Hi, I’m Jen! I’m a Creative Problem Solver and Human-centered Designer supporting Operational Excellence, Employee Experience, and Product Strategy. When I’m not at work, you can find me working on my future garden, obsessing over my latest creative endeavor, or planning my next adventure.
Traveler and foodie
I’m always looking for adventure—not just a way to recharge. Aside from good food and interesting stories, I’m drawn to countries that spark curiosity, inspire me creatively, and challenge the way I think. I’m most fascinated by people and the many ways we as humans can be very different, yet alike, no matter where in the world we are.
Curator
Product Hunter
As a consumer, I always have my eye out for the best products that are not only beautiful, but functional and a joy to use. A minimalist at heart, I personally seek brands and ideas dedicated to making life simpler, more intentional, and more pleasurable. I love supporting conscious brands who balance profit with purpose, and are dedicated to making a positive impact in socially responsible and environmentally sustainable ways.
Designer
Hygge (HUE-guh) is more than just home decor and living a meaningful, well-balanced life. I find ways to bring the same philosophy into my work:
- Focusing on the customer (Mindfulness and intention)
- Creating engaging experiences (Making moments memorable)
- Keeping design transparent (Finding joy in simplicity)
I think in both systems and stories and work extremely well with forward-thinking, design-driven companies who value user research and cross-functional team collaboration. I’m continually inspired by the work of Changemakers and am eager to work on projects that make a positive impact on the world.
WHAT IT’S LIKE TO WORK WITH ME
Operational Support
- Workflow Optimization – Streamlining tools and processes from project kick-offs to final deliverables, developing systems for organizing, managing, and coordinating creative assets and documentation across departments for internal and remote team members.
- Communication – Helping teams articulate business objectives and technical constraints with clear, concise project briefs that result in successful design deliverables. Approaching ideation sessions and design reviews by prefacing discussions with a clear problem statement and the current stage the project is in within the product design lifecycle.
- Balancing workloads and maximizing productivity for team members, helping to optimize meetings with purpose and focus by defining meeting objectives and desired outcomes, as well as identifying essential vs optional attendees.
- Cross-functional team collaboration via remote-friendly, creative ideation sessions that become valuable reference documentation accessible to multiple teams and Stakeholders.
- Helping creative teams navigate ambiguity and move forward to get “unstuck” or gain the clarity they need to complete tasks. Bridging the gap between business objectives and creative deliverables by providing frameworks for stakeholder feedback and approvals.
- Positive all-hands-on-deck attitude, rolling up sleeves to support teams during challenging peak seasons and periods of organizational growth.
- Enhancing Workplace Experience and building positive team culture through the planning and coordination of team-building activities and events that help Creatives feel valued, supported, challenged, and inspired. As a certified Event Planner, I enjoy coordinating logistics and building relationships with multiple event venues, caterers, and other event vendors for local and destination events.
Creative Production & Design
- Digital Asset Management – Organizing creative assets and deliverables via content management systems, design repositories, and Design Systems.
- Creative Resource and Talent Management – Collecting and centralizing creative resources and documentation. Management and coordination of new hires and external contractors, including recruitment, onboarding, and training.
- Project Management & Design – Tracking timelines, progress, status, and capacity for creative teams, outsourcing creative work, and taking on my own projects as needed to meet aggressive deadlines.
- Creative Direction – Developing templates and communicating design needs using Design Briefs with visual aids/design boards for Art Direction.
- Market & Trend Research – Support Product, Merchandising, and Marketing teams with market and trend research, pulling inspiration into mood boards and creating content for presentations.
Research, UX Strategy, and Product Design
- Human-centered, Design Thinking approach to product design and innovation, keeping users front-of-mind throughout various stages of the product lifecycle.
- User Research – Passionate about helping companies understand their audience’s lifestyle behaviors, current user experiences, and pain points with particular products in order to identify business opportunities and lay the groundwork for innovation.
- Analyzing and Synthesizing Data – Identifying patterns and trends in research findings to surface additional research questions or meaningful insights that inform design direction. Understanding the difference between (and the benefits of both) Market Research and UX Research, knowing that what users want isn’t always what they need, and the value of observing what people do vs what they say.
- UX Strategy – Research and action plans that outline what information is already known, what we still need to learn, and the best methods to understand what we need to know in order to take confident steps forward. Acute awareness of research biases and careful attention to triangulation by using a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods. Mindful of connecting the dots between UX improvements and business objectives, particularly to stakeholders, and highlighting key metrics and KPIs necessary for measuring success.
- Content creation in partnership with Product Managers for stakeholder presentations, including prototypes and copywriting. Proactive partner in utilizing PM Methodologies for evaluating and prioritizing product features in addition to testing the viability of multiple product ideas.
Process Flowcharts
Process Flowcharts
Persona Snapshots
Persona Snapshots
User Personas
User Personas
Affinity Mapping
Affinity Mapping
Environments
Creative Marketing & Design Agencies
Print Publishing & Packaged Consumer Goods
eCommerce
Agile Product Development (mobile and web)
Industries
Healthcare
Active / Outdoor Lifestyle
Custom Stationery, Gifts, and Home Goods