I began my design journey in Cali, Colombia, where I completed my Graphic Design degree, and I haven't looked back since. My career has taken me through various places, including Vancouver Film School, San Diego, and a remote masterclass with CareerFoundry's program in Berlin. Along the way, I've picked up skills in UX, UI, Voice UI, Frontend development, and, most recently, I earned a certificate in AI for UX/UI. After twenty-five years in the field, I still work across both print and digital design, as I believe that the discipline of one sharpens the other. The same eye that builds a Storybook component library also designs an annual report that looks great in print. Since 2003, I've managed two careers in parallel.
On the studio side, I founded Jackie Lackenbacher Design and have kept it running for over 20 years, serving nonprofits and startups with tight budgets who need trustworthy design. On the corporate side, I led design at The San Diego Foundation, where I brought design in-house and saved over $1 million annually. I then served as VP of Graphic & Web Design at LightStream (Truist Bank), where I introduced human-centered practices and developed a Storybook system that reduced review cycles by 60%. Most recently, I worked as a Lead Consultant Experience Designer at Perficient, where I led a redesign that doubled task success and reduced frontend development time by 40%.
For me, leadership has always meant creating sustainable solutions that extend beyond individual projects, designing systems that other teams can effectively manage, and mentoring designers to take over these systems. At Perficient, this involved scaling a design system with over 20 components and providing structured critique and coaching to designers. At LightStream, I introduced human-centered methods, usability testing, and empathy workshops into an organization that had never implemented them before, and I remained as VP long enough to ensure these practices became established. At The San Diego Foundation, I led the complete transition of design in-house—a significant structural change, not just a creative one—and took ownership of the entire editorial process.
This same commitment to design leadership extends beyond my day job. Since 2003, my studio has focused on nonprofit and startup work, especially where design leadership is often lacking. For instance, the redesign I led for the Greater DC Diaper Bank improved user satisfaction by 70% in just six months for an organization that couldn't afford to hire an agency.
I actively participate in the local and international design community through groups such as AIGA San Diego, San Diego Experience Design (SDXD), UX Speakeasy, and UXPA International, recognizing that the field evolves rapidly and that collaboration is essential for learning.
The common thread throughout my career is that I excel at the intersection of strategy and craft. I design systems that deliver results, conduct research that drives measurable outcomes, and lead teams while maintaining the warmth that comes from being a creator first. I am bilingual in English and Spanish and am currently exploring how AI impacts product design from the inside out.
