Jacob standing in front of the old Skunk Train in Fort Bragg, CA.

I’m a high-agency generalist.

I’m Jacob, a UX/Product Designerbased in Bend, Oregon. I work at the intersection of human-centered design, accessibility, and emerging technology, helping teams turn complex systems into clear, usable digital experiences.

My path has taken me from LA design studios to working with global brands like Sony and Subway, and now to modernizing public-sector digital services.

Outside of work, I’m a dad to two girls, an AI tinkerer, and a furniture designer who still believes physical objects have a lot to teach digital products.

Quick Facts

A miniature model of a cozy wooden cabin with lit windows, surrounded by miniature pine trees and a red toy car on a gravel driveway, with snowy mountains in the background at sunset or sunrise.

Based at the foot of the Cascade Mountains in Bend, Oregon

Miniature figurines of a man and two girls walking on a gravel path surrounded by trees and green landscape.

Dad to two little girls— my morning wake up team

A figurine of a man sitting at a wooden desk, looking at a computer monitor with a nature scene and text on the screen. The desk has a cup of coffee, a pencil, and an open notebook. There is a window with a mountain view and a warm-toned desk lamp illuminating the scene.

UX/Product Designer exploring how AI can expand the design process

A miniature woodworking scene featuring a man in a plaid shirt working on a small wooden project at a workbench, surrounded by tools and stacks of wood in a workshop setting.

Design furniture whenever I get the chance

My Design Philosophy

Good design makes complicated things feel simple.

Accessibility isn’t a feature — it’s the baseline.

If users are confused, the system is broken.

Technology should expand human capability, not replace it.

Curiosity is the most important design tool.

MY STORY

The Beginning

Scenic view of Wild Goose Island in Glacier National Park, Montana.
A 9 or 10 year old Jacob rock climbing on Sheep Mountain in Montana. He's on a large granite cliff, with a scenic forest and mountains in the background.

I grew up in a small mountain town of around 1,400 people in western Montana before my parents uprooted the family and moved to Hawaii.

After a couple of years enduring sunshine and tropical beaches, I escaped to Los Angeles to try my hand at college.

Several years later, design degree in hand, it was time to get serious.

I began working on apps, websites, and graphics for companies ranging from global brands like Sony and Subway to indie furniture and lighting retailer A+R.

Public Sector Design

Jacob's team at a City of Bend holiday party wearing props.

Eventually my path led me to government work, where I now help improve digital services for the City of Bend.

Designing for the public sector means working within real-world constraints — complex systems, diverse user needs, and technology that must serve everyone.

It’s challenging work, but incredibly rewarding when thoughtful design makes essential services easier for people to use.

Exploring Lately.

  • How AI can accelerate UX workflows

  • Human-in-the-loop systems

  • Designing for long-term adaptability

  • What physical objects can teach digital products

Many of these ideas show up in my writing and experiments.

Life Outside of Work.

When I’m not designing digital experiences, you’ll usually find me:

  • Spending time with my family

  • Building furniture

  • Exploring trails around Bend

  • Experimenting with new AI tools late at night