Howdy! 🤠 I'm Jacob, a UX Designer kickin' it in Austin, TX. I am a design leader with over 15 years of experience, deeply committed to blending creativity, strategy, and empathy to craft user-centered products and nurture exceptional teams. I genuinely enjoy the process of simplifying complex challenges and fostering collaboration, as I believe that together we can tackle demanding problems and create designs that truly resonate with people. Throughout my journey, I’ve embraced engaging, beer-inspired side projects while also developing enterprise web and mobile strategies. I find great joy in innovation and use Agile UX methodologies to guide my work, always aiming to empower my teams. What drives me most is the opportunity to create experiences that people genuinely love and appreciate. Whether I'm leading design systems, mentoring talent, or sharing my insights on design thinking and craft beer, my passion and commitment to my work come from a place of genuine enthusiasm and care for those I work with. Tech and tools I use and focus on: WordPress, Shopify, AI, Figma, Adobe CS, and Notion. Brands I have worked for: Charles River Labs > Criver.com Vrbo by Expedia Group > Vrbo.com and Escapia.com…Howdy! 🤠 I'm Jacob, a UX Designer kickin' it in Austin, TX. I am a design leader with over 15 years of experience, deeply committed to blending creativity, strategy, and empathy to craft user-centered products and nurture exceptional teams. I genuinely enjoy the process of simplifying complex challenges and fostering collaboration, as I believe that together we can tackle demanding problems and create designs that truly resonate with people. Throughout my journey, I’ve embraced engaging, beer-inspired side projects while also developing enterprise web and mobile strategies. I find great joy in innovation and use Agile UX methodologies to guide my work, always aiming to empower my teams. What drives me most is the opportunity to create experiences that people genuinely love and appreciate. Whether I'm leading design systems, mentoring talent, or sharing my insights on design thinking and craft beer, my passion and commitment to my work come from a place of genuine enthusiasm and care for those I work with. Tech and tools I use and focus on: WordPress, Shopify, AI, Figma, Adobe CS, and Notion. Brands I have worked for: Charles River Labs > Criver.com Vrbo by Expedia Group > Vrbo.com and Escapia.comWWW…
Howdy! 🤠 I'm Jacob, a UX Designer kickin' it in Austin, TX. I am a design leader with over 15 years of experience, deeply committed to blending creativity, strategy, and empathy to craft user-centered products and nurture exceptional teams. I genuinely enjoy the process of simplifying complex challenges and fostering collaboration, as I believe that together we can tackle demanding problems and create designs that truly resonate with people. Throughout my journey, I’ve embraced engaging, beer-inspired side projects while also developing enterprise web and mobile strategies. I find great joy in innovation and use Agile UX methodologies to guide my work, always aiming to empower my teams. What drives me most is the opportunity to create experiences that people genuinely love and appreciate. Whether I'm leading design systems, mentoring talent, or sharing my insights on design thinking and craft beer, my passion and commitment to my work come from a place of genuine enthusiasm and care for those I work with. Tech and tools I use and focus on: WordPress, Shopify, AI, Figma, Adobe CS, and Notion. Brands I have worked for: Charles River Labs > Criver.com Vrbo by Expedia Group > Vrbo.com and Escapia.com…Howdy! 🤠 I'm Jacob, a UX Designer kickin' it in Austin, TX. I am a design leader with over 15 years of experience, deeply committed to blending creativity, strategy, and empathy to craft user-centered products and nurture exceptional teams. I genuinely enjoy the process of simplifying complex challenges and fostering collaboration, as I believe that together we can tackle demanding problems and create designs that truly resonate with people. Throughout my journey, I’ve embraced engaging, beer-inspired side projects while also developing enterprise web and mobile strategies. I find great joy in innovation and use Agile UX methodologies to guide my work, always aiming to empower my teams. What drives me most is the opportunity to create experiences that people genuinely love and appreciate. Whether I'm leading design systems, mentoring talent, or sharing my insights on design thinking and craft beer, my passion and commitment to my work come from a place of genuine enthusiasm and care for those I work with. Tech and tools I use and focus on: WordPress, Shopify, AI, Figma, Adobe CS, and Notion. Brands I have worked for: Charles River Labs > Criver.com Vrbo by Expedia Group > Vrbo.com and Escapia.comWWWW…
Available to hire
Howdy! 🤠 I’m Jacob, a UX Designer kickin’ it in Austin, TX.
I am a design leader with over 15 years of experience, deeply committed to blending creativity, strategy, and empathy to craft user-centered products and nurture exceptional teams. I genuinely enjoy the process of simplifying complex challenges and fostering collaboration, as I believe that together we can tackle demanding problems and create designs that truly resonate with people.
Throughout my journey, I’ve embraced engaging, beer-inspired side projects while also developing enterprise web and mobile strategies. I find great joy in innovation and use Agile UX methodologies to guide my work, always aiming to empower my teams. What drives me most is the opportunity to create experiences that people genuinely love and appreciate. Whether I’m leading design systems, mentoring talent, or sharing my insights on design thinking and craft beer, my passion and commitment to my work come from a place of genuine enthusiasm and care for those I work with.
