75 Summers By Kerrie Hess Is A Love Letter To Intentional Living
Pause with purpose
By Kiri Johnston | 10th June 2025Internationally renowned fashion illustrator and creative director Kerrie Hess has always had a knack for capturing beauty — whether through her signature brushstrokes, dreamy palettes, or Parisian-inspired charm. But in her latest project, the lens turns inward.
Her new book, 75 Summers, is less about fashion, more about feeling. A limited-edition release, it’s a personal and illustrated reflection on life, change, self-love, and the power of consciously choosing how we spend our time.
I was lucky enough to attend the Brisbane launch of 75 Summers at Hellenika last week, where Kerrie hosted an intimate morning surrounded by women who’ve followed her creative journey. After the event, she shared a few reflections with me on the rituals, mindset shifts, and quiet moments that shaped her most personal project to date.
The spark that started it all
The title 75 Summers was sparked by something surprisingly simple. It was a short video clip Kerrie scrolled past one morning featuring Eddie Murphy, speaking about how most of us get around 75 summers in our lifetime.
“I just couldn’t stop thinking about how short life is from this clip,” says Kerrie. “It made me make a conscious choice to live more intentionally in that moment.”
That moment ended up becoming page one.
“Life is short. Edit and design yours into the best one possible.”
That’s how the book opens. But what was the first thing she actually changed?
“I think one of the first and most effective for me was journaling each morning,” she shares. “I started doing this a few years ago now to just get the thoughts out of my head and also make sense of them, and now I can’t live without this practice.”
It’s one of many rituals Kerrie shares in 75 Summers. The small but powerful habits that keep her grounded, like morning meditations with coffee or ten minutes of stretching before work.
On being vulnerable, and why she did it anyway
Despite the dreamy illustrations, this book is raw in parts. Honest. Reflective. Not always neat and pretty.
“I think the process of writing this book actually helped me move through a lot of personal things,” she says. “I also don’t see vulnerability as a weakness, I see it as a superpower and one of the best ways to connect with others.”
In a world of fast content and short captions, 75 Summers offers a deeper kind of storytelling, something that invites readers to slow down and reflect alongside her.
Letting go of people pleasing
One of the biggest shifts Kerrie shares is something many women will relate to: the need to unlearn people pleasing.
“This has taken years to overcome, but it’s been life changing,” she says. “I now allow myself ‘a pause’ before automatically saying yes to anything. And if I know I have to decline an event or a project, I’m comfortable now to kindly do that without reasons. This is liberating!”
It’s a powerful reminder that boundaries can be beautiful too.
Friendship, soulmates, and giving your energy wisely
Kerrie also speaks to the importance of female friendships, and why they deserve just as much care and energy as romantic relationships.
“As women we are all taught to pour most of our energy into romantic relationships, but I believe friendships can be soul mates too! You have to give them energy and attention as well.”
This theme runs through the book, the idea that who and what you give your energy to shapes the quality of your life.
The role of art in her storytelling
While the writing in 75 Summers is deeply personal, the illustrations still speak volumes.
“I’d like to think that the illustrations convey the idea of dreaming, being in the moment, and for women (who are my audience), the idea of being the main character in your own life, rather than only ever giving to others.”
What does “refining what matters” look like now?
“I think it’s just recognising that time is our most precious commodity,” Kerrie says. “So with that in mind, really being intentional with our day, week, month and year — to plan beautiful things that do spark joy for ourselves, as well as time with the people that we love. I think it’s that simple!”
Her idea of a perfect summer?
“It’s probably in Noosa, with friends and family, reading books, ocean swims and eating seafood!”
And if readers take just one thing away?
“More self love, more self kindness and more intention to create your most beautiful life.”
Kerrie Hess: 75 Summers is a limited edition release, available now at kerriehess.com. Whether you’re in a season of change or simply craving more meaning in your everyday, it’s a gentle, beautiful read that invites you to slow down, reflect, and design your life with intention.
