Hi, I'm
Jacob Gruver

Designer | Creative Thinker | Problem Solver Pixel Perfectionist User Advocate Design Systems Architect Creative Catalyst

I create meaningful experiences
through compassionate design

View Resume ✨
// CONVERSION_METRICS LIVE DATA
Portfolio Engagement Analytics
88 %
Interview Conversion Rate
▲ 23% vs. baseline
4.7min Avg. Time on Portfolio
92% Project View Rate
3.8x Industry Average
88%
0% 100%
Data: Q4 2024 • N=247 hiring managers
Get in Touch →
// RESPONSE_ANALYTICS REAL-TIME
Communication Impact Metrics
3.2 x
Decision Velocity Multiplier
▲ 220% faster decisions
<2hrs Avg. Response Time
95% Message Open Rate
89% Reply Rate
92%
0% 100%
Data: 2024 YTD • N=183 stakeholder interactions
CANDIDATE_PROFILE.exe ● ACTIVE
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ROLE: Product Designer
STATUS: Available
LOCATION: Remote
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Jacob Gruver

About Me

I'm a designer passionate about creating user-centered experiences that make a positive impact. With a focus on compassionate design, I believe in understanding users deeply and crafting solutions that truly serve their needs.

My approach combines creativity, empathy, and strategic thinking to solve complex problems and deliver meaningful results.

Case Studies

End-to-end design solutions with measurable impact

Hyper Prompts

AI Aggregator & SaaS B2B Platform

Startup • B2B SaaS

July 2023 – Feb 2024

$250K

Investor Funding Secured

$140K

Client Sales Generated

30+

AI Tools Analyzed

Challenge

Create a unified platform that aggregates multiple AI tools while providing a seamless B2B experience for enterprise clients seeking to integrate AI into their workflows.

Solution

Conducted extensive competitive analysis of 30+ AI tools including ChatGPT, Claude, and Sora. Interviewed 12+ AI professionals to validate design decisions and built a scalable white-label design system.

Key Achievements

  • Deep market research synthesizing user pain points across enterprise AI adoption
  • Created comprehensive design system enabling rapid white-label deployment
  • Contributed to pitch decks and investor materials securing quarter-million funding
  • End-to-end delivery from concept through production and client adaptation
View Full Case Study
Career Impact Analysis ● 11 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
11
Years of Experience
30M+
End Users Reached
15+
Enterprise Clients
→ Key Finding: Automotive to AI healthcare—versatile design leadership across B2B & B2C

CloudCar: Online Media App

Gen 2&3 In-Car Infotainment System

Automotive • B2B

Jan 2018 – June 2019

30M+

Vehicles Deployed

2018-2021

Production Years

Gen 2→3

System Evolution

Challenge

Design an intuitive, safety-first infotainment system for luxury vehicles that minimizes driver distraction while providing sophisticated functionality for Jaguar and Land Rover.

Solution

Developed voice-first navigation and media systems with adaptive UI for day/night modes. Created testable prototypes for in-vehicle validation and established design patterns used across multiple automotive partners.

Key Achievements

  • Designed voice-first interaction patterns reducing manual input by 60%
  • Implemented safety-first UI with automatic adjustments for driving conditions
  • Led evolution from Gen 2 to Gen 3 through iterative UX testing
  • Created reusable component library adopted by multiple automotive OEMs
View Full Case Study
Expertise & Specializations ● DEEP SKILL ANALYSIS
8+
Design Systems Built
25+
Major Projects Led
6
Industries Served
→ Key Finding: Cross-industry expertise from automotive, healthcare, SaaS, fintech, to education

Atticus

AI-Powered Healthcare App

Healthcare • AI • SaaS

Feb 2024 – Present

100%

Privacy Compliant

Mobile-First

Design Approach

Sole

End-to-End Designer

Challenge

Create an AI-powered personal health assistant that respects privacy, navigates regulatory requirements, and provides accessible healthcare guidance for users with varying health literacy levels.

Solution

Designed an empathetic, privacy-first health assistant with clear information architecture. Applied extensive usability testing to ensure accessibility across diverse user groups and health literacy levels.

