I’m a multidisciplinary design leader with nearly two decades of experience shaping digital products at the intersection of user experience, interface design, and front-end development.
My Career
Throughout my career, I’ve led and mentored cross-functional teams, worked on products from strategy through to code, and helped craft innovative digital experiences for a wide range of clients. My approach is rooted in a deep understanding of all aspects of interface design (UX, visual design, and development) allowing me to bridge the gap between vision and execution. I'm somewhat of a universal translator for multiple disciplines. I’m a firm believer in design that’s not just beautiful, but functional, scalable, and informed by real human needs.
As a leader of experience design, I’ve had the privilege of mentoring designers, shaping product strategy, and fostering a culture of collaboration between design, product, and engineering. I take pride in creating environments where teams can do their best, most thoughtful work. There is no greater joy than seeing the whole team succeed and to see young designers flourish and grow into greatness.
But there’s more to me than being "Unicorn Prime", leader of design unicorns.
Examples of My Leadership
Advocating for both brand and patient needs
When the Nestlé Health Science brand team wanted to require users to create accounts and log in to see all recipe content on the Live2Thrive patient support site, I made the case for (and eventually convinced them to allow) open access citing how patients can easily get similar, but less valuable content elsewhere. Otherwise, the client would lose engagement and, more importantly, the patients would be unlikely to access to the specialized, high-calorie recipe content that would aid them in maintaining healthy weight. Note: CF patients need up to twice the daily intake of calories as a typical diet requires.
Creatively (and tactfully) motivating a direct report
When a direct report was consistently failing to submit timesheets, I devised a plan called "The Grumble™", where twice a week we would meet one-on-one for 15 minutes and do our timesheets together. This allowed for a safe space to air grievences about the timesheet process (thus the name, The Grumble™). In doing it this way, I avoided making my direct report feel shamed or scared into compliance. Instead, we found value in the extra time together and timesheets were completed on time.
Championing XD (experience design) in a time of agency confusion
When the agency I was working for merged with another agency, processes became muddy. Teams didn't understand the role of the XD (experience design) team! I took to creating a "What is XD" deck, explaining the roles, capabilities, and value of the team, and initiated educational workshops for each major discipline in the agency (account, strategy, project management, art, and copy). I customized the deck for each discipline so that they could focus on how they would work with the XD team in this new enviornment. After each session, our team became more repected and involved throughout the agency.
My Life
I'm also a multi-instrumentalist who plays guitar, bass, keys, drums, and sings. Though my bachelor's degree is in multimedia production, my associate degree is in vocal performance. I've been in several bands (one of which can be found on Spotify). Music has always been a major part of my life — from leading worship at my local church to writing and performing comedy parody songs under the alter ego J.Mikes. (Yes, there are videos. They're pretty good, but also pretty embarassing. I might show you if you ask nicely.)
Outside the creative hustle, I’m a die-hard New York Knicks fan, a proud dad, a loving husband.
If you’re looking for someone who can align vision with execution, inspire teams, and build experiences that truly resonate with users, I’d love to connect.
What my colleagues say
“Everyone loves working with Jai. He has a camaraderie and rapport with just about everyone at the agency. That's not easy to do with a staff of nearly 200 employees. Along with that, Jai is amazing with project level client presentations. Jai has the tech background of a seasoned developer, the customer insights of a strategist, and has enough client experience to pitch any digital project you can think of. I don't even know if he knows how good he is. Andrew Fontana (supervisor) VP Director of UX
“I had the pleasure of working with Jai as his manager as Head of Experience Design, and later watching him naturally step into that leadership role when I transitioned out. Jai brings a rare combination of thoughtful strategy and creative problem-solving to experience design. He's incredibly quick to grasp complex concepts and apply critical thinking to identify potential risks, consistently developing innovative solutions that make digital experiences genuinely useful and meaningful for users. What impressed me most was his ability to coach and develop his team across multiple disciplines while maintaining the perfect balance of confidence and humility. In client situations, Jai truly shines. He's an excellent communicator who can articulate the "why" behind design decisions in ways that align stakeholders and drive projects forward. Ben Zanghi (supervisor) VP Director of UX/Head of Technology
“Jai is a true collaborator and someone that is not only easy to work with, but fun. Even in stressful situations, he can rally his team and partners while keeping the mood light, the work moving, and making people feel supported and heard. Jillian Watkins (supervisor) SVP Group Creative Director
