Experience
University of Michigan Health Plan
Lead Developer & UX Architect
Grand Rapids, MI
Aug
2023
-
Present
- Re-platformed and consolidated two major health plan websites (www.uofmhealthmedicare.org & www.uofmhealthplan.org) with a new CMS to improve usability, compliance, and scalability.
- Led UX research and content strategy, conducting focus groups, accessibility audits, and functional requirement analysis to optimize content migration and enhance inclusivity.
- Designed and implemented Webflow templates, integrated API structures for policy access, and connected third-party tools, domains, and plan documents to streamline digital operations.
- Developed advanced location-based tools, enabling users to find and compare insurance plans across four brand entities.
- Launched a digital marketing campaign that met 2025 open enrollment quotas within the first month.
Lead Developer & UX Architect
Grand Rapids, MI
Aug
2023
-
Present
Jay Pelc UX
Principal
Grand Rapids, MI
Oct
1999
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Present
- Founded and scaled a design agency, growing from a local startup to a nationwide provider, supporting both non-profit and for-profit organizations.
- Led digital transformations for 12+ companies in the last five years, establishing their web presence, social media strategy, SEO marketing, branding, and software development.
- Specialized in Accessibility and Universal Design, ensuring compliance with WCAG guidelines and improving user experiences across diverse audiences.
- Expert in digital integrations, including Community Information Exchange (CIE), CRM systems, CMS platforms, and Universal Design Systems.
- Veteran product designer with expertise in front-end development (HTML, CSS, JavaScript), video production, animation, and 3D rendering for multimedia projects.
- Volunteer to multiple non-profit entities to assist in web and program development though donated time and services.
Principal
Grand Rapids, MI
Oct
1999
-
Present
Michigan 2-1-1 & United Way
UX Architect & Senior Product Designer
Grand Rapids, MI
May
2020
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Present
- Redesigned and launched Michigan 2-1-1’s statewide Community Information Exchange (CIE) platform, enabling millions of people to access critical social services through streamlined referrals and direct support.Developed and delivered additional key digital solutions, including:
- Patient & Client Directory – Facilitates secure cross-platform data exchange.
- Tax Assistance Platform – Provides free tax prep scheduling for low-income individuals.
- Disaster Recovery System – Improves statewide emergency response and resource distribution.
- Several software training libraries for system users.
- Led UX strategy and research, utilizing Miro for job shadowing insights and Figma for prototyping and usability testing.
- Implemented front-end UI components in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, integrating client API data.
- Maintained a global design system (AWS, Vuetify, Custom CSS), ensuring consistency across multiple platforms.
UX Architect & Senior Product Designer
Grand Rapids, MI
May
2020
-
Present
Abercrombie & Fitch
Platform Owner
Grand Rapids, MI
Aug
2023
-
Mar
2024
Present
- Led cross-functional collaboration between UX, Marketing, and Development teams to pilot a new design system, establishing Figma as the company's standard design tool.
- Conducted hands-on Figma onboarding workshops for UX Designers, Marketing teams, and Front-End Developers, ensuring seamless adoption.
- Managed stakeholder communications by organizing sprint reviews and team demos, demonstrating the design system's impact and ROI.
- Standardized design workflows and optimized collaboration, streamlining end-to-end design delivery.
- Wrote design specification for developmental changes made to seasonal campaigns for the company's website. (www.abercrombie.com)
Platform Owner
Grand Rapids, MI
Aug
2023
-
Mar
2024
Present
Amway Global
Ui/UX Manager & Lead Product Designer
Grand Rapids, MI
Feb
2012
-
Mar
2021
Present
- Led a 15-person local U.S. design team and more than a 20 global team members across Central Europe, and Asia-Pacific, overseeing talent acquisition, professional development, and team performance. Developed customized growth blueprints for each designer, aligning their skills with the needs of Amway’s 30+ global product teams.
- Managed the creation and evolution of Amway’s Global Design System using Frontify, Figma and Adobe. Leading workshops and refining design patterns for each of Amway's global website platforms like Amway.com, business-owner tools, and native applications. Oversaw the UX and product strategy for core business platforms, including three Amway Business Owner dashboards, performance tracking UIs, and sales planning tools.
- Responsible for the research, development, and guiding principals ofAmway's digital Accessibility standards across all products. Adhering to the ADA, WCAG 2.1, and general UX best practices.
- Led high-impact global initiatives, designing and prototyping multi-regional authentication systems, global navigation, and hardline product registration platforms. Conducted on-site user research abroad to validate designs and ensure seamless multi-market adoption.
Ui/UX Manager & Lead Product Designer
Grand Rapids, MI
Feb
2012
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Mar
2021
Present
Corewell Health
Senior Product Design & UX Architect
Grand Rapids, MI
Jun
2014
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Apr
2016
Present
- Lead product designer and UX architect of a four-year digital transformation of the Patient Portal and Admin interface, enhancing patient and provider experiences.
- Designed and tested 120+ prototypes of varying fidelity using Axure, incorporating research from real patients and administrators to optimize prescription management, bill payments, appointment scheduling, and provider search tools.
- Led a cross-functional team of designers and developers, implementing UX innovations that improved task efficiency and engagement across multiple patient-facing features.