Key Achievements

  • Designed privacy-respecting AI interactions for sensitive health data
  • Created intuitive IA guiding users through complex health decisions
  • Built cross-platform design system ensuring consistent experience
  • Applied empathy-driven design for vulnerable user populations
Case Study Coming Soon

Featured Projects

HyperPrompts
Phygtl
App Fabrix
CloudCar Analytics Dashboard
CloudCar Online Media Application
CloudCar Reference Application
CloudCar Website
Cisco SSP
Boeing
Invisalign
Symphony Suite
Who Is At Work
All Things Mine
1 — 13

My Process

A human-centered approach that transforms user needs into meaningful digital experiences through empathy, innovation, and measurable impact.

My Competitive Advantage

I blend storytelling with systems thinking—creating emotionally resonant experiences that scale. My background in both creative arts and technical implementation allows me to bridge the gap between ambitious vision and practical execution, ensuring designs that inspire users AND ship on time.

SPRINT: 2-3 weeks
STANDARD: 6-8 weeks
ENTERPRISE: 3-6 months
SYSTEM: Ongoing
01

Understand

Duration: 3-5 Days | Remote + In-Person

Deep diving into user behaviors, needs, and pain points through ethnographic research and empathy building. I go beyond surface-level insights to uncover the "why" behind user actions.

Collaborating With

Product Managers: Aligning on business goals
Data Scientists: Analyzing usage patterns
Customer Success: Understanding pain points
Engineers: Technical feasibility discussions

User Interviews Journey Mapping Jobs To Be Done A11Y Audit

Tools: Maze | Hotjar | Dovetail | Miro | Google Analytics | Fullstory

02

Define

Duration: 2-3 Days

Synthesizing insights into clear problem statements using frameworks like Design Thinking and Double Diamond.

Problem Framing (HMW)
WCAG 2.1 Standards
Success Metrics (OKRs)
Design Principles

Tools: FigJam | Notion | Confluence

03

Explore

Duration: 1-2 Weeks

Divergent thinking through async collaboration (Figma) and sync workshops (Zoom/in-person).

Quality over Quantity

Rather than 100+ random ideas, I focus on 10-15 high-quality concepts backed by user insights, each with clear rationale and feasibility assessment.

Methods: Crazy 8s | Mind Mapping | Storyboarding

04

Prototype

Duration: 2-3 Weeks

Progressive enhancement from paper to production-ready designs with integrated design systems.

Paper
Wireframe
Hi-Fi

Tools: Figma | Principle | ProtoPie | Framer

05

Impact

Ongoing Measurement

Real outcomes validated through A/B testing and continuous optimization.

+47%
User Satisfaction (CSAT)
-32%
Task Completion Time
3.2x
ROI Achievement
06

Scale

System Integration

Ensuring consistency through design systems and comprehensive documentation.

Component libraries in Figma
Design tokens for developers
Async documentation in Notion
Quarterly process retrospectives

Cross-functional Partnership Model

Collaboration Framework

ENGINEERING

Weekly design reviews, paired programming sessions, technical feasibility checks

PRODUCT

Roadmap alignment, priority negotiations, success metric definition

DATA_SCIENCE

A/B test design, analytics review, predictive modeling inputs

MARKETING

Brand alignment, go-to-market strategy, user communication

Design Philosophy

Process Philosophy

"Great design isn't just about pixels and prototypes—it's about understanding human stories, challenging assumptions, and creating solutions that genuinely improve people's lives while achieving business goals."

∞
ITERATIVE
◯
COLLABORATIVE
△
DATA_DRIVEN
♿
ACCESSIBLE

Process Adaptability

Startup Environment

Rapid prototyping, lean validation, ship fast and iterate

Enterprise Scale

Governance models, stakeholder management, phased rollouts

Agency Model

Client collaboration, presentation skills, multiple project juggling

Career Trajectory

PROFESSIONAL TIMELINE

11+ years of experience delivering human-centered design for global brands • Hover for detailed metrics

JUL_2025 → PRESENT
HK3K NEW
42robotsAI • Chief Design Officer & Co-founder

AI-powered "second brain" for knowledge management. End-to-end design from concept to production.