“When working under Jai, he consistently proved to be the calm in any storm. He is solution-oriented, always ready to lend a hand, and approaches every challenge with clarity and level-headedness. His communication skills are exceptional. He explains design decisions in ways that clients can easily understand, ensuring alignment and trust. His dedication to best practices and delivering user-focused solutions set a high standard for our team. Beyond his professional strengths, he's simply a joy to work with. Approachable, an excellent listener, and someone who can lighten even the busiest days with well-timed humor. He created an environment where people felt supported and motivated. Work with him, and you'll laugh at his jokes, learn random pop-culture gems, and find even the toughest days a little brighter. I'm grateful to have worked with him and highly recommend him as a leader and collaborator.Kristina Josue (direct report) Sr. User Experience Designer
“As a Senior UX Director, Jai brings an incredible attention to detail while always keeping the broader vision in mind. He is a collaborative leader who uplifts his team, creates space for innovation, and ensures the work consistently meets the highest standard. Any team would be lucky to have his expertise. Gabe Gullbergh (direct report) Sr. Product Designer
“I've been lucky to have Jai as a mentor, boss, and friend. He knows how to bring levity to high-pressure situations while guiding cross-functional teams to solutions that align user needs with business goals. It's a balance I've seen few people achieve as well as he does. His feedback is always honest and constructive, and it has greatly contributed to my growth as a UX and Product Designer. Most importantly, he consistently championed the skills and needs of our team (as individuals and as a collective), always pushing us to create valuable, intuitive, and engaging experiences. Anyone would be lucky to work with him. Jai, thank you for always keeping it light-hearted. You've removed the stress from so many situations and made it so easy to communicate. Veronica Garcia (direct report) Sr. Product Designer
“I've worked with many talented people over the years, but Jai stands out as one of the very best. He's an exceptional UX leader with a rare ability to bridge design, technology, and business strategy seamlessly. His broad understanding of the digital landscape allows him to guide teams from strategy through execution with clarity and precision. More than once, Jai's quick thinking and depth of insight have saved both me — and the project. He approaches complex problems with a steady, thoughtful mindset that builds confidence across teams, and he's never afraid to dive into the details when needed. Beyond his skills, Jai is someone I deeply respect — a calm, thoughtful presence who inspires confidence across teams and brings out the best in others. He's the kind of leader you always want in the room when the stakes are high. Simply put, Jai is among the best in the field, and any organization would be lucky to have him. Alex Terzian Associate Director Technology
“Jai is truly one of a kind. He's not only an incredibly smart and strategic UX/UI expert, but also someone who genuinely cares about creating the best possible experiences. Every time I've worked with him, he's brought his A-game—always thoughtful, always intentional, and always willing to explain the "why" behind his approach in a way that makes everyone feel included and aligned. What I love most about Jai is that he's constantly pushing for improvement, but he does it with such humility and collaboration that you feel like you're on the journey together. He's talented, humble, and just plain awesome to work with. Meghan Natalicchio VP Account Director
“Jai is the UX guy who argues in the shower with his shampoo bottle that isn't easy to open (and hard to hold when it's wet). He's the intuitive UI architect who, by his very nature, questions why these things don't work better for people. He's a natural technologist who see's things not as a creative exercise or a technical flex, but how they'll be used (or often misused) by the audience. When I first started at Fingerpaint I was baffled by the fact that we didn't have a "Jai", as from my perspective, he lifted everything he touched. By the very nature of including his insight on projects, he helped make them better. I learned a ton by watching him work, fielding his questions, and through his vantage—changing my perspective from a PM looking to move a project forward, to a Sales Rep delivering a detail in a hallway, a doctor trying to learn more about a product, or a patient looking for support. Tom Gilmour Director of Project Management
“Jai is a gem and a class act. I watched in the early 2010s as he helped lead our agency through the gray area between print and the early days of digital. In every meeting and project, he kept the end user in mind and never hesitated to speak up for proper UX, teaching all of us, and our clients, along the way. Known for his deep digital knowledge, he was a valued presence in the room, often surprising us with fresh insights and persuading everyone to act on them. He has a real talent for simplifying the complicated. Most importantly, he backed up his ideas by getting involved in the work as a true teammate. He's smart, personable, and incredibly easy to collaborate with. Juliet Alvarez Group Art Supervisor