- Collaborated with System Architects to establish new Information Architecture and data strategies, documented in complex button mapping deliverables to support year-round release cycles.
- Conducted 25+ user research studies annually, improving usability and accessibility for all public-facing digital products.
Senior Product Design & UX Architect
Grand Rapids, MI
Jun
2014
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Apr
2016
Present
Meijer
Product Designer / Developer
Grand Rapids, MI
Feb
2011
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Mar
2012
Present
- Managed daily maintenance and campaign delivery across eight major eCommerce categories (Electronics, Video Games, Toys, Team Sports, Clothing, Jewelry, Baby Products, and Shoes) on Meijer.com.
- Led the first major style guide update in five years, introducing modern branding, typography, and hero banner designs, contributing to sales growth across all eight departments.
- Personally requested by major brands (Disney, Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo, Carhartt, Kellogg) to create brand landing pages and product release campaigns, driving positive user engagement and strengthening corporate partnerships.
- Developed workflow automation tools, reducing content delivery time from 12 days to 2 days, significantly improving team efficiency and speed to market.
Product Designer / Developer
Grand Rapids, MI
Feb
2011
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Mar
2012
Present
Honors
2025
Board Member
ADA Compliance & Digital Communications
The Ability Collective of Barry County
2025
2006
Best Chart or Information Graphic
The Catholic Free Press
Archdiocese of Detroit
2006
Education
2004
Wayne State University
Media Communications
3.7
GPA
2004
2002
Macomb Community College
Media Communications Arts
3.8
GPA
2002
Samples
Social Navigation Platform
As lead product designer, I was placed on the task to come up with a product design that delivered on a few key tasks. A display of all open and closed client tickets. The ability to triage help for the intake client. A way to provide resources to the client. The ability to book food assistance appointments for the client. The ability to provide ride share program enrollment for the patient.
Learn moreAmway Global Design System
As the team manager and lead designer, I was challenged to create and document a new design system that hadn't previously been updated in nearly 7 years. The active design system needed to be equipped with updated principals of design, implementation standards, accessibility compliance, and marketing guidance for tone and consistent brand recognition.
Learn moreUser Personas
I was tasked with leading a new UX direction for ADHD Online's public-facing platform, with a specific focus on improving customer service and technical support. First phase of research would result in an interactive persona application, research conducted with the service teams, and an WCAG compliance audit.
Learn moreArtPath Website
I have been tasked with the re-creation of the project website for an annual Public Art project called "ArtPath" that functions as a call-to-artists that enlists artists to submit concepts for the show. A juror platform for panel review. And a public facing website to announce and host the accepted artists for use year after year.
Learn more"FitTown" an Engagement Concept
An executive from a well known corporation has asked that I help build a proof of concept for an idea they had around Employee Engagement. I as tasked to develop and build a functioning prototype that would demonstrate this passion project.
Learn moreSpectrum Health - MedNow Experience Architecture
The Spectrum Health and Priority Health (Corewell Health) patient and member portals offers a slew of tools to help patients and insurance customers navigate their personal health. The addition of the tool MedNow allowed for patients to secure virtual office visits with their primary care physicians, and needed a way to integrate the registration and flow of data and button mapping.
Learn moreHill Physicians Information Artchitecture
A local experience firm's client requires a fresh information architecture for their healthcare website, aiming to strategically position each page based on the goals and preferences of their actual clientele.
Learn moreCommunications & Product Design Specialist
Jay
Pelc
Specialties
Accessibility
10
/
10
Communications
10
/
10
Content Strategy
10
/
10
Product Design
10
/
10
Prototyping
10
/
10
Design Systems
9
/
10
Information Architecture
9
/
10
Product Management
9
/
10
UX Research / Validation
9
/
10
Front-End Development
8
/
10
Strengths
Artifact Presentation & Delivery
Community Information Exchange (CIE)
Content Management Systems (CMS)
Critical Thinking
Efficiency / Organizing
Empathy
Leadership / Team Building
Open-minded & Adaptable
Problem Solving
Project Management
UX Writing
Proficiencies
Adobe Creative Suite
Adobe Creative Suite
26
yrs Experience
Mastery
Proficiency
Axure RP
Axure RP
13
yrs Experience
Mastery
Proficiency
Drupal
Drupal
5
yrs Experience
Creator
Proficiency
Figma
Figma
5
yrs Experience
Mastery
Proficiency
Frontify
Frontify
7
yrs Experience
Mastery
Proficiency
Jira
Jira
14
yrs Experience
Creator
Proficiency
Miro
Miro
6
yrs Experience
Mastery
Proficiency
Sketch
Sketch
7
yrs Experience
Mastery
Proficiency
SketchUp
SketchUp
6
yrs Experience
Creator
Proficiency
Webflow
Webflow
4
yrs Experience
Mastery
Proficiency
WordPress
WordPress
9
yrs Experience
Creator
Proficiency
CSS
CSS
23
yrs Experience
Mastery
Proficiency
HTML
HTML
25
yrs Experience
Mastery
Proficiency
Javascript
Javascript
8
yrs Experience
Apprentice
Proficiency
VS Code
VS Code
6
yrs Experience
Creator
Proficiency
WCAG 2.2
WCAG 2.2
8
yrs Experience
Mastery
Proficiency