Jill Vacarra

Jill Vacarra

Director, User Experience

Manifesto: Nothing is born as strong as it can become.

Jill is an information architect and content strategist with 18+ years of experience. Jill effectively manages, motivates and collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to create digital products that are successful for clients and end users. She has led IA, content strategy and user research engagements for clients including City National Bank, The Tech Museum of Innovation, and The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles. Jill co-wrote the “Information Design Workbook” from Rockport Publishers. She teaches UX Design at Santa Monica College and is on the Advisory Board for SMC’s new bachelor’s degree in UX. In her spare spare time she writes, paints, makes wordy conceptual art and designs jewelry.

"Is conversation a process of knowing the world or constructing the world?"

Jill's Obsessions

Obsessions

Brian Dettmer's book art

The digital takeover means books are even more likely to be seen as objects. I’m in awe of Mr. Dettmer’s patience and steady hand.

Obsessions

Fiber optic fabric

Way to light up a room! All my clothing must be lit from within or it’s just drab, drab, drab.

Obsessions

How to Grow a Planet

Our planet used to be purple? Major mind-crush on Scottish geologist Iain Stewart whose BBC series about plants and the earth blew my mind.

Obsessions

Field Trips!

Gotta take field trips. Interact with the real world. Why? Because (among other reasons) Bruce Mau said so.