Hello,
I'm Michael Jennings, a User Experience Designer in the SF Bay area. With 10+ years of helping teams build engaging digital products, I have experience working with large and small teams in digital product and apps development, guiding stakeholders through a proven user-centered design process that includes Design Strategy, UX/UI development, User Research, Interaction Design, Visual Design, and Creative Direction.
In my current role as Sr. User Experience Designer, my focus is helping my team develop innovative features – working closely with stakeholders to understand data-driven goals, and bridging technical and creative barriers with product managers, designers, and engineers.
Previously a Creative Director, I managed the design team, web site and brand identity across external channels for Fyber, a German Ad-Tech start-up, supporting the team through multiple acquisitions and the transition to a public company. I have also enjoyed working in the games industry for many years where I helped develop user experiences for Zynga, Machine Zone and Scopely's biggest games. A passionate design professional, I continue to be inspired by new challenges, working with amazing teams, and creating impactful digital product experiences for emerging technologies.
Recommendations
Michael is one the strongest designers I've had the opportunity to work with at MZ. He is an excellent collaborator, easy to work with and open to feedback. He does not hesitate to propose creative alternatives to solve problems at hand especially under high pressure situations. He has good product sense and decent understanding of tech to be able to interface and works effectively with product managers and engineers.
I would love to work with him again and recommend him for a role that would need to make huge impact through designs in a very short period of time.
ADITHI SAMPATH / GROUP PRODUCT MANAGER / WALMART LABS
Michael and I worked closely together for almost a year on CastleVille at Zynga. He is the epitome of a Senior/Lead UI Designer. He's calm and knows how to handle pressure. He can switch gears on a dime, and isn't afraid to get dirty with hands on work. In one hour, I've witnessed him kick off features with product managers, discuss game mechanics with designers, provide direction to 2D art, and then settled in front of a Cintiq to finish up an icon. He's that versatile, and definitely someone I'd be lucky to work with again.
MIKE MARIANO / PRINCIPAL UX DESIGNER / ROBLOX
Michael built out and led Fyber's creative team that is behind the brand that became one of the top three mobile SSPs in the world. His multi-talented skills that stretch from creative strategy to design to UX/UI has really helped Fyber accelerate our market position and brand presence in the industry. The polish that he has brought to our brand is a true testament to his creative leadership chops, and our parent company (RNTS Media) has also tasked Michael to bring their business and brand to life, which was met with high kudos. Whether it's a complex project or a small mundane task, Michael always has a solution and is able to accommodate with calmness, flexibility, and speed. This is quite hard in a fast paced, high growth environment like ours and is something that has really stood out. Michael is the most hard working, dedicated creative leader I have ever worked with, and any company would be lucky to have him own their creative arm.
MASAMI HIRATA / SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT / ROCKET LAWYER
I had the pleasure of working with Michael for 2 years. The creative team at Fyber ran like a well-oiled machine thanks to Michael's leadership, great project management, and ability to empower his team. He has a great eye for design and a very high standard of quality but also has a goal-oriented approach to get big projects done fast. He's always willing to take on a new challenge, be it online analytics, UX, innovating design, or implementing a streamlined creative process, Michael has the drive to tackle it all.
RENEE MATSALLA / PRODUCT MANAGER / BENEVITY