“In almost every single pitch deck I've ever written agency-side, we include this quote by Maya Angelou: "People will never forget how you made them feel." Jai is THAT guy. The one that makes other humans feel good: about the product they're using, about the interface they're using, about the experience they're having in that moment—not to mention just an all-around great person to work with. Colleen Sweeney Director of Worldwide Portfolio Strategy
“Jai isn't just a great leader—he is the kind of mentor who made me feel supported, encouraged, and capable of so much more than I thought possible. What I appreciated most was how approachable and genuine he was. He always took the time to listen to me, give me thoughtful advice, and celebrate my wins both big and small. Jai led by example—showing integrity, patience, and humility every step of the way. He created an environment where I wanted to do my best work, not because I had to, but because I felt inspired to. Working with him had a lasting impact on me, and I'm grateful for all I learned under his guidance. Asaari Karkhanis Associate Creative Director
“Jai brings a sharp sense of humor and wit that makes every collaboration enjoyable. He is insightful, generous with his time, and brings deep knowledge across user experience, product design, functionality, and platforms. What stands out most is that he pairs all of this skill and experience with humility—never making it about himself, but about the work and the team. Bill Martin Associate Director of Technology
“Jai is knowledgeable, strategic, and does the highest quality of work—day in and day out, whether the project is in its infancy or at the client presentation stage. Jai always brings value to internal meetings, asking questions and driving conversation to ensure the whole team understood the ask, spark deeper thinking amongst the group, and uncover gaps to address with clients. He is a strong and personable presenter to client teams. I always valued having him involved in projects, because he simply thought of things no one else would, and we were all better for it. Friendly and always open to collaborate, debate, help others learn (with proven examples), or chat when you needed it most, Jai is a fantastic team member that any team would be extremely lucky to have! Tracy Michaels Strategy Director
“If Jai was on a project, it meant it'd be done right. As someone who has a self-admittedly limited knowledge around UX and UI, I leaned on Jai to help advise our team on designing the best product to balance our clients' high visual standards and seamless functionality. Jai would present multiple options that would get us there, and always with a smile. It was always a pleasure (and an education) to work with Jai, and I hope I get to do so again in the future. He is an extremely valuable addition to any team fortunate enough to have him. Trisha Salge VP Associate Creative Director of Art
“Jai always brings some next-level insight to the table, thinks 12 steps ahead, and gets stuff done despite the obstacles. He's also a joy to be around. He lights up every room he's in and he always remains focused on the end goal: providing the best possible experience for our audience, whoever they may be. He asks all the right questions (especially when other people overlook them), and he's never afraid to speak up about how he believes the work can be done better. Spencer Cowley Sr. Copywriter
“Extremely knowledgeable is an understatement when it comes to Jai! He's one of the best around! He has been integral to so many projects I have worked on. He is always my go-to guy for any questions about UX/UI, and he's always willing to jump in to any project and lend a hand. He also went above and beyond for the agency, volunteering to help with the fun committee when we needed help with surveys and events. Jai is an amazing, passionate, and hardworking leader that any team would be lucky to have! Rebecca E. Heller Art Director
“Jai has remained a steadfast partner with a wealth of knowledge. Whether you need to run something past Jai in terms of 'can it be done', or you need some fresh ideas for digital tactics you can rely on Jai. Brian Manna Group Art Supervisor
“Jai's UX leadership is nothing short of exceptional. He consistently delivers user-centered design that resonate with healthcare professionals. Jai facilitates strong cross-functional partnerships—guiding creative teams, steering compliance discussions, and aligning with account leads to ensure solutions are not just creative, but also effective and on-brand. He is a mentor to aspiring UX professionals and an inspiration to peers across the agency. Kristen Parman Art Supervisor
“Jai is excellent at giving feedback. His knowledge is uncanny and he delivers it to you with great modesty and charm. He is also just as successful at receiving feedback. He is an exceptional listener and is very courteous by providing you with the opportunity to address all your concerns. Fiana Jackameit VP Associate Creative Director of Copy
“Jai helped me more than anyone else at Lexis-Nexis. If there was a problem or issue that I couldn't figure out, Jai was the first one I came to and he always had an answer. He always added energy and enthusiasm to our team. I wish I could work with someone as helpful and positive as Jai at every job. Ethan Heffler Product Designer
“Jai's extensive knowledge of current web trends and standards, as well as cross-browser compatibility issues, made sure that our sites looked great on all platforms they were viewed on. Jai is probably the best front end developer I have had the honor to work with. Andy Miller Web Designer