A Whimsical Journey Through the Design Wonderland of Jen Byyny
03/11/2025
We are thrilled to chat with Jen Byyny—a leader in UX whose journey from business and marketing to pioneering design has inspired countless professionals in the field.
SVUX: Can you tell us about your background? Where are you from, and how did you become interested in design?
Jen: My background is in Business Administration and Marketing, eventually leading me to graduate school for media design at ArtCenter College of Design. I’m originally from Minnesota, and I’ve spent many years living in Los Angeles and Denver, where I currently reside. After my undergraduate studies, I discovered design by playing with computer graphics. I had always noticed design throughout my life, but when I started creating, I got lost for hours—and it was fun. That’s when I knew I had found my passion.
SVUX: What inspired you to pursue a career in UX design specifically?
Jen: UX design appealed to me because it perfectly blends design, logic, and business goals. UX was a specific role that worked closely with visual designers back then. Today, we’re often full-stack designers. The strategic challenge kept me in UX—solving minor tactical problems and tackling big-picture issues. It’s about evolving an experience in a way that meets business goals while ideally exceeding user expectations.
SVUX: How did your early experiences shape your approach to design today?
Jen: Working on both B2B and B2C projects taught me a lot about wire framing and the importance of hands-on design. A particularly formative experience was working on complex enterprise tools. I worked side-by-side with Yahoo’s editorial teams, providing invaluable insights into what worked, what didn’t, and what the users needed. This direct user collaboration set the stage for an empathetic and efficient design approach.
SVUX: What have been some of the most significant milestones in your career as a UX design leader?
Jen: I’ve had some incredible moments, like presenting to CEOs at major companies, having graduate school projects showcased at CES, and even presenting my MFA thesis at a conference. Beyond these achievements, the most fulfilling parts have been mentoring talented designers and learning from brilliant design leaders.
SVUX: What has been the most challenging product experience you’ve designed, and what made it particularly difficult?
Jen: One of the toughest challenges was joining Livongo and learning, just three weeks in, that Teladoc Health had acquired us. Integrating two distinct product offerings and merging different company cultures simultaneously was no small feat. It required great adaptability, clear communication, and strong leadership to ensure a cohesive product experience despite the complexities.
SVUX: Who do you look up to for inspiration in the design community, and why?
Jen: I greatly respect designers like Ray and Charles Eames because of their breadth and innovative approach. I also find inspiration in the evolving designs of the Olympic Games. Otl Aicher’s pioneering work for the 1972 Munich Games set a high standard for system design, and watching each host city reinvent that vision is truly a masterclass in cohesive and scalable design.
SVUX: How do you balance gut intuition with data-driven design research when creating great products?
Jen: Earlier in my career, I relied heavily on data, but over time, I’ve come to appreciate intuition as a form of personal data. Intuition prompts questions about moving forward, seeking more information, or trying something bold. Data tells a story with patterns, but that intuitive nudge can sometimes catalyze innovation. Instead, I’d try to learn from a failure rather than miss an opportunity by ignoring a strong instinct.
SVUX: Is there a physical product you believe is beautifully designed that more people should know about?
Jen: Definitely—the Eight Sleep mattress pod. It’s a marvel in personalized design, tracking your sleep biometrics, allowing you to tailor your sleep cycle with temperature controls, and even waking you with a haptic alarm. Sleep is fundamental to our health, and this product puts that experience front and center.
SVUX: Where do you see the field of UX design heading in the next few years?
Jen: I see UX evolving at the intersection of invention, context, behavioral design, and predictive analytics. AI will become a crucial partner in our design processes. Despite these technological advancements, high-quality, craft-driven design remains critical. I also advocate for a broader term—“experience design”—to embrace all aspects of creating meaningful interactions, whether UX, CX, or everyday objects.
SVUX: If you could advise your 21-year-old self, what direction would you suggest taking?
Jen: I’d advise myself to delve deeper into the intersection of psychology and design—what we now call behavioral design. I would also advise myself to ask “why” repeatedly during the design process to get to the essence of the problem and opportunity.
SVUX: Which companies in Silicon Valley do you think are creating exceptional user experiences right now?
Jen: Exceptional user experiences enhance life through thoughtful technology. Companies like Spotify, Duolingo, Headspace, and Netflix are great examples. I’m also excited by emerging health, finance, and security companies breaking new ground. I believe we’ll see many of them making headlines shortly.
SVUX: What emerging trends in UX design are you most excited about?
Jen: I’m excited about the convergence of behavioral design, AI, and emerging technologies. While AI continues to automate, the human touch—creating relatable, trustworthy experiences—remains irreplaceable. That creative insight transforms good design into something truly remarkable.
SVUX: How do you approach mentoring the next generation of designers?
Jen: I start by listening—sometimes being the last to speak. I want to understand what excites young designers and fuels their creativity. Their energy is contagious. We all grow as a community by focusing on their strengths and celebrating their achievements.
SVUX: Can you share a project you’re particularly proud of and explain why it stands out?
Jen: One standout project was at Yahoo, where we developed Yahoo Shine, a fresh brand product and site that was innovative for its time. We created a new logo, engaged community contributions, and targeted “CHOs” (Chief Household Officers) in a unique way. Collaborating with a talented team on such a forward-thinking project was an unforgettable experience.
SVUX: What essential qualities make a successful UX design leader?
Jen: Four qualities come to mind:
Immersion in the Craft: Get into the weeds with your team. This keeps you empathetic and connected to the problem space.
Cross-functional Collaboration: Build strong relationships across departments to ensure alignment on goals and solutions.
Transparent Communication: Always check that your vision is clearly understood.
Inclusive Leadership: Partner with senior leaders to ensure they remain connected to the work and its strategic direction.
SVUX: How important is collaboration with other disciplines, like engineering and product management, in your design process?
Jen: Collaboration is vital. Great ideas can come from anyone, so involving cross-functional teams from the very start is essential. This not only fosters alignment but also prevents premature dismissals of innovative ideas. If we work together, there’s always a way to find a solution.
SVUX: What role does user feedback play in your design decisions?
Jen: User feedback is indispensable. Without it, we risk designing for ourselves or just our internal stakeholders. Qualitative and quantitative data provide a narrative, but the blend of that data with intuition guides us in the right direction.
SVUX: How do you stay current with the rapidly evolving technology and design landscape?
Jen: I’m committed to lifelong learning. I take online classes, experiment with new tools (including plenty of AI resources!), and keep in touch with my design community. I also enjoy entering design contests, which offer fresh challenges and new perspectives.
SVUX: What future challenges do you foresee for UX designers, and how can they prepare for them?
Jen: The field of UX is constantly evolving, and what we know today might be very different tomorrow. Designers must remain curious and adaptable. I encourage emerging talent to consider what role they want to play in the future of UX and to keep evolving alongside the industry.
SVUX: Finally, what keeps you passionate about UX design after all these years in the industry?
Jen: The endless potential of our field keeps me passionate. UX is an ever-evolving landscape where we continually reinvent how people interact with technology. The opportunity to mentor and shape future design leaders while connecting the rich history of UX with its promising future makes every day an exciting adventure.
Jen Byyny reminded us in our conversation that UX design is more than crafting interfaces—it is creating meaningful, human-centric experiences. Her blend of strategic vision, technical mastery, and empathetic leadership is reshaping the landscape of experience design and inspiring us all to push the boundaries of what’s possible.