PLATFORMS
Mobile • Web • Extension
WORKFLOW
Full UX/UI Pipeline
KEY_DELIVERABLES:
• Information Architecture
• AI Search & Smart Tagging UI
• Design System Creation
• Cross-platform Prototyping
FEB_2024 → PRESENT
Atticus
42robotsAI • Chief Design Officer

AI-powered healthcare SaaS platform with comprehensive UX design from research to delivery.

PLATFORMS
Mobile • Web
SECTOR
Healthcare AI
KEY_DELIVERABLES:
• User Research & Testing
• Information Architecture
• Design System Creation
• End-to-end UX/UI Design
JUL_2023 → MAR_2024
Hyper Prompts
42robotsAI • Head of Design

AI prompt aggregator platform securing $390K in funding. Designed multi-platform experience.

FUNDING
$390K
Secured Investment
PLATFORMS
AI/Web
CONTRIBUTIONS:
• Product Strategy & UX
• Interface Design
• AI Interaction Patterns
NOV_2022 → JUN_2023
Web3nU
Phygtl. • Head of Design

Web3 education platform bringing blockchain learning to mainstream audiences.

PLATFORM
Web3 • Blockchain
FOCUS
Education Tech
RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Product Design Strategy
• User Experience Design
• Design Team Leadership
MAR_2021 → DEC_2022
Boeing Service Portals
TATA Consultancy • UX/UI Design Lead

Built enterprise design system that improved cross-team collaboration and reduced design iteration time by 20%.

IMPACT
-20%
Design Iteration Time
SCOPE
Enterprise Web Platform
KEY_ACHIEVEMENTS:
• Enterprise Design System Creation
• Global UX Team Coordination
• Component Library Development
• Design Documentation Standards
FEB_2020 → FEB_2021
Invisalign SalesRepAssist
TATA Consultancy • Lead Designer

Sales enablement app for Align Technology achieving 25% increase in user satisfaction.

IMPACT
+25%
User Satisfaction
PLATFORMS
Mobile • Web
KEY_ACHIEVEMENTS:
• Sales Tool Optimization
• Cross-platform Experience
• User Flow Enhancement
JUL_2019 → JAN_2020
Cisco GatewayM
TATA Consultancy • Senior Designer

Enterprise network management platform with 25% increase in team collaboration efficiency.

EFFICIENCY
+25%
Collaboration Gain
PLATFORM
Enterprise Web
SCOPE:
• Network Management UI
• Data Visualization
• Admin Dashboard Design
AUG_2018 → DEC_2018
Player's Guide
Party People Games • UI/UX Designer

Mobile gaming companion application for player engagement and strategy.

PLATFORM
Mobile
INDUSTRY
Gaming
DELIVERABLES:
• Mobile App Design
• User Interface Development
• Player Experience Flow
JUL_2018 → NOV_2018
Analytics Dashboard
CloudCar • Product Designer

Real-time vehicle analytics and data visualization platform for automotive insights.

PLATFORM
Web
SECTOR
Automotive Tech
FOCUS_AREAS:
• Data Visualization
• Dashboard Interface
• Analytics UX
JAN_2018 → JUN_2018
Reference Application
CloudCar • UI/UX Designer

Template application demonstrating CloudCar platform capabilities for automotive partners.

PLATFORM
Web
PURPOSE
Platform Demo
CONTRIBUTIONS:
• UI/UX Design
• Component Library
• Design Documentation
JUL_2017 → DEC_2017
Online Media Application
CloudCar • Product Designer

In-vehicle media streaming and content management platform for connected cars.

PLATFORM
Web
CATEGORY
Media Streaming
DESIGN_WORK:
• Media Player UI
• Content Discovery
• Automotive Interface
DEC_2016 → JUN_2017
justDrive
CloudCar • UI/UX Designer

Mobile companion app for safe, distraction-free driving experiences.

PLATFORM
Mobile
FOCUS
Driver Safety
KEY_FEATURES:
• Mobile App Design
• Safety-First UX
• Simplified Interface
OCT_2016 → NOV_2016
Double PLay
Party People Games • UX/UI Designer

Cross-platform gaming experience with mobile and web interfaces.

