About
The Lissome Magazine: Storytelling for Positive Change
Dörte de Jesus is the founder and creative director of The Lissome, an annual print magazine and online platform, reimagining fashion media as a catalyst for cultural and ecological transformation. Exploring the intersection of fashion design, ecology, mindfulness and system change, The Lissome provides a welcoming space for reflection and connection, offering nuanced storytelling that weaves together sustainability, aesthetics, and purpose.
Unlike traditional fashion media, which often accelerates trends, overconsumption, and disposability, The Lissome celebrates the slow enjoyment of quality and beauty. Through poetic narratives and high-quality visuals, the magazine redefines aspiration, building bridges between fashion lovers and the origins of their garments – landscapes, materials, and the skilled hands of designers and craftspeople. By promoting thoughtful design, ecological awareness, and respect for craftsmanship, The Lissome fosters a culture of care and regeneration.
As its creative director, Dörte shapes The Lissome’s vision by collaborating with a global network of writers and photographers. Drawing on her background in communication design and art direction, she guides the magazine’s conceptual development, ensuring every detail – from typography to storytelling – embodies its mission. Through her stewardship, The Lissome inspires cultural shifts toward sustainability and human connection.
Here, you can explore The Lissome print editions, online platform, monthly newsletter, its Weaving Beings podcast series, and Instagram account.
Offerings and Services
Publishing: Dörte develops and implements publishing projects from the initial concept and project management to content creation, image selection, layout, and print production
Editorial Design: She designs layout and visual language in combination with typography to create a distinctive visual character for magazines, books, catalogues, and corporate publications with a focus on printed matter.
Art Direction + Content Production: Dörte directs creative production processes including photo shoots, set design and layouts. She collaborates with a selected network of writers, photographers, illustrators, and translators in order to provide all content needed for the implementation of a project.
Brand Identity: She helps brands and organizations develop compelling visual identities through the combination of colour palette, typography, logo, look and feel, and tone of voice, and translates them into a coherent brand experience.
Curation: She sources and showcases innovative projects or makers, and curates exhibitions or events that connect culture, creativity, and sustainability.
In her work, Dörte blends creativity with empathy and thoughtfulness. She likes to go deep, asks meaningful questions, and always holds space for the bigger picture.
You can reach Dörte via email.
Awards
2024
- Editkilpailu Award for TAUKO Magazine
by Aikakausmedia, the Finnish Association of Media Houses - Winner for “Best Look of the Year”
2023
- Editkilpailu Award for TAUKO Magazine
by Aikakausmedia, the Finnish Association of Media Houses - Winner of “Magazine Innovator of the Year”
- Shortlisted for “Best Look of the Year”
2022
- Winner of WORTH Partnership Project Award for FFTP
- Pro Helvetia Funding Awardee
2020
- Nominated for the German Ecodesign Award for The Lissome
- Winner of WORTH Partnership Project Award for HORAI
2011
- BCP Award for Electronic Beats Magazine
2010
- BCP Award for Electronic Beats Magazine
2009
- Swatch Young Illustrators Award
The Lissome Magazine
Dörte de Jesus is the founder and vision keeper of The Lissome, an award-winning independent print magazine and online platform, created with an international community of photographers and writers.
At The Lissome, she explores the intersection of mindfulness, earth-centred design, ecology and system transformation through sensual and thoughtful storytelling – providing a nourishing space for conversations and contemplation, making positive future visions tangible.
Here, you can explore The Lissome print editions, online platform, and Instagram account.
Testimonials
“Dörte is one of the most creative designers I’ve ever worked with. She’s extremely talented, highly dedicated and has a wonderful character. A very rare jewel!”
– Kathrin Redl, In-House Art Director ELLE Germany
“With Dörte’s distinctive art direction, TAUKO Magazine has captured the hearts of the international craft community as well as professionals from the publishing industry, winning the prestigious title of “Innovator of the Year” by the Finnish association of media houses in 2023. Since our first meeting, I have been in love with Dörte’s unique way of creating beauty and poetry in the world. Working with her always gives me the feeling of being on the verge of creating something extraordinary.”
– Mila Moisio, Editor-in-Chief of TAUKO Magazine
“Working with Dörte was a joy. She has an impeccable instinct for strong design and beautiful imagery, and so I felt in very safe hands. Dörte took time and care to understand the ethos of the festival and to ensure the branding, logo, images and website design was fit for purpose. Most importantly for me, she is committed to working ethically, consciously and sustainably, which brings full, heartfelt integrity to all her work. I would recommend Dörte to any individuals, organisations or brands who wish to work with a sensitive, intuitive and clear-sighted guide.”
– Becky Burchell, Founder CHANGE Festival
“Speaking to Dörte and getting a trained eye to give clear, HONEST insight was invaluable to keep branding clear and focused. Dörte understands visual presentation and she also knows the importance of communicating the sustainable credentials of a brand with a balance of simplicity and passion.”
– Alison Baker, Founder Ally Bee Knitwear
Features and Resources
Features of Dörte’s Work:
- Weaving Beings: Conversations with The Lissome, 2024 [podcast]
- The Architecture of Contemplation with Hardeep Kaur, 2023 [podcast]
- Fixing the Future Festival, 17 September 2022 [video recording]
- The Lissome N°3, Do you read me?!, April 2022
- A Different View on ..., Nowness, October 2021
- The Quiet Activism of The Lissome Founder Dörte de Jesus, Friends of Friends, Sept 2021
- The Unfashionable Beauty of Fashion, Atlas for the Future, March 2021
- Sustainable Fashion in the Wake of the Pandemic, Hund Hund Journal, June 2020
- The Importance of Beauty for Sustainability, Spirit of Design, 2019 [podcast]
Her Reading List for Inspiration:
- Gabor Maté, The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness and Healing in a Toxic Culture, 2022
- Jason Hickel, Less is More. How Degrowth will Save the World, 2021
- Kate Fletcher and Mathilda Tham, Earth Logic Fashion Action Research Plan, 2019
- Helena Norberg-Hodge, Local is our Future. Steps to an Economics of Happiness, 2019
- Rebecca Burgess, Fibershed: Growing a Movement of Farmers, Fashion Activists, and Makers for a New Textile Economy, 2019
- adrienne maree brown, Emergent Strategy. Shaping Change, Changing Worlds, 2017
- Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass. Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants, 2015
- bell hooks, All About Love. New Visions, 2001
