Coffee
Talk.

Raised in Michigan.

Californian at Heart.

Travels by Bicycle.

My name is Jenny Beatty and I am a multidisciplinary creative leader with a background in design, strategy, and development currently based in Portland, Oregon. I thrive in smart environments where design-thinking and technology combine to reinvent how users connect with brands via interactive solutions based on sound brand strategy.

Throughout my 16-year career, I have developed award-winning print and digital experiences for ambitious brands, including Visa, Sutter Health, Audi, Amgen, Salesforce, Accenture, SAP, and more. It’s my dedication to intelligent cross-functional collaboration that sets me apart from other creative managers—an approach that has resulted in emotionally impactful visual narratives and functional design systems that pushes the limits of emerging technology.

Life Thus Far

Growing up near Detroit, Michigan makes me a solid Midwesterner. I call soda ‘pop’, communicate with about 85% sarcasm, and operate with an above-average percentage of resourcefulness and humility. I left Michigan to attend the University of Arizona in Tucson where over the course of five years, I completed two BFA degrees in Design and Film simultaneously. It actually wasn’t a thing to do both at the same time until I came in and broke the mold. I started my career in Los Angeles, experimenting with an endless amount of verticals and roles for seven years. New York City is where I landed next, spending a year earning a Masters in Branding from the School of Visual Arts. Back in LA, I applied my new smarts to the agency world and eventually packed my bags for San Francisco where I grew as a creative and finally learned where I belonged in the creative industry. After 5 years in the Bay Area, I moved to Portland for a new role and became a first-time homeowner. In my spare time, I work on my house and tend to my giant garden full of native plants, succulents, and rare tropicals.

Here are some words
that describe how I operate

Intuitive

With the ability to size up situations quickly, I’m known for thinking on my feet and taking definitive action to combat ambiguity. Colleagues have described me as the vital link between strategy, design, and tech.

Empathetic

People and stories interest me the most. As a creative, it’s the essence of ideas and a user’s experience that command my focus. In my mind, it doesn’t matter if the design is pretty if the user isn’t moved to act.

Proactive

I believe that success comes from the ability to anticipate and prepare for future situations. That manifests with effective communication and very strong attention to detail when it comes to quality and creativity.

Outside of the Office

Shortly after moving to Los Angeles after college, I started a love affair with cycling. Fueled by the sense of accomplishment and social community, cycling became my passion. Over the past 10 years, I have ridden the mileage equivalent of 2 trips around the world. For a number of years, I rode my bicycle from Los Angeles to San Diego for the AIGA Y-Conference. My biggest accomplishment on the bike was a 540-mile charity ride from SF to LA. These days, I’m more of a commuter than a racer, but cycling and the culture that surrounds it is my solace outside of the office.

“If you can design one thing, you can design everything”
—Massimo Vignelli