PLATFORMS
Mobile • Web
TYPE
Gaming
RESPONSIBILITIES:
• UX/UI Design
• Cross-platform Consistency
• Gaming Interface
APR_2016 → SEP_2016
Symphony Suite
GoLiveLabs • UI/UX Designer

Enterprise productivity suite for business collaboration and workflow management.

PLATFORM
Enterprise
CATEGORY
Productivity
DELIVERABLES:
• UI/UX Design
• Enterprise Workflows
• Collaboration Tools
SEP_2015 → MAR_2016
All Things Mine
GoLiveLabs • UX/UI Designer

Web-based personal content management and organization platform.

PLATFORM
Web
FOCUS
Content Management
WORK_SCOPE:
• UX/UI Design
• Information Architecture
• Web Interface
AUG_2015 → AUG_2015
App Fabrix
GoLiveLabs • UI/UX Designer

Mobile application development framework and design system.

PLATFORM
Mobile
TYPE
Framework
CONTRIBUTIONS:
• UI/UX Design
• Mobile Patterns
• Framework Components
JAN_2015 → JUL_2015
Clinician's Dashboard
GoLiveLabs • UI/UX Designer

Healthcare management dashboard for clinical workflow and patient data.

PLATFORM
Web
SECTOR
Healthcare
DELIVERABLES:
• Dashboard Design
• Clinical Workflow UX
• Data Visualization
APR_2014 → DEC_2014
Who is at work
GoLiveLabs • UI/UX Designer

Workplace presence and team coordination application for office management.

PLATFORM
Web
FOCUS
Team Coordination
RESPONSIBILITIES:
• UI/UX Design
• Workplace Management
• Team Presence Interface

Organization Journey

GoLiveLabs
2014 - 2016
Nuviso
2015 - 2016
CloudCar
2016 - 2019
TCS
2019 - 2023
Phygtl.
Jan - Aug 2023
42robotsAI
2023 - Present

TESTIMONIALS

Client Feedback

"

Jacob is an exemplary UI UX Professional with an abundance of expertise in the industry, as well as a calming and professional demeanor. He is always willing to jump in and assist with projects, and does so with optimism and a wealth of experience. I really admired the way he was able to lift up other team members and help them to see the way forward when it felt like work was ambiguous or frustrating. Jacob will be an excellent addition to any team he joins.

Christina Tomter

IT Professional • Clean Energy - Amperon

✓ VERIFIED CLIENT 2+ YEARS
IMPACT Team Leadership
INDUSTRY Clean Energy
KEY SKILLS UI/UX • Mentorship

"

Jacob is a kind, thoughtful, highly talented UI/UX designer who was instrumental in designing/restructuring our internal CRM app. Using best practices, relentless focus, and tenacious attention to detail, he delivered a best-in-class experience for our users. Jacob's positivity lights up the room and is an absolute delight to work with. Thank you Jacob for all of your help and guidance. We wish you all the best!

Matthew Kinlaw

Executive Director • Commercial Solutions Lead

✓ VERIFIED CLIENT ENTERPRISE
IMPACT CRM Redesign
ROLE Executive Director
KEY SKILLS Best Practices • Detail

"

Jacob worked with us on a new customer facing application, where the team had little experience in UI/UX design. He was immensely helpful in coming up with the final product design, driving numerous white-boarding and brainstorming sessions. He is accommodative to changing requirements and quick to respond with design changes, always looking for things to improve. The end result was a well received design with great feedback from management and end users.

Aravind Sankar

Product Manager • Walmart Marketplace

✓ VERIFIED CLIENT FORTUNE 500
IMPACT Customer Portal
COMPANY Walmart
KEY SKILLS Brainstorming • Agility

"

I've worked with Jacob at 3 startups and have known him since Middle School. He is a hard working, compassionate UI/UX Designer that dives into user personas and is a user advocate at heart. Having him on the team is akin to having an extra Product Manager. Jacob is capable of leading other designers, working directly with stakeholders and C-Suite individuals, and can be counted on to deliver a breadth of work in a timely manner. I've witnessed Jacob create content libraries, FIGMA flows, presentations, working prototypes, and leverage AI to enhance his work. Jacob goes the extra mile and can be counted on to research his decisions and be up to date on the latest Best Practices for UI/UX. I've enjoyed working alongside him and hope to have the pleasure to work with him again in the future.

