Meet this year’s Fluff Festival Graphic Designer,
Jen Gubicza!

Published August 2026

Meet Jen Gubicza, this year's Fluff Festival Graphic Designer! You may recognize Jen from vending at Fluff Fest as the maker behind Zooguu. Together with her husband Brian, who is an illustrator, Jen sells her work at fine art + craft shows, conventions, online, and in small shops throughout the United States. To celebrate this year's toast-tacular design, Jen shares about her artistic process, Fluff rituals, and her take on toast toppings.

What aspect of being an artist brings you the most joy?

I love the whole process of making things, bringing those handmade things out in the world, and seeing the joy they bring others. It’s great to be a hermit, working away in my studio with headphones on. But, there’s an amazing thing that happens when you set up a booth in the street or hang a show with your work: You get to see other people enjoy what you’ve created and that never gets old.

Have you always wanted to be an artist?

Yes! I always drew on every surface I could find, much to my parents' delight! I went to art school for graphic design and did that for ten years. I started making my own toys as a hobby, and then in 2008 turned that into a full-time job making faux taxidermy. Definitely a career path I didn’t see coming, but play and art making has always been a through line.

What advice would you give to an artist who is just starting out?

It’s hard to make it work as an artist, but you can do it. Make things you love and others will love them too.

Your submission in 2024 became the official design for Somerville Over the Rainbow: No Place Like Fluff. In what ways has that experience influenced your creative process for this year's design?

I really enjoy working with Union Square Main Streets. Knowing the playful spirit and sense of humor that the festival is looking for helped during the brainstorming process this year. I had always considered myself a graphic designer and a fiber artist, but the 2024 Fluff Festival design was one of the first paid gigs I had for my illustration work. There was a lot of design involved, but getting paid for illustration was a great boost for me to continue my drawing practice.

You're typically under the Zooguu tent during the festival—if you were able to clone yourself and also attend the Fluff festivities all day, what food, shopping, or activities would you most want to do?

OMG everything. My husband and I usually attend the Fluff preview night at Bow Market so we can try all of the food specials, since we’re usually working in the Zooguu booth during the actual festival. But, I’d definitely try out all of the games and visit all of the vendors. We’re friends with a lot of the vendors, so we know they have great Fluff Stuff!

In the spirit of toasting to Fluff, what is your favorite toast topping?

I don’t think you can go wrong with Irish butter. Or peanut butter. Or strawberry rhubarb jam. Or blueberry jam. Or a fried egg. Or, maybe I should have waited until after I had breakfast to answer these questions! Ha!

Follow Jen on Instagram to see her whimsical designs and stop by her booth at Fluff Fest September 19!