Tech and tools I use and focus on: WordPress, Shopify, AI, Figma, Adobe CS, and Notion.
Brands I have worked for:
Charles River Labs > Criver.com
Vrbo by Expedia Group > Vrbo.com and Escapia.com
Experience Level
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Language
English
Fluent
Work Experience
Education
Associates of Applied Science at Johnson County Community College
May 1, 2002 - December 12, 2008Qualifications
Industry Experience
Agriculture & Mining, Consumer Goods, Education, Government, Healthcare, Life Sciences, Professional Services, Real Estate & Construction, Retail, Non-Profit Organization, Software & Internet, Travel & Hospitality, Wholesale & Distribution
Charles River Labs - Responsive Website Redesign
Portfolio: https://www.twine.net/signin
Mission: Enhancing quality of life by leveraging technology to accelerate the journey from drug discovery to FDA approval.
Problem:
How might we create a more informative experience for current and potential customers visiting our website?
Previous state:
Content was heavily optimized for SEO but lacked a customer-focused tone, coming across as “marketing speaking to marketing.”
The responsive experience needed significant improvement.
Search functionality offered little value to users.
Action taken:
Launched an internal Voice of Customer (VOC) initiative alongside another product designer, interviewing 32 employees and uncovering numerous critical insights.
Conducted 25 VOC interviews with customers, revealing blunt feedback: many didn’t fully understand our offerings from the website alone.
The website’s tone felt more like “marketing speaking to marketing” rather than driving genuine customer conversion.
Solution:
Established a Customer Advisory Board (CAB) with over 125 customers, creating a strong feedback loop.
Led a “Knowns and Unknowns” workshop with the internal team to align on insights and identify gaps.
Redesigned the Information Architecture (IA) and revamped the primary navigation.
Conducted user testing on prototypes to validate design choices.
Created three homepage design versions to secure stakeholder alignment and buy-in. My design is shown.
A final design was selected, developed, and successfully launched in April 2024.
Results:
Even though my design was not chosen, our results for the latest design (live at criver.com) are as follows:
Revamped Information Architecture: customers praised the new navigation, finding it much easier to locate products and services.
Results from Jan - May 2023 vs. Jan – May 2024:
260% increase in pageviews.
185% increase in users.
132% increase in sessions.
26% decrease in bounce rate.
webdesigner productdesigner…Portfolio: https://www.twine.net/signin
Mission: Enhancing quality of life by leveraging technology to accelerate the journey from drug discovery to FDA approval.
Problem:
How might we create a more informative experience for current and potential customers visiting our website?
Previous state:
Content was heavily optimized for SEO but lacked a customer-focused tone, coming across as “marketing speaking to marketing.”
The responsive experience needed significant improvement.
Search functionality offered little value to users.
Action taken:
Launched an internal Voice of Customer (VOC) initiative alongside another product designer, interviewing 32 employees and uncovering numerous critical insights.
Conducted 25 VOC interviews with customers, revealing blunt feedback: many didn’t fully understand our offerings from the website alone.
The website’s tone felt more like “marketing speaking to marketing” rather than driving genuine customer conversion.
Solution:
Established a Customer Advisory Board (CAB) with over 125 customers, creating a strong feedback loop.
Led a “Knowns and Unknowns” workshop with the internal team to align on insights and identify gaps.
Redesigned the Information Architecture (IA) and revamped the primary navigation.
Conducted user testing on prototypes to validate design choices.
Created three homepage design versions to secure stakeholder alignment and buy-in. My design is shown.
A final design was selected, developed, and successfully launched in April 2024.
Results:
Even though my design was not chosen, our results for the latest design (live at criver.com) are as follows:
Revamped Information Architecture: customers praised the new navigation, finding it much easier to locate products and services.
Results from Jan - May 2023 vs. Jan – May 2024:
260% increase in pageviews.
185% increase in users.
132% increase in sessions.
26% decrease in bounce rate.
webdesigner productdesignerWW…
Apollo Pro-Connect AI iOS App
Portfolio: https://www.twine.net/signin
Problem:
How might we streamline customer support and updates for customers in Apollo (web application)?
Previous state:
Contact Us button for reaching out to customer service for assistance, which generates a ticket in ServiceNow.
Email and phone support.
Solution:
As a case study, I designed Apollo Pro-Connect, a concept iOS app focused on future customer support solutions. This app uses AI to power a chatbot, allowing customers to connect with CRL services and receive real-time updates on their drug studies.
In one scenario, the app enables customers to contact a Safety Assessment Scientist directly for status updates on their study.
designer appdesigner uxdesigner uxwriter productdesigner…Portfolio: https://www.twine.net/signin
Problem:
How might we streamline customer support and updates for customers in Apollo (web application)?
Previous state:
Contact Us button for reaching out to customer service for assistance, which generates a ticket in ServiceNow.
Email and phone support.
Solution:
As a case study, I designed Apollo Pro-Connect, a concept iOS app focused on future customer support solutions. This app uses AI to power a chatbot, allowing customers to connect with CRL services and receive real-time updates on their drug studies.
