When Jenni was in college, she knew one thing to be true: Whatever she became in life, it had to involve art. To some, that might seem like a risky pipe dream, but to Jenni, it was a framework. The key was to find a realistic way to make art that culminated in a steady career path. Being the open-minded, curious, and adventurous spirit she is, she decided to explore. Literally! She wandered the halls of her college, popping her head into classrooms, asking senior art majors what they were working on and what kind of jobs they planned to get. She chatted with future interior designers, visual artists, and graphic designers, eventually landing on industrial design.
“People hear that and think I’m designing industrial buildings or something,” said Jenni. “But it’s really about designing physical objects through the lens of ergonomics and form—furniture, shoes, any object you can come in contact with.”
Shortly after graduating, she found herself designing baby products at a Brooklyn-based company, where she hired our current managing designer and design operations lead, Rachel Adams. There, Jenni ended up doing a lot of graphic design because she was so good at it. “I could only resist my fate for so long,” she said. “I admit it, I’m a graphic designer.”
Jenni and Rachel stayed in touch after going their separate ways, reuniting years later when Rachel asked Jenni to consider freelancing with 2A. Jenni’s initial interview, which was supposed to be a “temperature check” on how she felt about 2A, ended up being an onboarding call because she was so impressed.
Lucky for us, Jenni’s innate, calculated risk-taking sets her work apart. She gives equal weight to aesthetics and function, resulting in designs that are visually pleasing but also purposeful. “I base my work on the structural aspect, such as branded guidelines and other criteria, but also have that ‘How can I make the client smile when they see this?’ approach,” explained Jenni. It’s all about bold balance and projecting her love of freedom and discovery—with a healthy dose of practicality. That’s important in the tech industry, where things are always changing.
“Having to be nimble is a nice challenge. You can’t get too comfortable with anything, and that’s how I live life in general,” she said. This openness to change is at the core of what keeps her work fresh and exciting.
These days, you can find Jenni habitually stepping out of her comfort zone on a yoga mat, in a Pilates class, or on a surfboard in the San Diego waves. As a yoga practitioner and certified teacher, Jenni has come a long way from being “the least athletic, least flexible person I knew.” Yoga helps her find equilibrium amidst her adrenaline-seeking adventures, which have included autocross racing, go-karting, and car racing ride-alongs with her dad.
“My yoga work has helped me change perspective about my perceived limitations versus my actual limitations, and to bring balance into my life,” added Jenni. It’s a good thing she’s centered, because when she’s not hitting a client’s project out of the park, she’s chasing after her toddler. “He’s doing something different every day! As I said, you can’t get too comfortable.”