When Does It Make Sense to Break the Rules?

Leonard: “If a system is broken, we as designers have the unique opportunity to change that for the better—upholding standards and staying true to what does work, while recognizing what no longer works and then adjusting it.”

IRVINE, CA—When it comes to design projects, it’s our responsibility to question the status quo in order to get to the heart of the matter and the root of the challenge, Taylor Design’s strategies practice leader Jen Leonard tells GlobeSt.com. Leonard, who recently joined the firm, will focus on bringing her human-centered design experience to the architecture, environments and strategies company, collaborating across its Irvine, San Francisco and San Diego offices and inspiring new ways of approaching design challenges.

Leonard brings to her new role more than 10 years as senior design lead and creative strategist at global design and innovation firm IDEO. During that time, she honed her skills across a wide range of projects—from retail and finance to hospitality and healthcare—for clients such as Nike, Marriott, Visa and AT&T. Her background also encompasses radio broadcasting and print journalism, as well as co-authoring the award-winning book, Massive Change: The Future of Global Design with Bruce Mau, a modern, illustrated primer on the new inventions, technologies and events that are impacting humanity worldwide. Leonard is also the host and producer behind Brand New Ways, an interview-based podcast about change making and rule breaking.