Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Alt.
Hi Jennifer, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Sure! I’m driven by great design… don’t you love when an app or website works as it should? Isn’t it awesome when the technology KNOWS what you want and delivers without you asking? Me too! That is why I started Jennifer Alt Design. I help businesses elevate digital product design by focusing on users’ needs; YOUR needs.
Deep down, I knew I would end up working for myself. Like some of you out there, the traditional path never appealed to me. If there were an alternative, I would take it. I negotiated Fridays off at former jobs because an extra day of play/rest enabled me to work more efficiently. I went to college online, knowing it would give me the freedom to study when it made the most sense to me. I even eliminated my first class in high school because it gave me an extra hour to rest before starting my day. Haha, what can I say? I am a firm believer that you do your best when you have rest. I cannot be the only one that thinks this way!
When building my design career through other companies, I saw how the business strategy worked. I saw how marketing and design all came together; I sought to tackle all aspects independently. I utilized any extra time to fine-tune my side hustle. This allowed me to learn from mistakes early. I quickly took these opportunities to improve my approach and build my network.
In 2016 I leaped to full-time. Hello, Jennifer Alt Design! Hello freedom, hello… oh crap, tons of accounting!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not 100% smooth.
I studied sequential graphics and started working in design before I graduated. (It is amazing what a solid portfolio and perseverance will do for you!)
I then went on to new media design (now called user experience) from the Academy of Art University. I took classes 100% online, which was taboo at the time, but it sharpened my skills of working digitally, remotely, and with those in different time zones. When agencies switched to remote/online work due to COVID, I felt lucky to be ahead of the curve. That transition to self-discipline is not easy!
I struggled for the first few semesters. To pay for school, I worked full-time as a designer for a lifestyle magazine. I missed out on traditional college life because I was always working and studying. My design education was up to me. I did not live in the city, and I did not study next to peers. I had no support from like-minds other than online.
I struggled to finish. I constantly asked myself, “Why do I need to pay for this expensive degree if I am already in the industry”? Learning digitally gave me self-discipline that became the crucial backbone for the work I do now. It trained me to be a problem solver and initiator. It also showed me what a good (and bad) user experience looked like. It is interesting how things in your path shape where you end up.
My first client ended up canceling the project before we finished. They were not happy with the results. It was devastating and discouraging, but I realized I did not guide them through my design process but rather let them dictate the results. They hired me for my expertise, and I was not delivering. I was doing want they wanted.
The hardest part of what I do is knowing when to speak up when a client is wrong. Knowing when to speak up and how to speak up is takes skill.
Being a wife and mother brings additional challenges to entrepreneurship, but that is a story for another day.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
As of today (2021) Jennifer Alt Design has been in business for 13 years and full time the past 5. My consultancy builds growth generating digital experiences that solve problems, advocate for users, and deliver results.
That could mean defining who users are for a mobile app startup and developing a prototype design to pitch to investors. It could mean taking an already established website and improving the design and functionality to drive marketing and sales for a local boutique. It can also mean breaking down an entire road map for a new digital experience for an enterprise-level company.
Any of these projects may include a combination of the following:
• User research and affinity mapping
• Persona development and empathy mapping
• Competitive analysis
• Information architecture
• User flows
• Wireframes
• UX prototypes
• UI designs
What makes me unique from others is the ability to see the big picture. I know what tools/tactics to utilize from a business and budgeting standpoint; to objectively meet user goals. I’ve also been told my presentation style is top notch.
I am easy to work with and pride myself on problem-solving. Raised by a stern military father (think Robert Di Nero in Meet the Fockers) and a strong-willed entrepreneurial mother, streamlining and getting things done is in my blood!
What I value most about the different companies/clients I work with is being able to learn from processes that work and do not work. I take that knowledge and refine my strategy for future clients. I am humbled knowing I do not always have the answers but strive to find them. As long as I remain hungry for knowledge, I cannot lose.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Be passionate! Know what you want and go for it! If you do not take a chance on yourself, who will?
If UX design or design, in general, is your path, put together an online portfolio that showcases your skills and the type of work you want. It may not be perfect the first, second, or third time around but as long as you are continuously refining and defining, you will get there!
If you want to be a successful entrepreneur, your product/offering must help others. At the end-of-the-day, others want to know how you, your product, or your service might help them. Not the other way around. Educate them.
Tactically speaking, it is good to cut out unnecessary expenses and save money before leaping full time. They call it a side hustle for a reason.
I have tons of tips/tricks and am happy to share. Please reach out directly if interested.
Contact Info:
- Email: contact@jenniferalt.com
- Website: www.JenniferAlt.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenniferaltdesign/
- YouTube: https://youtu.be/A8PWGWjkyoU?t=1
Image Credits
Deleigh Hermes Photography
