Creative leadership at the intersection of brand, business, and the human experience.

I’m a multidisciplinary creative leader with a history of connecting brand, product, and customer experience considerations into cohesive, scalable design strategies and systems. Over more than 25 years at Chicago-based Morningstar Inc., I helped build one of the most trusted brands in financial services through hands-on design and creative direction, strategic brand stewardship, and empathetic leadership of teams and operations.

My creative and strategic practice, Ackley Design Office, helps brands and organizations succeed by delivering relevant and impactful experiences informed by a deep understanding of the problem space, the business environment, and the needs of human beings on the other end of the solution. My services include:

» Communication Design and Data Visualization
» Product Design and Development
» Brand Strategy and Systems
» Design Management, Coaching, and Mentorship
» Speaking Engagements and Guest Lecturing

I received my BFA in Graphic Design at The University of Illinois Chicago School of Design, where I now teach as an adjunct instructor. I’m currently pursuing a Master of Product Design and Development Management (mpd2) at the Segal Design Institute within the McCormick School of Engineering at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. I was also fortunate to attend the Basel School of Design’s summer typography workshops with Wolfgang Weingart, as well as completing The Yale School of Management's Business Perspectives for Creative Leaders program sponsored by the AIGA.

I’ve been a guest speaker at various AIGA events and local design Meetups, as well as educational institutions such as the University of Illinois and Chicago Public Schools. My work has received recognition by the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) and the Society of Typographic Arts (STA), including entry into the permanent Chicago Design Archive.