Back to the LeaderboardThe Design Leadership Index

Jen Dunnam

VP of Design at Patreon (formerly ACD at frog; Shopify, Huge, Google Creative Lab, MIT Senseable City Lab)

ExecutiveLeads from the frontOld schoolProductBrandSystems
An executive design leader steering a creator-economy org through the AI transition with an explicitly human-protective mandate — design as a lever for creators' livelihoods, not a replacement for them.

Signature win. Led Patreon's brand language, design system, mobile app, and creator-and-fan feature suite as the platform repositioned design around helping human creators sustain businesses in the AI era.

The case

editorial · CCBEI · with sources
CraftMArch from MIT, frog ACD, work exhibited at Venice Biennale/MoMA/Singapore Art Museum; led brand language, design system, and mobile app refresh at Patreon — clear bar-holder.8
CommunicationPublished writer (Fast Company, MIT Press, Architectural League), conference speaker, SVA adjunct faculty — consistently makes the case for human-centered design and technology.8
BusinessVP Design at Patreon, where design directly serves creators' ability to build and grow sustainable businesses; prior commercial leadership at Shopify, Huge, frog ties design to outcomes.7
EducationLeads interdisciplinary teams at frog and a design org at Patreon; SVA MFA faculty role and humanitarian/data-access writing show consistent investment in growing people.7
InnovationLeading design through the AI transition at a creator platform whose explicit mission is protecting human creators (CEO's published AI principles); elevate-aligned, but direct hands-on AI building evidence is thin.6

Endorsed by peers

illustrative · opens with verified accounts
OverallI'd work for them45
CraftRaised my craft bar49
CommunicationMade the case for design49
BusinessMade design matter to the business43
EducationTaught me something I still use43
InnovationShowed me a new way to work37

Verified peers only — one tap with LinkedIn. Names stay private; we show role and industry. Bars are illustrative until the participation backend is live.

Stories

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