More on Jess
I started my design career at a little Portland-based agency called Media Drink, helping local mom-and-pop shops create their first real online presence — photoshoots, websites, logos, you name it. It was my first true introduction to bridging print and the digital world.
Then Nike knocked. I shifted fully into the digital realm and helped expand Nike Women’s business to 20+ countries on Nike.com. It was corporate, big, and an incredible education in global digital commerce — but it left me hungry for a different kind of impact.
That curiosity led me to Silicon Valley in 2017, where I trained to work in high-impact startups.
With that foundation, I joined my first startup, NurseGrid, in the B2C space where I designed scheduling tools that support nurses and managers. Working there grounded my craft in mission-driven purpose.
Today, I’m at HMH (previously a non-profit, NWEA), a B2C company creating products that help teachers drive better students outcomes. I built the company's first accessible design system and now lead enterprise initiatives that shape the experience across our flagship products.
What I care about:
Mission-driven work. Teams with grit, humor, and heart. Making software easier to use (not harder). Accessibility as a non-negotiable. Evidence-based design rationale, minimalist UI, and a sense for creativity.
My design philosophy:
Good design solves worthy problems, explores the relationships between things, and makes you want to come back.
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Fufillments
- 🛶 Kayaking
- 🎣 Fishing
- 🧼 Making soap
- 🍳 Cooking
- 🍜 Anything noodle
- 🐈 Cats! Cats! Cats!
- 🎬 Sci-fi films
- 🎶 House music
- 🧹 Tidying
- 🌲 Nature
Vulnerabilities
- 🥭 Mangos
- 🌱 Seasonal allergies
- 🧦 Wet socks
- 👁 Dry eyes
- ☀️ >90°F climates