I'm a Product and Service Design Strategist with over 15 years of experience across AI-first platform design, enterprise UX, and full product lifecycle design in complex, research-driven environments.
I transform systems into intelligent platforms that drive measurable outcomes by putting people first. I facilitate vision informed by data, co-create compelling stories with great content, build with users, and deliver with precision.
Hey, I’m Jillian.
MY PRACTICE
What it’s Like Working with Me
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I’m energized by complexity and flexible in how I design for it. I’m passionate about process, not for its own sake, but as a tool to produce the best outcomes.
I’m an organized and self-driven facilitator who adapts frameworks and DesignOps methods, such as Design Thinking, to meet the needs of the team, the business, users, and the opportunity or problem at hand.
Impact-First, Pragmatic & Adaptive
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My approach is dynamic and creative: I build practices and share stories that people want to contribute to and be a part of. I’m an advocate for accessibility and inclusivity.
I believe the best work happens when you empower people to be part of the process, especially those who will ultimately use what you're building.
Collaborative & Human-Centered
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Iterative, Experimental & Feedback Driven
I seek feedback early and often, and I iterate quickly to explore possibilities and define the best solution within real-world constraints. I’m detail-oriented and will take calculated risks based on the tradeoffs. I build just enough fidelity to learn fast—using prototypes to test, align, and adapt direction in real-time.
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A Growth Mindset with End-to-End Craft
I stay fully engaged across the entire product lifecycle, from discovery and user research to detailed visual execution. I maintain a high bar for quality in every phase of the work.
My favorite phase of a project is always the one I’m immersed in because each phase brings a new opportunity to learn, create, reflect, and improve the experience for people who have a stake in what I’m building.
MY SUPERPOWERS
What I Bring
Core Expertise
AI-First Platform Design
Ecosystems & Systems Strategy
DesignOps & Governance
Visioning, Concepting & Executive Alignment
0–1 + Large-Scale Redesigns
Research & Growth Experimentation
Design Toolkit
Claude Code & Cursor
Figma
Mural & Miro
Keynote, Powerpoint & Excel
GitHub, JIRA, & Trello
Procreate, Illustrator & Photoshop
Premiere Pro
Special Interests
Storytelling, Marketing & Content Strategy
Behavioral & Neuroscience
Coaching, Mentoring & Community Engagement
Motos, Doggos & the Outdoors
Brand Design, Pattern Design & Handlettering
Creative Fabrication & Cosplay
What Partners Have Said
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“Jillian contributed significantly to the business by leading with her expertise in research, prototyping, and design. She offers tremendous value and is directly responsible for the design and creation of first-of-a-kind experience in the AR Technology domain.”
Mark Yeandle, Mobile Product Lead, Apple+IBM
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“Jillian led the team to be creative and flexible. She provided coaching and mentoring on research and design best practices and partnered extremely well with our multi-studio team. The client was extremely happy with IBM's work, and we received praise at the AT&T executive levels.”
Mike McLeod, Partner, IBM Consulting
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“Jillian demonstrated outstanding subject matter expertise and empathy for our iX Designer population. Without her expertise and thoughtful contributions to course design, L&K could not have achieved the excellent outcome.”
Jonathan Bales, Global L&K Lead, IBM Consulting
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“Jillian showed leadership, provided valuable feedback, and performed at a high level. Her enthusiasm and willingness to learn and grow is unsurpassed.”
Catherine Adams, Global Delivery Lead, IBM Consulting
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"Jillian is a tenacious leader and UX expert. We were very lucky to have her for the short time on this project."
Logan Daniel, Senior Product Manager, Kaiser Permanente
Work Experience
Jun - Aug 2025 (Contract)
Staff Experience Designer, Acrobat Studio - GenAI
2021 - 2025
Senior Designer, IBM Research
2022 - 2023 (Volunteer Role)
DesignOps Lead, IBM Spark Design Festival
2021
Lead Experience Designer
2020 - 2021
Associate Design Director, IBM Consulting
2018 - 2022 (Volunteer Role)
Chicago Founder & Co-Lead
2018 - 2020 (Volunteer Role)
Community Engagement Chair
2016 - 2020
Senior iOS UX Designer
2015 - 2016
Surface Designer, Home Products
2010 - 2015
Lead Designer, Digital Innovations
Recognition
Outstanding Research Accomplishment, Innovation Platform Data & Insights | IBM Research (2024)
Outstanding Research Accomplishment, AI Recommendations | IBM Research (2023)
Research Accomplishment, Advancing Responsible & Inclusive Tech Framework | IBM Research (2023)
Service Excellence Award, Consumer Engagement Product Suite | IBM Consulting (2020)
Innovation & Delivery Excellence Award, Healthcare & Life Sciences | IBM Consulting (2019)
Outstanding Technical Accomplishment, Consumer Product Service Technician App | IBM Consulting (2018)
Speaking & Teaching
Making a Usable Assistant with WatsonX.ai Orchestrate | IBM HCAI Research Excellence Talks (2024)
AI: The Future is Still Human | IBM Spark Design Festival (2024)
Dysfunctional Teams Create Dysfunctional Products | IBM Spark Design Festival (2024)
Knowledge Graph Induction Enabling Recommending and Trend Analysis: A Corporate Research Community Use Case | International Semantic Web Conference (2022)
Advanced iOS Design Essentials | IBM Global Knowledge & Learning (2020)
Well Aware | AIGA Chicago (2019)
Hexagon UX Mentorship Program | Hexagon UX Chicago (2019 - 2020)
Design for Social Good | AIGA Chicago (2019)
Finding Your Voice | Hexagon UX for Women Talk Design (2019)
Design for Social Impact | Hexagon UX for Chicago Design Week (2018)
Education
Kellogg|Northwestern Executive Education
Advanced Certificate in Product Strategy
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design
BFA Communication Design & Printmaking
Bauhaus University, Weimar Germany (MIAD Exchange Program)
Visual Communication & Fine Art
University Wisconsin - Washington County
Psychology & Anthropology
Clients
Beyond Work
Community
People Person
As the founder of Hexagon UX Chicago and former AIGA Chicago Community Engagement Chair, I'm passionate about building inclusive design communities and mentorship.
Moto
Adventurer
When I'm not designing platforms, I'm exploring backroads on two wheels (often with my adventure dog, Panda) and running Brappy Gals, where I hand-draw bold, vintage-inspired art that celebrates color, character, whimsy, and adventure in motorcycle culture.
Creator Across Mediums
I dabble in illustration, lettering, fine art, cosplay, surface design, fabrication, and cinematography—always experimenting with new ways to tell stories and inject personality, while celebrating human ingenuity in everything I create.