remiss if I didn’t also mention my faith in God/the Universe to help us though our inevitable challenges. I spend time meditating daily to connect with my “inner money maker.” Using a combination of my intuition and intellect has continuously helped us move forward by leaps and bounds.

I like to imagine myself making people laugh and smile often. That’s the hope anyway! I’ve been obsessed with making people laugh since I was a kid. So lately I’ve been injecting my sense of humor into my Instagram Reels (and having a lot of fun doing it). I’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback from my followers, and it brings me joy knowing they are laughing right alongside of me. Take a look @simpleminddzn.

Then there are the environmental causes we’ve supported locally, nationally, and internationally over the years. Sierra Club, 1% for the Planet, World Wildlife Fund Australia, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and The Nature Conservancy to name a few. I probably sound like a broken record at this point, but the fact that I have two little girls whom I deeply love, means that taking action, big or small, to restore our climate MUST be top of the list. Because without a habitable planet to live on, what future are we condemning our kids to? For real though. I don’t want my memories of what nature used to look like be the only inspiration I have to create art in the future. I NEED THE REAL THING.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Well, I live between Baltimore and Washington, DC so there are SO many options. If we head into DC, any restaurant by Jose Andreas is a must. Not only is the food amazing, but his life’s mission of feeding people in need around the world is noble, altruistic, and incredibly inspiring. Addams Morgan is fun and lively nightlife area in NW DC, especially for 20 somethings. If visiting the National Mall where all the monuments are, I would highly suggest visiting in the late afternoon early evening on a clear day. Watching the colors of the sky change 30 minutes before and after sunset, with the light hitting the monuments, can be really beautiful.

If we’re headed to Baltimore, Fells Point is another fantastic walkable area with a lot of bars, restaurants and shops. I personally enjoy going into the Soundgarden, a local music store. The Horse You Came In On is a colonial-era pub with a lot of character that Edgar Allen Poe used to drink at. That fact alone is worth having a drink there. I would also take them to Cross Street Market, a 19th century marketplace located in the Federal Hill area that has some really great food and a unique atmosphere. The Baltimore Aquarium is a fantastic spot to take the family or take a gummy and visit.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to dedicate this to my wife Megan. She has provided me with a lot of support and has helped work on my business behind the scenes. Not only is she a phenomenal business partner, but she is also a stellar mom of our two young daughters. She lifts our whole family up and works very hard in everything she does to ensure everyone’s needs are met, often sacrificing her own needs in the process. My success as an artist and small business owner would be much more limited had it not been for her loving dedication.

Honorable Mention: My mom has helped out significantly too. She has watched our girls during the weekends when Megan and I are selling my art and meeting people at shows around the east coast. I am very blessed and fortunate to have two powerhouse women in my corner!

Website: https://www.simpleminddesign.com

Instagram: @simpleminddzn