People often ask if my glasses are upside down.
They’re not. The design just challenges expectations.
That’s how I approach work, too.
I'm Jen Lemerand, a design leader who scales human-centered practice through systems, strategy, and enablement.
Design teams face predictable problems: unclear priorities create bottlenecks, inconsistent quality erodes trust, training doesn't stick. I build the systems and standards that eliminate these patterns so teams perform under pressure.
My work spans agency scale (working with diverse clients across fast-moving projects) and enterprise scale, building capabilities for organizations with thousands of people. This range shapes how I diagnose what's actually broken versus what feels urgent.
I'm most effective when design needs to scale as a team capability, not a bottleneck.
Design Operations & Team Systems
Building the intake, quality, and capacity systems that help teams operate predictably under growth.Experience Strategy & Decision Frameworks
Clarifying direction in complex environments so teams align on priorities before execution begins.Cross-functional Alignment & Stakeholder Management
Translating business goals into team direction so stakeholders and execution teams move in the same direction.Capacity Planning & Quality Standards
Creating measurement and standards frameworks that prove impact and maintain quality at scale.Talent Development & Team Building
Designing learning systems that turn training into sustained capability through embedded practice.
Where I focus
Outside of my professional work, I've built and led creative communities focused on mentorship and inclusion.
I founded SheSays Chicago (2,500+ members) and served on the AIGA Chicago Board of Directors, designing mentorship programs serving 700+ designers.
These experiences taught me that strong systems start with people.
Built by community, shaped by design
Recognition & Speaking
Emcee for Re:imagine Retail
Sam’s Club
Served as Emcee at flagship innovation conference. Was the face of the event and key orchestrator of an experience that convened 325+ attendees and 30+ sprint teams tackling enterprise-wide retail challenges.
Glantz Annual Values Award
Glantz
Winner of the annual employee of the year award for embodying company values: be a team player, act with kindness and honesty, be nimble in nature, do the right thing, learn every day.
Celebrating Women in Innovation
Chicago Innovation
Recognized SheSays Chicago as a women focused organization making a major impact in the lives of Chicago’s innovative women.
Building Better Mentorship
AIGA Leadership Conference
Workshop presenter for annual AIGA Leadership Retreat, helping other chapters build successful mentorship programs.
Design Your Future: Making the Transition to Digital
General Assembly
Panel moderator on what it takes to make the career switch from advertising to digital design.
The Heres Award
Revelry Agency
Second annual recipient of The Heres Award, given to a leader in the company who instills value in their team and the company: honesty, integrity, service to others.