In one scenario, the app enables customers to contact a Safety Assessment Scientist directly for status updates on their study.
designer appdesigner uxdesigner uxwriter productdesignerWW…
Vrbo - Escapia: Unified Inbox Web & Mobile Apps
Portfolio: https://www.twine.net/signin
Responsive Communications Tool
Problem:
How might we create a single source of truth for all communications within Escapia?
Previous state:
Communicating with leads, guests, owners, and staff across multiple channels can make it challenging to ensure the job is being done effectively.
Efficiency and thoroughness become challenging when communication channels are not integrated.
Research & demo:
I conducted a UX customer research study with 10 participants to gain insights into the current guest communication process for:
Instant Booking request via Vrbo app (pre-booking).
Submitting a maintenance request via SMS (during booking).
Results:
If all communications could run through that, so no matter who touched the booking everything could be right in this one spot, that would be brilliant.
designer productdesigner uxdesigner appdesigner…Portfolio: https://www.twine.net/signin
Responsive Communications Tool
Problem:
How might we create a single source of truth for all communications within Escapia?
Previous state:
Communicating with leads, guests, owners, and staff across multiple channels can make it challenging to ensure the job is being done effectively.
Efficiency and thoroughness become challenging when communication channels are not integrated.
Research & demo:
I conducted a UX customer research study with 10 participants to gain insights into the current guest communication process for:
Instant Booking request via Vrbo app (pre-booking).
Submitting a maintenance request via SMS (during booking).
Results:
If all communications could run through that, so no matter who touched the booking everything could be right in this one spot, that would be brilliant.
designer productdesigner uxdesigner appdesignerWW…
PourMeABeer iOS App Design
Mobile App for Finding Beer Nearby branding
logo illustrator webdesigner designer appdesigner uxdesigner uxwriter mobiledesign…Mobile App for Finding Beer Nearby branding
logo illustrator webdesigner designer appdesigner uxdesigner uxwriter mobiledesignWW…
Thirsty, Indeed Responsive Shopify Website & Brand Creation
Website: https://www.twine.net/signin
Portfolio item: https://www.twine.net/signin
About:
At Thirsty Indeed, I developed an innovative, responsive Shopify-based eCommerce site for alcohol-related merchandise, optimized for dropshipping and collaboration with creatives and brands. I manage all aspects of the business, from product development and marketing to budgeting and strategy, ensuring a seamless, engaging customer experience while fostering sustainable growth and strategic partnerships within the industry.
Launched June 2024
Responsibilities and initiatives:
Brand direction and style guide development.
Design and build of the Shopify eCommerce website.
Email, social media, and direct marketing campaigns.
Design and creation of all marketplace products.
Budgeting and strategic planning.
Business partner and co-founder tackles all backend development.
Founder & Product Designer:
Orchestrated strategic planning and execution of alcohol-related merchandise projects, fostering innovation and driving business growth across various market segments.
Designed and created a custom Shopify eCommerce solution for alcohol-related merchandise, optimizing user experience and increasing average order value by 35%.
Established a collaborative ecosystem on the platform, connecting creatives and brands to foster innovation and expand product offerings.
Engineered a seamless user experience by strategically aligning budgeting, strategy, and operational elements, enhancing overall platform performance and user satisfaction.
Produced comprehensive product lifecycle strategies, from conceptualization to market
penetration, fostering sustainable growth and expanding market presence.
graphicdesigner branding logo illustrator webdesigner designer productdesigner webdeveloper shopify websitedesign website…Website: https://www.twine.net/signin
Portfolio item: https://www.twine.net/signin
About:
At Thirsty Indeed, I developed an innovative, responsive Shopify-based eCommerce site for alcohol-related merchandise, optimized for dropshipping and collaboration with creatives and brands. I manage all aspects of the business, from product development and marketing to budgeting and strategy, ensuring a seamless, engaging customer experience while fostering sustainable growth and strategic partnerships within the industry.
Launched June 2024
Responsibilities and initiatives:
Brand direction and style guide development.
Design and build of the Shopify eCommerce website.
Email, social media, and direct marketing campaigns.
Design and creation of all marketplace products.
Budgeting and strategic planning.
Business partner and co-founder tackles all backend development.
Founder & Product Designer:
Orchestrated strategic planning and execution of alcohol-related merchandise projects, fostering innovation and driving business growth across various market segments.
Designed and created a custom Shopify eCommerce solution for alcohol-related merchandise, optimizing user experience and increasing average order value by 35%.
Established a collaborative ecosystem on the platform, connecting creatives and brands to foster innovation and expand product offerings.
Engineered a seamless user experience by strategically aligning budgeting, strategy, and operational elements, enhancing overall platform performance and user satisfaction.
Produced comprehensive product lifecycle strategies, from conceptualization to market
penetration, fostering sustainable growth and expanding market presence.
graphicdesigner branding logo illustrator webdesigner designer productdesigner webdeveloper shopify websitedesign websiteWW…
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