Architect of Intentional Futures
Hi, I'm Jake, a Design Catalyst who helps organizations navigate the complexities of the AI-first world. I partner with leaders to move beyond simple optimization and tackle the core challenges of our time: the shift from "screen-thinking" to "systems-thinking" and the urgent need for a human-centered approach to AI.
My work is not just about creating products; it's about using intentional design as a provocative force to challenge assumptions, surface hidden biases, and redefine success. I believe that the true value of design lies in its ability to be a disruptive agent that forces a re-evaluation of the problem itself.
My Approach: From Optimization to Provocation
In an age of automated chaos, simply "doing design" isn't enough. The quality of a system is determined by the quality of its inputs. My approach focuses on intentionally challenging and defining these strategic inputs—the metrics, assumptions, and foundational values—to become a catalyst for systemic change.
Instead of just optimizing for engagement or efficiency, I help you ask the difficult, necessary questions early in the process. What are the ethical costs of this system? Is it rewarding harmful behavior? This approach elevates the designer's role from a simple maker to a strategic partner responsible for shaping the fundamental questions that precede product development.
This is a uniquely human quality that AI, as an automated system, cannot replicate. While AI is excellent at refining a design to be more efficient, it cannot challenge the very metrics it was programmed to achieve or conceive of a purpose outside its training data. My role is to provide that ethical and imaginative pushback, ensuring we build a future that serves holistic human flourishing, not just narrow optimization.
Key Areas of Expertise:
Intentional Design & Strategic Influence: Using design as a provocative tool to empower design leaders to shape resilient and ethical futures.
Systems Thinking: Applying a holistic methodology to diagnose and resolve challenges in both digital products and design organizations.
Internal Service Design: Designing the design function itself as a strategic service that drives business value and innovation.
Strategic UX for Complex Systems: Diagnosing and resolving user experience challenges in high-stakes, AI-influenced environments.
Ready to Cut Through Complexity?
Whether you're exploring a new project, need to untangle an existing challenge, or simply want to learn more about how intentional design can transform your product, I'm here to help.