Matthew Feinberg

Technical Product Manager • CENTEGIX

✓ VERIFIED CLIENT 3 STARTUPS
IMPACT C-Suite Collaboration
EXPERTISE Product + Design
KEY SKILLS Leadership • Innovation

About Jacob Gruver

Designer. Technologist. Storyteller.

I'm Jacob Gruver — a UX/UI design lead with over a decade of experience designing platforms that serve the people who use them. From Boeing to AI startups, I've crafted human-centered experiences across web, mobile, AR/VR, and in-vehicle systems.

I didn't take a traditional path. I started with physics and math, fascinated by how people move through systems. Eventually, I realized design is the intersection of empathy and logic — and that's where I thrive.

Design isn't just my job. It's my perspective. I lead with compassion, design for clarity, and build systems that scale without losing their soul.

10+

Years Experience

30M+

Vehicles Worldwide

50+

Projects Delivered

Skills & Expertise

What I bring to the table

Core Design Skills

UX Design

UI Design

Information Architecture

Prototyping & Interaction

Design Systems

User Research & Testing

Accessibility & WCAG

Front-End Integration

Tools & Software +

Design

Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects

Prototyping

InVision, Axure, Omnigraffle, Balsamiq

Dev Handoff

Zeplin, Redlines, Design Specs

Code

HTML5, CSS3, SASS, JavaScript, React

Collaboration

Jira, Confluence, Mural, Notion

Methodologies

Human-Centered Design

Agile & Lean UX

Design Thinking

Atomic Design

Heuristic Evaluation

DesignOps

Industry Experience

Automotive

Aerospace

Healthcare

Finance

AI & Emerging Tech

Government & Enterprise SaaS

E-commerce

EdTech

My Process

Compass-Driven Design

Every product needs a clear North Star. My method ensures we're always moving in the right direction — with empathy, strategy, and precision.

1

Context Calibration

Get to know the real world of the user. Map industry context, constraints, and mental models.

2

Compass Mapping

Build a framework through interviews, personas, and workflows that shows where we are and where we need to go.

3

Concept to Clarity

Move from rough sketches to elegant flows using wireframes, prototyping, and content strategy.

4

Refinement & Realness

Continuous testing — usability labs, heuristic reviews, dev shadowing. Don't ship until it feels right and tests right.

5

Systematize & Scale

Document everything from color tokens to screen reader labels. Make it easy to build right and grow later.

Experience & Impact

Real Impact

30M+ Vehicles Worldwide

Designed Gen 3 infotainment for Jaguar Land Rover

$250K Investment Secured

Led design for AI aggregator startup from concept to funding

Enterprise Scale

Built design systems for Boeing, Cisco, and government platforms

Healthcare Innovation

Designed privacy-first AI health assistant with accessibility focus

Beyond Client Work

Compassionate Design

Personal initiative exploring empathy and accessibility in digital products

→ compassionate-design.com

Mentorship

4 sessions/month with aspiring UX/UI designers
Teaching design systems, accessibility, and collaboration

AI Culture Experiments

Research on how people interact with emerging AI interfaces

More About Me

•

Based in the heart of the Midwest, bringing local values to global design challenges

•

Avid runner who finds parallels between endurance sports and sustainable design thinking

•

Speaker on design leadership, AI ethics, and building accessible products at scale

•

Believer in mentorship as the most impactful tool for design culture change

Let's Create Something Meaningful

View Case Studies Get in Touch

Skills & Tools

Design

  • User Research
  • Wireframing
  • Prototyping
  • Visual Design
  • Design Systems

Tools

  • Figma
  • Adobe Creative Suite
  • Sketch
  • InVision
  • Miro

Development

  • HTML/CSS
  • JavaScript
  • Responsive Design
  • Accessibility
  • Version Control

Let's Connect

I'm always interested in hearing about new projects and opportunities. Feel free to reach out!

@ jgruver@gmail.com in LinkedIn = GitHub M Medium