Small
Jenny Beatty is a savvy hands-on Creative Director with an undeniable talent for all things digital experience design. A futurist who is always two steps ahead, she’s an expert at navigating ambiguity and pushing through perceived limits.
Having spent nearly two decades as a designer and creative leader, Jenny’s career is almost old enough to vote.
She’s done all the things at both agencies and in-house, along the way building a second-to-none skill repertoire that is rooted in design but shares the stage with strategy and development.
She shines the brightest during the moments of radical collaboration between clients, creatives, and engineers—working together to build upon and push each other’s ideas. Jenny is the thread from nothing to over-delivering tech-forward experiences that evoke a sense of awe.
Backstory.
Growing up near Detroit makes me a solid Midwesterner. I call soda ‘pop’, communicate with ~85% sarcasm, and operate with an above-average percentage of resourcefulness and humility. I cut my teeth in LA, where I experimented with an endless amount of verticals and roles. Landed in NYC and spent a year earning a Masters at the School of Visual Arts under Debbie Millman. San Francisco is where I fell in love with tech and matured as a creative leader. Now based in PDX, when I’m not pitching or directing projects, I work on restoring my midcentury house and mentoring other designers.
Icebreaker: Ask me about bikes
Fueled by a sense of belonging and accomplishment, my love affair outside of work is cycling. In 10 years, I have ridden the mileage equivalent of 2 trips around the world and have a reputation for riding my bike to the AIGA Y-Conference in San Diego—from Los Angeles! From 540-mile charity rides to designing kits and commuting on my Brompton—cycling and its culture are a big part of my life.
At the
Office.
Philosophy
Good design triggers all of our senses and for a moment makes us feel like we are the only one that matters. It anticipates needs, cuts through the noise, and doesn’t stop at the immediate goal. Good Creative Directors know that they alone are not the answer, and great work takes a team committed to pushing beyond the boundaries of convention. I bring a hands-on transformational style, rooted in asking hard questions at the right moment. It’s coolness under pressure when navigating endless ambiguity, and oftentimes it’s taking a critical look at what stands in the way of everyone feeling successful and committing to change.
The Living Wall was an interactive experience I created with my team as part of the multi-installation Van Ness Gala. To this day, it’s one of my favorite projects to talk about.
Passionate
Digital Designer
Deep down I am a designer who is devoted to leveraging the potential of design and technology to deliver impactful, insights-driven experiences. I’ve created everything from complex figital installations to websites to campaigns and branded content. While the tactical challenges are evergreen—the passion to inspire remains.
Emotive
Communicator
Storytelling comes to me naturally. From structuring the narrative of a sales pitch to finding analogies that help motivate and provoke my audience—I know how to get my point across and gracefully defend great work. Those who have watched me present, know that I bring an emotive confident voice and words that captivate.
Growth-oriented
Leader
A truth about leadership is that no one gets there alone. I would be nothing if not for the teachings of others, seeking out feedback, persevering through big hard things, and looking within to consistently challenge myself to get better. Growth to me is remaining adaptable to new situations while reaching beyond my own assumptions and biases.
Expertise
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Digital Experience Design
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Web Design
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Physical (Navigating This Space) Digital
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Complex Interaction Design Systems
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Brand Campaigns/Content
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Public Speaking
Clients
After
Hours.
Mentorship
Since early 2021, I’ve been volunteering a few hours a week as a mentor to designers at ADPList. My mission is to de-mystify the creating hiring process and coach individuals about how to communicate the value they bring to the world of advertising. In two years—I’ve talked to hundreds of people around the world in 1:1 and group sessions. If you’re a creative leader reading this, I encourage you to sign up to mentor or help promote ADPList.
Public Speaking
It takes bravery to speak publicly on a stage, it’s not for everyone—but I wouldn’t be where I am today if it hadn’t been for the speakers at countless AIGA conferences and local design events sharing their wisdom. Talking about my experiences publicly is one of the ways I give back to the design community that helped me grow. Most recently, I was invited to be interviewed on Julieth Fajardo’s podcast UX Untamed where I spoke about the intersection of conceptual design and UX.
